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Located on the Delaware River about two miles from Philadelphia’s city
center, the 1,000-acre Philadelphia Navy Yard presents a unique BRAC opportunity
for an urban waterfront redevelopment project. Established in 1876, the Philadelphia
Navy Yard was the nation’s first naval shipyard, and naval operations
will continue on a portion of the site. About half of the decommissioned base
falls under a brownfield redevelopment plan and the remainder is designated
as historic and greenfield parcels.
The property is in an optimal location for a premier business and residential
district that encompasses mixed-use business, commercial and retail uses, residential
neighborhoods, a waterfront park, esplanade, and full-service marina, as well
as civic, education and cultural uses.
Military bases, especially older bases such as the Philly Naval Yard that pre-date environmental rules and regulation, frequently have significant environmental and other problems. Some of the more prevalent issues include remediation of environmentally impacted land, removal of asbestos and pesticides, rebuilding infrastructure, removing unexploded ordinance and protection of species and habitat as well as historic structures.
What could be helpful to developers this BRAC round is the fact that the Department of Defense is committed to expediting these base closures by completing Phase I environmental surveys in advance. Understanding environmental issues at the front end can expedite redevelopment of portions of the bases concurrent to environmental cleanup of the affected areas.
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