AVE Navy Yard’s grand opening drew widespread coverage from Philadelphia news outlets and national commercial real estate publications. These included PhillyVoice, Secret Philadelphia, Connect CRE, CRE Market Beat, and Yield PRO. AVE, the residential brand of Korman Communities, developed AVE Navy Yard in partnership with Ensemble Investments and Mosaic Development Partners. It is the first residential community ever built at the historic Philadelphia Navy Yard, and outlets described it as the anchor of the city’s first new neighborhood in a generation.

The $285 million development brings 614 luxury apartments to the South Philadelphia waterfront across two communities, AVE Normandy and AVE Constitution. Both are named after decommissioned U.S. Navy warships.

  • AVE Normandy offers one- to three-bedroom residences, including 100 flexible-stay, furnished apartments. Residences have chef-inspired kitchens and spa-like bathrooms. Amenities include a resort-style pool, a golf simulator, a podcast studio, a café, and an expansive fitness center.
  • AVE Constitution offers studio to two-bedroom apartments with floor-to-ceiling windows, including 92 income-restricted apartments. Its exterior siding is designed to weather over time as a tribute to the Navy’s historic vessels.


Residents of both communities share 75,000 square feet of wellness, business, and leisure amenities. These include coworking spaces, conference rooms, social lounges, pet spas, and landscaped courtyards, in a design that blends hotel, coworking, and apartment living. The development also includes 25,000 square feet of restaurant and boutique retail space, with Happy Bear Coffee Co. and Carlino’s Specialty Foods among the first retailers announced. The Navy Yard itself offers extensive green space, waterfront trails, and easy access to Center City, Philadelphia International Airport, and the Philadelphia Sports Complex. It is also already a workplace for roughly 17,000 people at companies including URBN and Jefferson Health.

Leaders behind the project shared their vision with the press. Lea Anne Welsh, President of AVE, told PhillyVoice the team believes the Navy Yard is a special place with a rich history, and that many people will welcome the chance to call it home. Jeffrey Brown, AVE’s Director of Development, said the goal from the start was to create a true destination. Brad Korman, Co-CEO of Korman Communities, described the neighborhood as a blend of old and new that honors the Navy Yard’s past while shaping its future. Brian Cohen of Ensemble Investments called the opening a major milestone, creating a live-work-play environment where residents can live steps from innovative companies, waterfront parks, and new dining. With AVE Navy Yard now welcoming residents, Philadelphia’s newest neighborhood invites everyone who lives there to Live Better®.

Read the headlines of AVE Navy Yard's grand opening:

PhillyVoice | Secret Philadelphia | Connect CRE | CRE Market Beat | Yield Pro