by Navy Yard
October 16, 2026
Categories: Press Releases,
PIDC and Ensemble Investments, LLC honor former PIDC leader and longtime Philadelphia civic figure with permanent dedication at a public plaza in the Navy Yard
Philadelphia, PA — October 16, 2026 — The Navy Yard yesterday dedicated Chapel Plaza in honor of the late Walter D’Alessio, a longtime Philadelphia civic and business leader whose career helped shape the city’s growth and development, who passed in 2024 at age 90. The dedication was made in collaboration with PIDC, Philadelphia’s public-private economic development corporation and master developer and operator of the Navy Yard, and Ensemble Investments, LLC (Ensemble), the developers of Chapel Plaza and the adjacent AVE Normandy residential community.
Family, community partners, stakeholders, elected officials, and members of the Navy Yard community gathered at the plaza for the dedication ceremony, celebrating D’Alessio’s life and legacy and his decades of contributions to Philadelphia.
D’Alessio served with PIDC for 44 years, including 34 years as chairman of its board. He previously served as the organization’s CEO, following more than a decade with the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. Throughout his career, he played a role in some of Philadelphia’s most significant development and revitalization efforts, including the transformation of Society Hill, the development of Independence Mall, and projects across neighborhoods throughout the city.
“Walt dedicated his career to making Philadelphia a strong, more vibrant, and more prosperous city. He understood that great places are created by bringing people together around a shared vision, and he had a remarkable ability to turn that vision into action,” said Jodie Harris, President, PIDC. “It is especially meaningful to honor Walt here at the Navy Yard, where his legacy is part of the story of Philadelphia’s continued transformation. Chapel Plaza will give generations of people a place to gather and connect, and we are proud to have his name and legacy represented here.”
“Walter D’Alessio leaves behind a legacy that is woven into the very fabric of Philadelphia,” said Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson (Second District). “Through his visionary leadership, decades of public service, and unwavering commitment to our city’s growth, Walt helped transform neighborhoods, strengthen our economic foundation, attract businesses, and create opportunities for generations of Philadelphians. I am deeply grateful for Walt’s extraordinary contributions, and his legacy will continue to inspire all of us who are committed to building a stronger, more prosperous Philadelphia.”
“We’re honored to partner with PIDC in creating a place that celebrates someone who gave so much to Philadelphia,” said Brian Cohen, Managing Director, Ensemble. “Walt understood the importance of investing in places that bring people together and create opportunities for the city to grow. Chapel Plaza is becoming exactly that kind of place, and dedicating it in Walt’s honor makes its role in the Navy Yard community even more meaningful.”
Located at 1200 Normandy Place, Chapel Plaza is the Navy Yard’s newest public gathering space, an intimate, European-style plaza designed by the landscape architecture firm OLIN. The plaza sits adjacent to AVE Navy Yard, the Navy Yard’s first residential community, and will be framed by retail, with restaurants spilling out onto the plaza. Woven into an urban fabric that brings together residential, commercial, retail, and hotel uses, Chapel Plaza marks an important step in establishing the Navy Yard as a new residential neighborhood. Complementing the Navy Yard’s larger parks, the plaza offers a more intimate setting for employees, residents, and visitors to gather and will host festivals and events throughout the year, creating a fitting setting to honor a leader whose work centered on strengthening Philadelphia’s neighborhoods, businesses, and communities.
D’Alessio’s connection to Philadelphia spanned more than six decades. After traveling to the city in 1960 for an American Institute of Planners convention, he chose to make Philadelphia his home and began his career with the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority the following year.
At PIDC, D’Alessio continued his work at the intersection of public and private development. During his tenure, the organization grew into one of the country’s leading economic development organizations.
“Walt always had a vision for the Navy Yard,” said Barbara Chance, Ph.D., Walt’s wife. “In 1982, when the tall ships visited Philadelphia to celebrate its tricentennial, we stood at the water’s edge to watch them. As their procession ended, Walt turned around to look at the Navy Yard land and buildings behind us, and said, ‘At some future point, this will be even more amazing than it was during the war and is now.’ He was certain that PIDC should take a major role in its planning and business attraction, and this has proved to be an excellent choice. He would have loved having a gathering place named in his honor, and his family and friends are grateful to have him remembered in this way in this place.”
The dedication of Chapel Plaza creates a lasting connection between D’Alessio’s contributions to Philadelphia and a new space designed to bring people together at the Navy Yard.
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About PIDC & the Navy Yard
PIDC is Philadelphia’s citywide public-private economic development corporation, founded in 1958 by the City of Philadelphia and the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia. As a nonprofit, PIDC drives investment, supports business growth, and fosters developments that create jobs, revitalize neighborhoods, and drive growth to every corner of Philadelphia.
PIDC is also the master developer of the Navy Yard, leading its planning, development, and operations. The Navy Yard is widely recognized as one of the country’s most successful redevelopments of a former military base, and today it is a thriving riverfront community in South Philadelphia. With more than 16,000 current employees, plus up to 18,000 more expected from future planned development as well as through maritime industry growth, 150+ companies, 8.9 million square feet of mixed-use development, and $6 billion in new investment, the Navy Yard is poised for transformative growth. The Navy Yard is also home to 20+ acres of parks, dining options, public art, and a variety of outdoor events.
For more information about PIDC, visit PIDCphila.com and follow us at @PIDCphila on X, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. For more information about the Navy Yard, visit NavyYard.org and follow us at @NavyYardPhila on Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.
About Ensemble Investments, LLC
Ensemble Investments, LLC (Ensemble) is a premier real estate investment, development, and management firm with a proven track record of transforming communities. Since 1989, Ensemble has invested in and developed more than $2 billion in real estate across the U.S., specializing in hospitality, life sciences, corporate office, multifamily, and retail. Headquartered in Long Beach, CA, with offices in Philadelphia and Phoenix, Ensemble is the exclusive developer of a 109-acre mixed-use district at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia. Guided by integrity and a long-term vision, Ensemble creates properties that drive economic growth and enrich the communities they serve. Learn more at Ensemble.net and follow Ensemble on LinkedIn.
MEDIA CONTACT
The Navy Yard:
Jacqueline Tammaro
Director of Marketing & Communications of the Navy Yard, PIDC
jtammaro@pidcphila.com