Right Up Our Alley
One of my favorite things about working at Center City District is receiving pictures from friends, stakeholders, and strangers.
You might assume that I’m referring to vacation photos of pedestrianized streets in Northern European cities with attached messages asking, “Why can’t we do this here?” Instead, I am referring to the pictures sent to me of alleys lined with overflowing dumpsters, often covered with graffiti, and the quality of life issues exacerbated by this neglect. The accompanying messages vary in tone and color, but the frustration is consistent.
Glamorous? Not quite. But important – and inspiring because it doesn’t have to be that way.
Many of Philadelphia’s alleys are among the loveliest places in the city, but far more are the opposite. I’m also struck by the way dirty alleys undermine the work of Center City District’s 100 hardworking cleaners, who manually or mechanically sweep the sidewalks of the District’s streets three times daily. As one emailer wrote, “We can walk the cleaned streets and sidewalks and then BOOM! we cross a really disgusting back alley, with dumpsters, trash, graffiti and filth all over.”
With improved coordination and enforcement, as well as light modifications to existing regulations, Center City’s alleys don’t have to be our downtown streets’ backsides; they can be clean, safe, and serve the needs of their many commercial and residential users. More imaginatively and ambitiously, there is also an opportunity to reclaim alleys as pedestrian walkways and gathering places that add to the novelty and delight of Philadelphia’s walkable street grid while increasing access to storefronts as well as increasing real estate values.
To better understand the challenge, this summer a CCD team surveyed all 2.5 miles of Center City’s 45 alleys, most of which are in high-use commercial areas south of Market Street.
Among the first things observed by the CCD team was the large number of dumpsters that are not in compliance with City regulations, which state that they must be clean, in good repair, free of graffiti, and “tightly secured” when not in use. Remarkably, of the 441 dumpsters our team located in Center City alleys, 68% were found unlocked or unchained. City regulations further state that the area surrounding each dumpster should be maintained free of litter; 36% of surveyed dumpsters had trash under or adjacent to them.
There is a clear opportunity to educate business owners about the importance of compliance. At the same time, we can be grateful that Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration has added more SWEEP officers to assist with enforcement, so we expect that these statistics will improve. There may also be an opportunity to update the regulations from requiring dumpsters be “tightly secured” to “locked” and require them to be set back farther from intersections.
Poor maintenance of dumpsters in alleys compounds quality of life challenges. Our team observed homeless activity in more than half of the alleys they surveyed. In those alleys, 88% of dumpsters were not secured and 47% had trash scattered under and around them. The “broken windows” theory suggests that visible signs of disorder in our public environment can lead to increased crime – or perceptions thereof – by signaling a lack of care and enforcement. For example, if an alley awash in trash and vandalism is ignored, it may suggest the presence of undesirable activity and make the area more off-putting to others.
As Mayor Parker says, we have company coming in 2026. We can operationalize the stewardship of our downtown alleys before the FIFA World Cup, MLB All-Star Game, and celebrations of America’s 250th birthday. Of course, Philadelphia’s residents and workers – service workers, above all – deserve cleaner and more comfortable alley conditions, but let’s use our visitors as an excuse to clean up quickly and leave them with the best possible impression of our city.
Dumpsters typically service a single business, but multiple waste haulers will service a single alley. The CCD surveying team counted 45 dumpsters in one alley alone, which leads us to wonder how else that space could be used. Dumpster consolidation is an option. The bundling of commercial waste hauling services has been implemented in other downtowns including Austin, Texas. There, the city bids out private commercial waste collection services within a specific geography. One hauler is awarded a contract, which can mean more frequent pickups, efficient oversight, and consolidation of dumpsters among different businesses with costs allocated according to use. It’s worth considering if that could work here.
There are several examples of the thoughtful reallocation or reconsideration of alleys in Center City. On the 1300 block of Drury Street, Goldman Properties added a trash compacter which serves several adjacent businesses, including those in properties that they do not own, and freed up alley space for greening. Similarly, The Harper, developed by Pearl Properties, incorporates a trash compactor used by its entire block. The 1200 block of Cuthbert Street is home to a memorable public art installation of tangled clusters of figures clinging to a bridge.
If businesses are more mindful of regulations, enforcement is optimized, and consolidation is contemplated, the possibilities for Center City Philadelphia’s alleys become very interesting. Our alleys are human in scale, making them ideal for transformation into interesting and charming paths. The novelty and variety of our street grid is what we love about Philadelphia – and garnered us the distinction of the most walkable city in America – and dislike about many suburban subdivisions.
Cleaned up, alleys can be interesting midblock shortcuts for pedestrians and more interesting routes that encourage tourists and locals to explore the city. Clean alleys will unlock the value of adjacent real estate, providing additional opportunities at lower rents for small businesses and entrepreneurial retailers. They are abundant opportunities for public art. In other words, we can reject the default position that Center City’s alleys are our streets’ backsides; we don’t need to completely cede them to services and trash, loading and unloading.
Finally, we are grateful for the continued partnership with Mayor Parker’s administration and her focus on making Philadelphia the cleanest and greenest big city in the United States. We share her priorities and her vision. We are thankful for dedicated and responsive operating partners in the administration, including Carlton Williams, Bridget Greenwald, and Crystal Jacobs.
And I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank the intrepid CCD staff who devised and completed the surveying of alleys – Andrew Jacobs, Jinah Kim, Samantha Rosenbaum, and John Crichton. CCD is at its best when a group of colleagues with different backgrounds go for a walk and identify solutions to a challenge.
It's an honor to be part of this team; I think about that every day.
And, please, keep the pictures coming.
All my best,
Prema Katari Gupta President & CEO Center City District
Have You Seen City Hall’s Glow-Up?
With a countdown followed by the flip of an oversized light switch, officials from CCD and the City of Philadelphia celebrated the completion of a twoyear project to replace City Hall’s 20-year-old exterior lighting with longer lasting and more energy efficient LEDs. The new lighting also provides new color options for holidays, sports victories, and civic events.
New lighting fixtures have been installed on the rooftops of 10 adjacent buildings and at the base of the City Hall tower to illuminate the center and end sections on all four sides of the 123-year-old National Historic Landmark and its clock tower.
The $6.85 million project was funded by a $2.5 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, $2.35 million from the City of Philadelphia’s capital budget and $2 million from the CCD.
Since 1996, CCD has installed 3,000 pedestrian-scale lights throughout Center City as well as façade lighting of buildings and public sculpture on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and South Broad Street.
Fall Fun for Everyone at CCD Parks
Dilworth Park
CENTER CITY FIT
presented by Rothman Orthopaedics
Tuesdays, through October 1
6 – 7 p.m.
LIVE @ LUNCH
Wednesdays & Thursdays
September 4 – October 3 12 – 1 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA MARKETPLACE
Fridays & Saturdays
September 6 – October 5 12 – 6 p.m.
MAZE DAYS
Daily
October 18 – 27
9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
MADE IN PHILADELPHIA FALL MARKET
October 18 – 20 12 – 5 p.m.
Sister Cities Park
PARKWAY PALS: STORYTIME
Tuesdays
September 3 – October 8 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
PICTURES IN THE PARK
Fridays
September 6 – 27 7 p.m.
PARKWAY PALS: FAMILY SATURDAYS
Saturdays
September 7 – October 12 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Cret Park
JAZZ ON THE PARKWAY
Sundays September 1 – 29 4 – 6 p.m.
Dilworth Park Celebrates 10 Years
It might seem like yesterday, but this September marks the 10th anniversary of Dilworth Park’s grand opening. A two-year, $55 million renovation project spearheaded by CCD transformed what was an unwelcoming and unused plaza into an active, attractive, green gathering space and a well-lit modern gateway to underground transit lines.
Pollinators Are Popping at Sister Cities Park
It’s only year two, but the new pollinator garden at Sister Cities Park has taken off in a big way! Native plants are easiest to maintain and most likely to thrive, and you’ll see the proof of that at Sister Cities. Among the 4,000 new pollinatorfriendly native flowering plants and grasses are Black-Eyed Susan, Common Milkweed, Eastern Coneflower and Muhly Grass. All were chosen for their ability to support migratory and native birds and insects as a year-round source of food and shelter.
Keep an eye out for new informational signage about the garden that’s coming soon and visit sistercitiespark.org for an event schedule and information about the kid-friendly play spaces.
CCD hosts hundreds of events each year at Dilworth Park that attract millions of visitors from every neighborhood in Philadelphia. For a calendar of upcoming events, visit dilworthpark.org.
Help Us Scale Our Impact!
Imagine a Center City where every block bustles with activity and vibrancy, where every public space thrives with natural beauty and culture as diverse as the city itself. At the Center City District, we are committed to transforming this vision into reality, and we invite you to be a crucial part of the journey.
Since 1992, the Center City District Foundation has been dedicated to helping CCD do more in Center City Philadelphia — from tree planting and free programming in parks to homeless outreach.
In addition to simply making a donation to the Foundation, here are some ways to support the work of CCD:
Recurring Giving: Set up your donation to happen automatically, monthly or in any time increment you choose. The financial impact of your giving is year-round and allows us to plan most effectively. By making your CCDF contribution a recurring one, you are making a lasting investment in the future of Philadelphia.
Employer Match: Ask your employer if they offer gift-matching programs. This can effectively double your contribution and make more of an impact on the causes that matter to you.
Donor-Advised Fund: This is an account in which the proceeds of assets you invest go to charity. Your contributions grow tax-free, and you can qualify for an income tax deduction.
Planned Giving: By naming CCDF as a beneficiary in your will, your gift becomes a legacy that will continue beyond your lifetime.
Open Streets: Carefree & Car-Free in Center City
For four special Sundays in September, portions of Center City’s most popular shopping and dining corridors are going car-free as part of new initiative called Open Streets: West Walnut.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays from September 8 through September 29, Walnut Street from 15th to 19th, and 18th Street from Chestnut to Locust, will transform into pedestrian-only thoroughfares that will act as an extension of public space. Streets
will be used as walkways, allowing retailers to expand outside and restaurants to move seating outdoors.
Open Streets: West Walnut is produced by Center City District with support from Rittenhouse Row, the City of Philadelphia and Rothman Orthopaedics.
For the most up-to-date information, visit centercityphila.org/openstreets
Meet CCD’s On-Street Teams
Spend time in Center City and you're bound to spot them: on foot and on bikes, our street teams are at the heart of CCD’s mission.
More than three dozen Community Service Representatives (CSRs) patrol on foot seven days a week, wearing distinctive teal uniforms and equipped with two-way radios, first aid gear, maps and more.
These roving goodwill ambassadors interact with downtown workers, visitors, residents, and businesses to provide information or directions, administer first aid, and summon emergency medical assistance and police services when needed. A special outreach team provides assistance and connections to services for unsheltered individuals.
Additionally, a uniformed bike patrol operates within the District seven days a week. Like CCD CSRs, the bike Safety Patrols are unarmed, act as a deterrent, and function like a professional town watch, communicating regularly and working in partnership with Philadelphia police as well as security personnel at many Center City buildings.
Be sure to say hello when you see these dedicated folks out and about!
Visit centercityphila.org/jobs for information on job openings. Join our team!
The Latest CCD Research & Analysis
CCD’s economic development team researches and produces reports year-round on a variety of subjects for stakeholders to attract entrepreneurs from outside the region, encourage new startups, retain businesses within Center City and expand the residential population.
An online tool was recently launched to complement our in-depth printed reports. The new Center City Data Dashboard currently includes nine interactive pages of information covering key indicators, pedestrian counts, the office market, retail, hospitality, transportation, housing, CCD stats and demographics. Find it all at centercityphila.org/datadashboard
Also be sure to check out the recently released Center City Retail Update report, which tracks the latest changes in storefront occupancy, demand drivers and new openings. The report also presents new findings on Center City’s competitiveness as a retail market compared to surrounding suburbs, highlighting its unparalleled accessibility as well as its concentration of wealth that far surpasses suburban spending power.
Among the key takeaways: 75 businesses have opened or will open soon in Center City. Retailers range from locally owned businesses like Miss Saigon to large national brands such as Alo Yoga and Nike.
Want to learn more? You can read and download the report at centercityphila.org/retailreportjune2024
Complete a five-minute questionnaire at ccdsurvey.com and be automatically entered to win $250 in restaurant gift certificates. Five winners will be chosen at random.
CCD’s annual customer satisfaction survey is conducted to gauge the public's experience in Center City and to gather feedback on the performance of CCD on-street staff of sidewalk cleaners, Community Service Representatives, bike safety patrols and park staff.
CPDC Members Tour Spring Garden Developments
A private tour hosted by Central Philadelphia Development Corporation (CPDC) this spring provided members a behind-thescenes look at three new apartment developments along Spring Garden Street.
The members-only tour began at The Noble, at 2nd and Spring Garden streets, followed by The Alcott currently under construction at 5th and Spring Garden, and ended at The Carson, a 12-story 373-unit complex now leasing at 5th and Spring Garden. Marked by exceptional amenities, placement, and design, these three buildings represent a rising demand in the market provided by a fast-growing residential population in Greater Center City.
Behind the scenes tours, exclusive networking events, happy hours for young professionals and panel discussions are held throughout the year exclusively for members of CPDC, a business leadership organization affiliated with and managed by the Center City District that serves as a vehicle for planning, advocacy and civic engagement.
Become a CPDC Member Today
Business leaders who are members of the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation (CPDC) have access to year-round programs and events from panel discussions to behindthe-scenes hard hat tours of some of Center City’s most exciting projects.
CPDC membership pays for research and member engagement, and enables CPDC to continue to provide reliable marketplace information and enhance the competitiveness of Center City.
To learn more about CPDC and how to join, visit joincpdc.org or contact CCD Economic Development Manager Lauren Smith at lsmith@centercityphila.org
Center City Digest is a publication of the Center City District (CCD), a private-sector-sponsored municipal authority committed to providing supplemental services that make Philadelphia’s downtown clean, safe and attractive; and of Central Philadelphia Development Corporation (CPDC), with more than 60 years of private-sector commitment to the revitalization of downtown Philadelphia.
Center City District
660 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 centercityphila.org
