February 02, 2026
Twenty-five years ago, the future of the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard hung in the balance. After years of uncertainty, the Shipyard had officially shut its gates on September 26, 1996—bringing the loss of tens of thousands of jobs and leaving behind a vast, silent industrial landscape.
But that changed when PIDC—Philadelphia’s public-private economic development corporation—acquired control of the Navy Yard on behalf of the City of Philadelphia in 2000. What followed was a long-term vision rooted in public-private partnership, persistence, and possibility.
Philly Shipyard.
Today, the Navy Yard stands as one of the country’s most successful examples of large-scale, mixed-use redevelopment—home to more than 150 companies across various industries, more than 16,000 employees across educational levels, and billions in investment—and stands as a national model for resiliency as the largest LEED® Neighborhood Development in the United States.
Lunch time at Dry Dock Park
To mark this anniversary, PIDC released the documentary “Legacy & Horizon: 25 Years of Transformation.” The film traces the Navy Yard’s journey from a decommissioned military base to a modern, mixed-use campus, highlighting the vision and collaboration behind its redevelopment. Each episode unveils a new chapter, featuring the voices of leaders, partners, and community members who helped shape its transformation and continue to drive its future forward.
As the Navy Yard celebrates its 25th year, its story of transformation is far from finished. Over the next decade, the campus is poised to become one of Philadelphia’s most dynamic mixed-use neighborhoods, with the first private residences opening this year and plans for thousands more homes, retail, life sciences space, and advanced manufacturing facilities underway. These expansions are expected to generate thousands of new jobs and create opportunities for Philadelphians and for businesses across the region, further cementing the Navy Yard as a central driver of Philadelphia’s economic growth.
