Chapter Name| 1

Reanimating the Center of the City City District | Center Park Dilworth

The global pandemic, local stay-at-home mandates and civil boarded-up storefronts and installed new artwork on many. We unrest created extraordinary challenges for all cities. In Center commissioned 200 decorative banners created by Philadelphia City, pedestrian volumes initially plummeted by 72%, as office artists. Our landscape teams planted street trees, filled park workers, hotel guests, regional shoppers, students, theater and flowerbeds with tens of thousands of bulbs and upgraded street restaurant patrons disappeared. At night, streets were devoid of lighting. We continued to provide fee-for-service cleaning for five cars, sidewalks were empty. From the very start in March 2020, adjacent residential neighborhoods. we had all of our on-street and park employees designated To enhance safety, we deployed new bike patrols and security “essential workers.” The central lesson from the Center City vans in afternoons and seven evenings per week, supplement- District’s founding 30 years ago suddenly had renewed reso- ing the role of our Community Service Representatives (CSRs). nance: the revival of economic activity and vitality depends upon In 2020, CSRs had more than 177,000 sustained conversations confidence in a public environment that is clean, safe with pedestrians seeking directions, responding to inquiries and attractive. from businesses or addressing safety or streetscape problems. We staggered shifts to preserve social distance in locker rooms, In 2019 and 2020, our homeless outreach teams, working in provided crews with safety equipment and, until retailers start- partnership with Project Home and the Philadelphia Police ed to reopen in June 2020, paid for and delivered lunch to all service detail, persuaded more than 300 individuals to come off on-street crews. Our dedicated employees, drawn from neigh- the street to connect with services and shelter. While daytime borhoods across the city, never stopped working, continuing to homelessness and panhandling on Center City sidewalks had serve as a visible, reassuring presence, responding to every new, been steadily rising since 2015, both declined in 2020, with op- unexpected challenge that came their way. portunistic panhandling dropping dramatically. Still, the absence of other people made the presence of those in need more visible CCD cleaners power-washed sidewalks and removed graf- and reduced the beneficial effect of many “eyes on the street.” fiti from building facades and street furniture. They painted

Center City District & Central Philadelphia Development Corporation CENTERCITYPHILA.ORG 2 | State of Center City

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Matt Stanley Matt Stanley

BeauMonde Originals

Staying mindful of established health guidelines, CCD promoted A successful Restaurant Week in September promoted outdoor Center City’s sidewalk level businesses that remained open, en- dining, takeout options and observance of all safety protocols. couraging takeout from restaurants, reminding residents across In January 2021, we launched a #TakeoutPhilly ad campaign to the region through traditional advertising, email newsletters and sustain restaurants, especially those unable to invest in heated social media about the unique shops, boutiques and fine dining outdoor seating, by encouraging residents to order directly from opportunities downtown. restaurants and tip generously. CCD licensed the campaign at no cost to neighborhood commercial corridors across the city. Staff worked closely with retail associations and City agencies to A successful Restaurant Week create “streeteries” in restaurant-dense Midtown Village and Rit- in September promoted outdoor tenhouse Row, closing streets to traffic on extended weekends, dining, takeout options and enabling restaurants to seat more customers, expanding dining beyond the sidewalk. observance of all safety protocols.

CENTERCITYPHILA.ORG Center City District & Central Philadelphia Development Corporation Reanimating the Center of the City | 3

785 100 Building Facades Uniformed Cleaning Cleaned of Personnel and Graffiti Tags Supervisors Matt Stanley

Well-managed parks and civic spaces are defining public ame- nities of downtown. To provide safe spaces for social gathering, we expedited repairs to Dilworth Park, turned the fountains on by early summer, frequently cleaned socially distanced seating and programmed activities that restored vibrancy without attracting large crowds.

We invited residents to enjoy live entertainment during “Dinner at Dilworth” with takeout from nearby restaurants. We staged small-scale seasonal markets featuring local artisans and hosted performers and a brass quartet from Opera Philadelphia. Working closely with the City’s Health Department, we reconfig- ured the Wintergarden on the Greenfield Lawn, reimagined the Deck the Hall Holiday Lights display, deployed an open-sided BeauMonde Originals Rothman Orthopedics Cabin and managed the Rothman Orthopedics Ice Rink with time limits, reduced capacity and online-only ticketing. Despite a year of intentionally scaled-back Dilworth Park Annual Visitors events with crowd limitations, 6 million people visited Dilworth Park in 2020, about 60% of the volume in 2019.

In Sister Cities Park, an expanded Children’s Discovery Garden reopened in the summer with capacity limits and new elements that became instant hits with children: a climbing net, a “hid- ing” nest, a stream dam and push-button water jets. Children’s programming continued through warmer months, providing safe outdoor spaces for families. Local artist Janell Wysock was commissioned to create the fall installation “Color Under the 0 00 0 00 0 000 000

Canopy,” wrapping the park's trees with colorful panels of fabric. 7, 15,

For the winter, a giant climbing log replaced water in the pond. ,0 ,828, ,68 10 10 10 5,999, Since 1997, CCD has invested $151.3 million in streetscape, 9,621,00 lighting and park improvements. 2016 2017 2018 20192020

Source: Center City District

Center City District & Central Philadelphia Development Corporation CENTERCITYPHILA.ORG 4 | State of Center City

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Matt Stanley

Center City District Streetscape Assets, 2020 Center City District Streetscape Maintenance, 2020

STREET LANDSCAPING 3,740 Light Fixtures Trees Planted (Plant Center City) 103 Pedestrian Light Poles 2,879 Lighted Parkway 12 Trees Pruned 173 Building Facades Trees Replaced 46 City Hall Lighting - 85 10 Locations Light Fixtures on 12 Avenue 446 Shrubs, Perennials & Vines Planted 225 of the Arts Facades Light Fixtures Illuminating 64 Bulbs Planted 4,200 23 Sculptures Light Fixtures Illuminating 254 LIGHTING 6 Underpasses Pedestrian Light Poles Repaired 3 Pedestrian Poles Relamped 72 1,453 1,393 Parkway Sculpture Lights Relamped 6 Landscaping Graphic Displays Parkway Façade Lights Replaced 2 Street Trees 903 Local Artist Banners 199 SIGNS Planters 385 CCD Parks Banners 122 Wayfinding Signs Cleaned 110 Wayfinding Signs Updated 87 Trees in 4 Parks 165 Promotional Banners 943 Transit Portal Signs Cleaned 48 Storefront Artwork 55 Parkway Signs Cleaned 13 Printed Posters 69 Bus Shelter Signs Cleaned 36 Digital Screens 5 CCD PARKS 1,048 Street Furniture Shrubs, Perennials & Grasses Planted 630 Trees Planted 21 Adjustable Honor 25 Park Bike Racks 32 Box Corrals Trees Pruned 39 Park Benches 31 Bulbs Planted 26,700 Fixed (In-Ground) 15 Streetscape Benches 18 Honor Box Corrals OTHER Banner Poles 157 On-Street Bike Racks 17 Graffiti Tags & Stickers Removed 36,255 On-Street Bollards 753 (All Street Furniture & Fixtures)

1,268 Signs Pedestrian Light Poles 442 Lighted Parkway 209 Building Facades City Hall Lighting - 259 10 Locations Light Fixtures on 12 Avenue 65 of the Arts Facades Light Fixtures Illuminating 240 23 Sculptures Light Fixtures Illuminating 53 6 Underpasses

CENTERCITYPHILA.ORGCENTERCITYTPHILA.ORG Center City District & Central Philadelphia Development Corporation Reanimating the Center of the City | 5

Total CCD Employees by Home ZIP Code Philadelphia Employment by Area in Philadelphia

1 Far Northeast 1 6.7%

3 2 2 5 1 3 Roxborough/ Olney/ 2 1 Manayunk Near Northeast 1 Oak Lane 7 1 1.0% Germantown/ 3.8% 5.9% 5 Chestnut Hill 1 3.6% 4 Bridesburg/ 1 1 North Kensington/ Philadelphia Richmond 5 6.0% 6.2% 5 1 West 2 Philadelphia 6 3 4 4 3.0% 1 University 4 City Greater 3 Number of Employees 11.3% 1 1 by ZIP Code Center City 4 42.0% 11.0% 5 7 None 1-2 2 3-4 1.3% 9 8 5-6 Southwest South 7-9 Philadelphia Philadelphia 4.6% 2 1.1% Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Longitudinal House- Navy Yard hold Employment Dynamics, 2018. 1.2%

PHL Airport 3.6%

140 (82%) of CCD employees live in the City of Philadelphia; each year CCD contracts provide work opportunities for another 118 Philadelphia residents

Restoring the Economy: Maintaining and animating spaces The absence of more than 115,000 professional, tech, business was an interim strategy, a holding action, waiting for production and financial services workers and thousands of non-essential and distribution of vaccines to bring the economy back to life. health care and education employees, caused ridership on For those who live or continued to work in Center City, or whose SEPTA, parking garage occupancy and pedestrian volumes on businesses depend on downtown density, our mission has Center City sidewalks to plummet, posing significant challenges been to focus on clean and safe, enhancing nodes of vitality, for restaurants and retail. The loss of tourism and cancellation countering misinformation with frequent surveys and of conventions and trade shows compounded the challenge for reports, and rapidly responding to adverse conditions in the those sectors dependent on face-to-face interaction. Leisure public environment. and hospitality employment initially dropped by 60% — a loss of 43,300 jobs. The pandemic initially plunged Center City back to 1990 conditions, exposing weaknesses and limitations in Philadelphia’s In effect, the pandemic temporarily unraveled much of the ongoing revival. The economic shutdown eliminated 120,100 jobs work of the last 30 years: the creation of a thriving, mixed- citywide between March and April 2020, wiping out 16% of payroll use downtown whose diverse sectors reinforce each other. jobs in the city. By February 2021, employment rebounded by Investments in the 1990s and early 2000s, along with more 41,400 jobs, but remained 78,700 below March 2020 levels. competitive tax policy, had created a platform for growth. From 2009 to 2019, Philadelphia enjoyed a remarkable resurgence, Following telework mandates, about 10% of employees came into adding 87,700 jobs citywide, a significant turnaround from four offices during much of 2020. Working remotely, most continued decades prior, when the city lost 267,500 jobs between 1970 to be paid. By contrast, many cleaning, security and other and 2009. operations personnel in office buildings and on campuses were furloughed.

Center City District & Central Philadelphia Development Corporation CENTERCITYPHILA.ORG 6 | State of Center City

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Matt Stanley Matt Stanley

The decade that followed the Great Recession became the Working with restaurants and the longest sustained period of employment growth in the city since City of Philadelphia, CCD supported the 1920s. Approximately half of citywide job gains during that time occurred in Center City and University City, where jobs grew the expansion of outdoor seating by 10% and 26%, respectively. through all four seasons.

Greater Center City is Philadelphia’s largest concentrated em- ployment center with 42% of all city jobs; Philadelphia residents options contracted, those with stable retirement or investment hold 52% of them. Downtown also hosts the highest concentra- income found home the best place to shelter from the storm. tion of high paying jobs, including 75% of Philadelphia’s jobs in While some decamped for second homes at the beach, the information and finance and 74% of professional and business mountains or in warmer climates, there is little evidence of services jobs. Nonetheless, two-thirds of downtown jobs do not wholesale flight of the middle class from Philadelphia. The require a bachelor’s degree. SEPTA provides the link that enables shutdown of foreign immigration in 2020 did reduce the number 25% of working residents of every city neighborhood to connect of new people moving in, but Philadelphia continued to attract with opportunity in Center City. The pandemic put these jobs at more people from Boston, New York and Washington risk, while causing the 48% of downtown workers who live in the than those moving the other way. Most chose to live in Greater suburbs to consider remote work as a long-term option. Center City.

Downtown Living: In the last two decades, the nine ZIP codes Expanding the Circle of Growth: Despite success in Center between Girard Avenue and Tasker Street that comprise Greater City prior to the pandemic, Philadelphia was growing slowly Center City became the fastest growing residential area of compared to other cities, lagging in the addition of both middle- Philadelphia. Very few downtowns can match the extraordinary class and high-wage jobs. We lacked dynamic growth in export range and affordability of diverse neighborhoods, architecture industries, what economists call “traded” sectors that sell styles and housing types. Downtown provides proximity to jobs, outside the region, bringing revenues from across the nation cultural offerings and thousands of retailers and restaurants. and around the globe back to Philadelphia. Typically, such firms Walkable and bikeable neighborhoods have unparalleled generate demand for even more workers and expand the local connectivity via transit and automobile to locations throughout purchase of services. Only five of Philadelphia’s 20 largest the region and the Northeast Corridor. Between 2000 and 2020, employers at the start of 2020 were in the for-profit sector and the population of Greater Center City increased 29% to more only three were not health care related. than 190,000, while the city as a whole grew by 5%. Among five peer cities on the East Coast, Philadelphia has While many workplaces were empty, the stay-at-home order the lowest density of businesses per thousand residents and intensified use of homes, especially where multiple adults the lowest number of Black-owned businesses per thousand worked remotely. Dining rooms, kitchens and spare bedrooms Black residents. It also has significant lower business density were commandeered for work, or as places to accommodate or than surrounding suburbs, since downtown's success was supervise virtual schooling. As travel, entertainment and dining not replicated citywide. One consequence is that 43% of the

CENTERCITYPHILA.ORG Center City District & Central Philadelphia Development Corporation Reanimating the Center of the City | 7

residents of every Philadelphia neighborhood outside Center City Center City District reverse commute to jobs in the suburbs. They work alongside of suburban residents with better-funded school systems who pay a 1% wage tax compared to Philadelphia’s 3.8% rate. Despite population growth downtown, more households are moving from Philadelphia to the suburbs than are moving the other way. Philadelphia is still losing working-class and middle-class households, reinforcing a city increasingly split between wealth and poverty. Jump-starting Growth Through Equity Investments and Tax Policy: The American Rescue Plan (ARP) creates a unique opportunity for Philadelphia to reposition itself. The temporary infusion of federal funds can restore cuts, but also free up resources for permanent and transformational investments that set the city on a path of more expansive and inclusive growth.

Black- and brown-owned businesses were particularly harmed by the coronavirus crisis. Many enterprises are sole proprietorships without access to traditional capital, lacking banking relationships necessary to receive federal support. Bolstering minority businesses and commercial corridors can be a centerpiece of the city’s recovery strategy, leveraging substantial federal investments and private capital. Building on existing supplier diversity initiatives can also expand local purchasing by Philadelphia institutions and businesses, harnessing unprecedented federal investments in infrastructure to grow Black- and brown-owned businesses at scale.

Long recommended changes in local tax policy can spur new growth. The pandemic underscored the risk of relying on volatile wage and business taxes for 53% of locally generated revenue. Suburban workers contribute $800 million in wage taxes, 20% of the City’s local tax revenues. As the pandemic ends, if 10% BeauMonde Originals to 20% of suburban residents do not return downtown or to University City office buildings, health care or educational institutions, the City will lose between $80 million and $160 million in wage tax revenues. As firms choose to return to their offices or remain remote, we remain the only large city to tax both gross and net business income.

Targeted investments in disadvantaged businesses, coupled with wage and business tax reductions, can jump-start post- pandemic growth. Growth without equity created a city with huge disparities. Investments in equity without growth will leave us a slow growing city with low business density, lacking family sustaining jobs, limiting opportunities for greater workforce participation and the expansion of Black- and brown-owned businesses. The American Rescue Plan lifts Philadelphia above divisive either/or choices to a both/and strategy of inclusive growth. As vaccine distribution ramps up, it's time to get to work.

Paul R. Levy Peter Tobia President Center City District

Center City District & Central Philadelphia Development Corporation CENTERCITYPHILA.ORG 8 | State of Center City

8 VINE ST

2100 Block of Cherry Street

BROAD ST

City Hall MARKET ST

Center City Center City Residents' Residents' Washington Society Hill Association Association West S 15th St Washington West

SOUTH ST

Center City District Fee for Service Areas Contracts with adjacent civic associations

Monday Wednesday Friday

Tuesday Thursday Center City District WASHINGTON AVE

Peter Tobia

Community Service 110+ Representative Contacts Police Officers and Community Service Representatives stand Hospitality/Ambassador 77,765 joint roll call and coordinate deployment Safety/Security 46,752 Homeless/Panhandlers 45,137 177,131 Public Space 6,580 Total contacts 244 795 in 2020 Business Contact Alerts sent in 2020 Outreach Transportation 102 4,086 Source: Daily Activity Logs 2020, Center City District Individuals, businesses or organizations receiving alerts in 2020

CENTERCITYPHILA.ORG Center City District & Central Philadelphia Development Corporation Reanimating the Center of the City | 9

Peter Tobia BeauMonde Originals

While gun violence has become a major challenge in some Philadelphia neighborhoods, other crimes citywide had been trending down pre-pandemic. By contrast, Part One crimes were increasing in Center City since 2017. To support recovery and sustain the economy, attention to quality of life and public safety are paramount for the restoration of jobs.

BeauMonde Originals

Part 1 Crimes Per Day in the Center City District, 1996–2020

Nonviolent Crimes Violent Crimes Total Part 1 Crimes 20

16.4 16.0

15 13.8 13.6 13.6 12.6 12.0 11.7 11.6 11.7 11.1 11.5 11.2 11.4 11.3 11.0 10.7 10.8 10.7 10.3 9.9 10 9.6 9.5 9.8 9.7

5

11.9 14.6 15.2 12.2 10.4 11.4 9.9 9.1 9.5 10.2 10.2 10.9 10.2 10.1 12.8 9.9 9.8 10.2 10.7 9.7 8.7 8.4 8.6 8.9 8.5 0 1.4 1.2 1.0 1.4 1.3 1.1 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.0 1.1 1.0 1.2 1.0 0.9 1.1 1.2 1.0 1.3 1.7 1.2 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Source: Philadelphia Police Department

Center City District & Central Philadelphia Development Corporation CENTERCITYPHILA.ORG 10 | State of Center City

Daytime Homeless Survey, 2015-2020 Panhandling Survey, 2015–2020 10 Average Daily Counts Average Daily Counts

100 70

83 60 80 50 800 60 40 40 30 60040 36 20 20 10 400 27 0 0 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

200 Source: Philadelphia Police Department Source: Philadelphia Police Department

0 Overnight Homeless Survey, 2020 Average Daily Counts

2020 2015-2020 (Average) 800 564 700

600

500 247 326 400

300

200

100 380 345 409 360 393 526 688 547 548 598 456 370 0 January February March April May June July August September October November December

Source: Philadelphia Police Department

Overnight Homeless Survey, 2020 Weekly Surveys, 6th & 9th Police districts

Average Survey Count Last 10 Years (Average) 2020 800 CCD works in partnership 700

600 with Project HOME and 500 Philadelphia Police to 400 connect those in need 300

200 with services and shelter.

100

0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Ju Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

Source: Philadelphia Police Department

CENTERCITYPHILA.ORG Center City District & Central Philadelphia Development Corporation Reanimating the Center of the City | 11

Center City District Capital Investments, 1997-2020 Includes Design Costs OTHER PROJECT YEAR CCD FUNDS FEDERAL CITY STATE FOUNDATIONS DONORS TOTAL Center City Streetscape 1997-98 $21,000,000 $5,000,000 $26,000,000 Market East Streetscape 2000 $7,500,000 $7,500,000 Office District Lighting 2002 $2,300,000 $400,000 $300,000 $3,000,000 City Hall Façade Lighting 2004 $135,000 $140,000 $525,000 $800,000 Logan Circle Pedestrian Access 2004 $1,500,000 $1,500,000 Parkway Lighting 2004-05 $2,220,000 $3,000,000 $30,000 $5,250,000 3 Parkway Plaza, Phase I 2005 $450,000 $450,000 City Hall Holiday Lighting 2005 $400,000 $400,000 Pedestrian Lighting 2005 $1,250,000 $400,000 $35,000 $215,000 $1,900,000 Bus Shelter Signs 2006-07 $109,200 $109,200 Aviator Park 2006-07 $1,750,000 $1,750,000 Dilworth Plaza, Design 2006-10 $1,555,900 $1,701,900 $151,500 $3,409,300 City Hall Portal Lighting 2007 $125,000 $125,000 Honor Box Corrals 2007 $14,000 $86,000 $100,000 Parkway Signs 2007 $2,600 $450,000 $70,000 $522,600 Pedestrian Lighting 2007 $347,000 $390,000 $365,000 $1,102,000 Sculpture Lighting 2007 $10,000 $10,000 South Broad Lighting, Phase I-IV 2007-12 $350,000 $1,219,000 $1,015,900 $2,584,900 3 Parkway Plaza, Phase II 2008 $516,000 $1,320,000 $42,000 $1,878,000 Transit Portal Signs, Phase I-IV 2008-13 $146,200 $433,300 $587,000 $514,100 $1,680,600 2nd Street Civic Improvements 2009 $955,000 $955,000 Chestnut Park, Phase I 2009 $91,900 $91,900 Delaware River Trail 2009 $250,000 $323,000 $573,000 TreeVitalize 2009 $100,000 $100,000 Chestnut Park, Phase II 2010 $210,500 $210,500 Sister Cities Park, Phase I 2010 $66,100 $186,500 $252,600 LED Lighting 21st, 22nd, 23rd Street 2010-11 $94,000 $40,000 $134,000 Underpasses Chestnut/John F. Collins Park 2011 $14,700 $190,000 $1,400 $206,100 Sister Cities Park, Phase II 2011 $53,700 $388,700 $1,985,900 $393,700 $2,822,000 Pedestrian Lighting 2011-12 $196,400 - $1,788,700 - - $405,900 $2,391,000 Dilworth Park, Design & Construction 2011-14 $15,764,230 $15,000,000 $5,750,000 $16,350,000 $1,826,285 $6,066,226 $60,756,741 Reading Viaduct, Phase I 2011-14 $75,631 - $750,000 - $32,649 - $858,280 John F. Collins Park 2012 $8,733 - - - - $8,733 Sister Cities Park, Phase III Completion 2012-13 $153,600 $1,117,100 $0 $503,900 $551,900 $10,000 $2,336,500 City Hall Lighting Improvement 2012-14 - - $142,332 - - - $142,332 Bus Shelter Signs 2013 $46,238 $46,238 Pedestrian Lighting 2014 $30,820 $30,820 Dilworth Park Construction 2015 $2,088,811 $23,801 $28,055 $2,140,667 City Hall Gates 2015 $2,393 $1,425,435 $50,000 $1,477,828 City Hall Gates Lighting 2016 $228,500 $414,717 $643,217 Rail Park, Phase 1 2015-20 $1,407,984 $2,800,000 $4,125,300 $2,447,500 $2,540,067 $13,320,851 City Hall Gates Lighting 2017 $286,777 $286,777 Dilworth Park, Pulse 2017-18 $729,646 $20,000 $325,000 $41,550 $1,116,196 Market Street/JFK Bike Lanes 2020 $3,778 $3,778 Pedestrian Lighting 6th Street 2020 $14,890 $14,890 Pedestrian Lighting 9th & 10th Streets 2019-20 $14,349 $332,900 $347,249

TOTAL $48,334,377 $18,275,800 $28,365,164 $27,567,639 $14,973,389 $13,822,428 $151,338,797

Center City District & Central Philadelphia Development Corporation CENTERCITYPHILA.ORG