Philadelphia's Women CRE LeadersSet Sights On South Philly And Mixed-Use Development
- barninimitra
- Jul 3
- 4 min read
July 03, 2025 | 5:48 p.m. ET Noah Zucker, Philadelphia
Deep South Philadelphia is a focal point for the region’s throngs of passionate sports fans, but it hasn’t historically been a backdrop for high-end multifamily projects.
That’s no longer the case, as developers build out new apartment buildings in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, setting their sights on mixed-use proposals in and around the stadium complex.
And some of Philadelphia's most high-profile women in commercial real estate are leading the charge to transform the area set for big changes over the next couple of years.
“I think South Philadelphia is going to be a really exciting area to watch in the coming years,” said NAIOP Greater Philadelphia Executive Director Sarah Maginnis, one of 25 women set to be honored at Bisnow’s July 31 Women Leading Real Estate event.
Korman Communities is slated to deliver two projects in the Navy Yard this fall.
“It will be the first time that non-military civilians will have the opportunity to live at the Navy Yard,” said Mosaic Development Partners Senior Marketing and Operations Manager Jasmine Childress, whose company is a major player in the complex’s ongoing redevelopment.
The two buildings will bring 614 residential units to the neighborhood currently defined by its office and industrial uses. AVE Normandy will be a luxury extended-stay project, while nearby AVE Constitution will offer market-rate apartments.
There are also plans to bring retail to the complex, which is well connected to Philly’s highway system but isolated from the city’s commercial hubs.
An increasing number of similar mixed-use projects have been floated for the area in and around the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, which has been in the spotlight following the Philadelphia 76ers’ pivot away from building a new arena in Center City, Maginnis said.
The complex will also get a star turn during the 2026 World Cup, when the global tournament will draw an anticipated 500,000 visitors to the area around Lincoln Financial Field.
Philadelphia Suburban Development Corp. and its partner Hines have proposed a project called Stadium Square that would bring 1,367 apartments, 125K SF of retail and 393K SF of office space to a lot on the corner of Packer Avenue and Seventh Street.
The massive proposal could compete with Comcast Spectacor and Cordish Cos.’ plan to build a similar mixed-use complex within the Sports Complex itself. That $2.5B transformation would include apartments, hotels, retail and a 5,500-seat performance stage.
Mixed-use remains a hot form of development in other parts of the city as well.
That’s why Parkway Corp. is looking into more of such projects following the success of the 61-unit Amble at 40 S. Second St. in Old City.
“It’s been basically 100% leased since we opened,” said Parkway Vice President of Development Briana Wilkins.
“It’s just the right way to do things,” she said. “People just want to be part of something greater. Mixed-use projects help contribute to creating a community.”
Parkway also owns a large number of surface parking lots, which may seem at odds with the walkable mixed-use mission, but Wilkins said they’ll be an important resource if the city lowers or eliminates parking requirements for new developments.
Retail is the other main component of mixed-use projects, and MSC Executive Vice President Brittany Goldberg said her territory on Walnut Street currently has historically low vacancy.
“Right now, I have a few listings on the 1500 block of Walnut Street. I’m very excited to see how those play out,” she said. “The new tenants who have opened on this street are doing very well.”
Goldberg and the other three CRE players mentioned in this article will be at the Women Leading Real Estate event in the Wanamaker Building’s Crystal Tea Room later this month for an event celebrating leadership, innovation and impact.
This year's event singles out women getting it done in five categories: Leader of the Year; CRE Brokers; Women in Development & Construction; Excellence in Law, Accounting or Insurance; and the VIPs, or very integral persons, “holding it all together,” and often in the background.
Other honorees include:
Mosaic Development Partners co-founder Leslie Smallwood-Lewis
Rosette Specialty Trades founder Rosemary Connors
Binswanger Senior Vice President of Corporate Services Brooke Oldt
Trammell Crow Co. Vice President Lauren Black
Ballard Spahr partner Sara McCormick
Gensler Design Director Linda Pileggi
Good City Studio founder Amanda Potter
Verde Capital Chief Operations Officer Maureen Menarde
Dilworth Paxson partner Rosemary Loverdi
Kohler National Sales Manager Giovanna Carchidi
Newmark Executive Managing Director Erin Miller
First American Title Insurance Co. Vice President of Commercial Business Development Annemarie Caruso
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority Manager of Real Estate Operations Kelly Edwards
KMC Partners and Enliven Construction co-owner Jamie McDonald
Post Brothers Vice President of Design Rebecca Frisch
JLL Senior Vice President of Workplace Strategy Kimberly Smith
Colliers Senior Marketing Director Elizabeth Brand
EisnerAmper partner Sarah Brand
Avison Young principal Jennifer Rosenak
Potter Anderson & Corroon partner Joy Barrist
Morgan Properties Chief Financial Officer Marina Dikos