Navy Yard Welcomes New General Manager

by Navy Yard
June 13, 2023

We are pleased to welcome Lucy Bitton as the new Navy Yard general manager. Bitton is taking over for Poe Leggette, who served in that role for the past 11 years and is moving into a new, expanded role with CBRE (PIDC contracts with CBRE to run daily campus operations at the Navy Yard).

“Our strong partnership with CBRE has been essential in transforming the Navy Yard from an old military base into the mixed-use campus that is now home to 150 businesses and 15,000 employees,” said Kate McNamara, PIDC’s senior vice president at the Navy Yard. “While it’s sad to see Poe leave, we are excited for him and the new chapter in his career at CBRE. Lucy brings an impressive resume with her. We are fortunate to have her on our team as we begin the next phase of development at the Navy Yard where we will have residential for the first time since the base closed and further position ourselves as a campus with equitable career opportunities for Philadelphians of all backgrounds.”

As general manager, Bitton oversees on-site management of the Navy Yard’s 1,200-acre campus with her CBRE team. She comes to the Navy Yard with more than 35 years of experience in the real estate property management field. Prior to the Navy Yard, she managed the University of Pennsylvania’s off-campus retail, office, and residential portfolios for the last 18 years.

“I am excited to join the CBRE group at The Navy Yard to collaborate with the PIDC team in overseeing our thriving riverfront community,” said Bitton. “This will be a true application of my career experience – now enriched with a new mix of Navy business partners, fellow landlords, tenants, residents, and diverse contractors. I am especially looking forward to the future growth of the new development program to further enhance the Navy Yard neighborhood and being a vital player in this advancement.”

As his time comes to a close at the Navy Yard, Leggette reflected on the transformation he’s seen at the Navy Yard as he moves on to become a director of property management with CBRE.   

“It is bittersweet to be leaving the Navy Yard,” said Leggette. “I have been involved with numerous unique projects and made many deep personal and professional connections in my 11 years at the Navy Yard. When I came to the Navy Yard in 2012, we were still closed weeknights and all weekend, and the employment had just reached 10,000 people. Now we are on the cusp of a 24/7 community, and I am excited to work with the team to continue the transformation.”