Anchoring the city

New businesses, extensive research facilities and a vibrant marina are just a few of the grand plans for the reconstruction and renovation of the former Navy Yard.

A master plan crafted by Mayor John Street and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp. was revealed last Wednesday during a press conference at the Philadelphia Naval Business Center.

While the shipyard will remain, the proposal calls for a restructuring that will encompass more than 500 acres at the site, divided into four other distinct sections.

The Historic Core, which will serve as the "town center" of the Navy Yard, will combine newly constructed buildings with renovated ones.

"We want a place that will build on its past," not slam the door on it, noted Robert Stern, senior partner of Robert A.M. Stern Architects. The architect spoke at the Navy Yard’s Building 10, a revamped woodworking shop on the 4500 block of South Broad Street that was built 100 years ago.

The effort to combine a strong legacy with a bright future is driving those involved with the plan’s implementation, said Peter Longstreth, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp.

The plan also calls for a Corporate Center as well as a Research Park, which will be designed to house life science, research and pharmaceutical activities, said Longstreth.

The final section is designated for future development and could host additional space for retail, recreational and residential use.

A marina district, comparable to Boston’s Charleston Naval Yard and San Francisco’s Mission Bay, could be one likely use, said Stern.

Residential use of the site was discussed only briefly, yet Stern predicted a surge of interest once the area is established.

"Nobody is talking residential too much because there is still fear of ‘Who will live here?’" he noted. "In a few years, people will clamor to live here."

Officials hope to lure others to the area through an estimated 30,000 jobs, a number that is five times the 6,000 jobs currently at the site.

Real-estate companies Liberty Property Trust and Synterra Partners will jointly invest $250 million in the project over the next decade. The ambitious developments will be funded through public as well as private dollars.

"This is a method to create an environment that will be unparalleled in this region," said William Hankowsky, chairman, president and CEO of Liberty Property Trust.

Hankowsky, the former president of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp., views the Navy Yard as the newest "economic asset" to the region, reclaiming the role it had in its heyday.

While mass transit to the Navy Yard is currently limited to a SEPTA shuttle bus during regular business hours, designers envision an extension of the subway line into the heart of the site. New Jersey residents also could reap the benefits of the refurbished complex if PATCO adds a connection to and from the multi-use center.

The plan also attempts to balance economic and environmental concerns through its implementation of a "sustainable green environment," added Hankowsky. "Green" buildings, which are sensitive to energy use and provide a plethora of other environmental benefits, would be part of the new Navy Yard.

In addition, there will be areas preserved for wetlands reclamation, and 31 acres have been dedicated to open space that will link buildings and other areas of the property.

Tax breaks are available to businesses wanting to open up shop at the site, which is included in the Keystone Opportunity Improvement Zone, according to a Web site developed by PIDC.

Some businesses already have begun moving into the newly designated areas. AppTec Laboratory Services, for example, is the first company in Research Park.

Mayor Street praised the master plan and viewed it as an effective means to keep individuals from fleeing the city, specifically Philadelphia college students.

"[The Navy Yard plan] provides recreational, cultural and employment opportunities to keep people here who are committed to the city, while drawing others to the area," he said.

The site is the centerpiece of his New River City proposal, which calls for extended development of the entire 38 miles of waterfront.

"We are laying the groundwork so that our city has a bright future," Street said. "We want to take this city and distinguish it in a way which leaves it difficult for others to compete with us."

With a size comparable to Center City and an environment that combines city life with a suburban feel, the plan provides unlimited potential for the region, said City Representative and Commerce Director Stephanie Naidoff.

"It will define us as a city for years to come," she said.