The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, now better known as The Navy Yard, was the first naval shipyard in the United States and more recently has become one of the biggest adaptive re-use projects in the country. After the U.S. Navy reduced its activities in the early 1990s and ended most by 1995, a large portion of the yard was left abandoned and created a large eyesore along Philly’s southern edge. But due to the site’s size, city planners saw an opportunity and soon got to work creating a new master plan for the area with the goal of transforming the yard back into something economically viable.
Over the past few years, with the help of large tax incentives, the early pieces of the master plan have taken shape. Large companies like Urban Outfitters have moved their headquarters to the campus, transforming previously unused buildings into economically viable parcels. What great stories the Navy Yard can now tell: a new waterfront community is developing, creative adaptive reuse has taken hold, and sustainable, green building and neighborhood techniques have become the norm. While these are no doubt positive narratives for Philadelphia to tout, it isn’t hard to argue that the overall effect of this success has actually been a negative for the local economy of Philadelphia and specifically Center City.
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