By Steve Tawa

PHILADELPHIA (CBS)  –  The Philadelphia Navy Yard has announced that it recently reached the 10,000 employee threshold.  Now planners are turning their attention to installing more amenities, including a nightlife.

Vice President Will Agate of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation says in 3 to 5-years, they want to convert some of the old Navy-era buildings into apartments.

He says “one of the exciting components that do not exist presently is this residential component.”

Just around the corner is a new hotel, now under construction and scheduled to be completed this year, and right at the entrance, PIDC wants to re purpose a brick building.

Agate says “we’d like to convert it into a restaurant and bar. We’re actively seeking proposals right now.”

Workers at the Navy Yard like the idea, and say the hotel is one thing to get people that are here on business to stay here. it probably needs some more bars and restaurants to attract people who wouldn’t normally come here.