Philadelphia's Navy Yard Turns Commercial

The City of Philadelphia has been trying to attract commercial and office uses to the former Naval Yard, 1,000 acres located at the confluence of the Delaware and Schuykill Rivers. John Grady, senior vice president of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, believes that up to 30,000 jobs will be created on the site. Over 7,000 private sector employees work at the site, with local clothing retailer Urban Outfitters bringing all of its 650 employees there this summer. Richard Hayne, President of Urban Outfitters, said: "We have a number of people who wanted to bring their dogs to work. So when we first started looking at high-rise buildings downtown, even if dogs were allowed, which they weren't, I thought, 'Where would they walk them?'" Mr. Hayne was attracted to the historic buildings, green space, and waterfront of the Navy Yard. The Navy Yard will also be promoted as an athlete village when Philadelphia bids to host the 2016 Olympics.