Open Streets, Third Spaces, and Cultivating Communities
When I first moved to Philadelphia nearly 20 years ago, I happened to be training for the New York Marathon. Many of my first impressions of the city were forged between my Center City apartment and the banks of the Schuylkill River, where I became enamored by the experience of what felt like running through a Thomas Eakins painting. Since then, I have loved running down the middle of West River Drive – now MLK Drive – which is closed to vehicular traffic seasonally on weekends. I’d often wonder if other streets in Philadelphia could have similarly flexible uses.
Unfortunately, it took a public health emergency to test this notion. The COVID-19 pandemic forced American cities to quickly reimagine their streets. As restaurants struggled to survive, cities from Portland to Pittsburgh rushed to convert parking spaces to outdoor dining areas. In Philadelphia, several streets in Center City transformed into outdoor dining rooms. I’ll never forget how moving it was for my family to enjoy a meal among dozens of similarly delighted strangers in the middle of the 13th Street roadway after months of eating at home in isolation.
These emergency measures not only helped restaurants survive the economic devastation of restricted capacity but also inspired many Philadelphians to embrace al fresco dining even after restrictions eased. Center City’s streeteries have all but disappeared, for better or for worse, but there are still more outdoor dining seats in Center City (3,779) than there were in 2019 (3,501).
Perhaps more so than our restaurant industry, downtown retail has undergone creative destruction over the past five years. While many downtowns have lost legacy retailers such as Gap, Banana Republic, and Ann Taylor, successful shopping districts like Rittenhouse Row have evolved to attract a new generation of digitally native brands such as Warby Parker, M.M.LaFleur, Brooklinen, Glossier, and Vuori, all of which appeal to a growing population of young professionals with disposable income who live within walking distance.
For the last two years, Philadelphia has been named the Most Walkable City in the U.S., arguably because of places like Rittenhouse Row, where the physical form of the street is as important to the area’s success as the tenant mix. Rittenhouse Row has desirable smaller storefronts (1,0003,000 square feet) which create an engaging cadence of storefronts under a tree canopy, maintain visual interest, and encourage exploration.
Looking to lean into Center City’s inherent walkability while supporting retailers, our team launched a program to pedestrianize parts of Rittenhouse Row during four Sundays in September and two in December. Dubbing the program “Open Streets: West Walnut,” we temporarily
closed sections of Walnut Street and 18th Street to vehicles, creating nearly seven blocks of car-free space for shopping, dining, and gathering. Programming was light; we wanted to create a lean event that, if successful, might be possible to scale in the future.
From the moment we closed the street on that first “Open Streets” Sunday, it was clear that we had created something special. The buoyant scene, which a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist likened to Barcelona’s beloved La Rambla pedestrian thoroughfare, was a picture-perfect convergence of kids chasing bubbles, locals walking dogs, Eagles fans watching the game on lounge chairs, and friends strolling and talking without the din of buses and car traffic.
However, the purpose wasn’t to create another CCD-managed public space, however temporary. Our goal was to drive pedestrian traffic, visibility, and sales to retailers and restaurants. We also sought positive regional coverage of the event, to counteract pervasive and inaccurate narratives about the health of downtown. In true CCD fashion, we evaluated the performance of Open Streets: West Walnut on those four September Sundays by conducting a survey and collecting aggregated demographic visitation data via Placer.ai.
From a quantitative perspective, the program was remarkably successful: Retailers saw a 68% increase in volume, and responses ranged from 25% to 275% increases. Retailers reported a corresponding average 86% increase in foot traffic. Placer.AI indicated a 24% increase in pedestrian counts in an area of Rittenhouse Square broader than the footprint of the street closure, suggesting that businesses on Chestnut Street and Sansom Street also benefitted from the program. On the first Sunday of the closure, most of those in attendance were local. However, during weeks two and three, there was a significant bump in suburban visitors. 36% of businesses indicated that Open Streets had a positive impact on shoplifting and nuisance behavior during Open Streets, while not one reported an increase in shoplifting or nuisance behavior.
Our goal was to prove that streets filled with people drive more business than streets filled with cars, but we also succeeded in creating a more vibrant, uplifting, community-oriented shopping and dining experience in Center City Philadelphia. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that this program was successful due to the dedication and leadership of Giavana Pruiti, Jimmy Salfiti and Andrew Jacobs, with significant support from a great many CCD staff members and our partners in the Police Department.
Much continues to be written about the troubling rise of loneliness and isolation in modern life. Restoring meaningful human connection in a culture that increasingly places value on the remote — from where we work and shop to how we celebrate and socialize — poses a complex challenge, but there are things we all can do. I’m inspired by the creative ways our team is working through “Open Streets” and programming in our parks to foster connectedness and joy in the crucially important “third spaces” where we gather.
It’s not just third spaces that can serve as important hubs for deeper connection, collaboration and collective belonging. As I write this, my CCD colleagues are unpacking boxes and settling into our new home in the historic Land Title Building on South Broad Street. We are thrilled with our new space in the heart of Center City, closer to our parks and our stakeholders in the office district. In our new office, our on-street teams and office staff are delighted to have more opportunities to interact and engage with each other, thanks to expanded shared facilities. We think that the office both physically and symbolically embodies our mission of fostering streetscape vitality; through our ground-floor windows, passersby can glimpse art and activity within. Finally, the space will serve as a demonstration of what the future of office life ought to be: not merely an obligation, but a destination. At a time when many continue to question the viability of office space, we want to show how thoughtfully designed workspaces can bring people together for community, collaboration, and productivity.
Please visit!
Warmly,
Prema Katari Gupta
President & CEO
Center City District
’ Tis the Season at Dilworth Park
All things merry and bright: skating, shopping, and festive fun for everyone
Ongoing
ROTHMAN ORTHOPAEDICS ICE RINK
Daily through February 23
Visit dilworthpark.org for hours
WINTERGARDEN
presented by Dunkin'
Daily through March 9
Visit dilworthpark.org for hours
MADE IN PHILADELPHIA
HOLIDAY MARKET
Daily through January 1
Sundays – Thursdays, 12 – 8 p.m.
Fridays & Saturdays, 12 – 9 p.m.
Closed Christmas Day
COCKTAILS AND COLD ONES
Wednesdays through February 19
5 – 7 p.m.
COLLEGE NIGHTS
presented by Temple University
Thursdays through February 20
5:30 – 9 p.m.
Coming in 2025
SUPERHERO SKATE
Saturday, January 11
1:30 – 3 p.m.
RHYTHM ON ICE
Saturday, January 25
5:30 – 7 p.m.
LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
presented by Temple University
Saturday, February 1
5 – 7 p.m.
ICE PIANO
Saturday, February 15 4 – 6 p.m.
FREE IN FEBRUARY
presented by Rothman Orthopaedics
Mondays & Tuesdays
February 3 – 18
Visit dilworthpark.org for hours
Staff Stories
Meet graphic designer Aimée Liriano
Have you seen the wonderful illustrations in some of our recent publications and marketing materials? They’re the work of CCD graphic designer Aimée Liriano, whose joyful work can be found throughout the 2024 State of Center City report, the summer and fall editions of the Center City Digest, and visuals for the Open Streets: West Walnut program, to name a few.
Aimée's talent and creativity help to make Center City a more beautiful place.
Check out our Q&A with Aimée on the CCD blog: centercityphila.org/blog
Kudos to our safety team members
Congratulations to the team members who were recognized at our most recent Safety Award presentation.
Safety Patrol Officer Aleem Ellis was awarded for his observational awareness and quick thinking in response to a boy whose bookbag was stolen near 11th and Walnut streets in September by several other boys. Ellis spotted the group boarding a bus, where they were detained by SEPTA police. The bag was returned to its owner.
In October, Site Manager Martina Vinson spotted a group of young girls in a scuffle near Dilworth Park and quickly informed her supervisor and park officials. SEPTA and Philadelphia police officers were quickly contacted and dispersed the group, avoiding what could have been a more serious incident.
Thank You for Your Support
Center City Philadelphia continues its remarkable resurgence from the challenges of the last four years. Still, we need to do even more to address lingering problems, to capitalize on new opportunities and to build on decades of successfully transforming Center City into a thriving place to work, live, shop, dine and enjoy extraordinary historical and cultural attractions.
Contributions to the Center City District Foundation (CCDF) are essential in helping us maintain our high standards of service and innovative solutions, focusing on three critical programs making our downtown vibrant, welcoming, and safe for everyone.
First, our greening initiatives transform concrete and asphalt sidewalks and streets into landscaped walkways and bike lanes with trees and planters, as well as maintain Dilworth, Sister Cities, John F. Collins, and Cret parks year-round.
Second, our public safety programs are essential in sustaining Center City as a thriving destination for business, tourism, and daily life. Our Community Service Representatives provide a trusted presence on our streets and our newer bike patrol has more than doubled the number of dedicated individuals who ensure that Center City remains one of the
safest downtowns in America.
Third, our homeless outreach specialists provide compassionate, effective support to our most vulnerable neighbors. Working in partnership with Project HOME and crisis intervention-trained police officers, this work requires persistent, personalized engagement—and it changes lives every day.
Your tax-deductible contribution to CCDF directly supports these vital initiatives. Please consider making your most generous gift today, so together we can ensure that Center City remains clean, safe, and welcoming for all.
We are grateful for the support of our generous donors. Names listed here represent gifts of $100 or more made from Nov. 1, 2023 to Nov. 1, 2024.
Seyna Abel
Guy Aiman
AJSW Charitable Fund
Nancy Altemus
Craig and Sharon Altman
Anonymous
Tawia Apenteng
David Baker
Andrea M. Baldeck MD
Regina Bannan
Margaret Barry
Harvey Bartle
Myron and Sheila Bassman
James G. Baxter
Autumn Bayles
Caroline Beaumont
Frances Beckley
Ben Franklin Landscape
Perry Benson
Sandra Berger
Alice K. Berman
Mary Bernstein
Sharon Binstock
Frederick L. Bissinger
Bonnie Boccitto
Edward H. Boehner
Wendy Born
Jane Boyd
Patricia Boyer
Richard Braemer
Joseph Bright
Merrill and Lloyd Brotman
Buck Family Fund
Elizabeth Buckley
Sandra L. Cadwalader
Jennifer Cardy
Bonnie Carpenter
Steven Casper
Edward and Sheila Chacker
Gerard Chamberlain
Debora Clower
James F. Conmy
Connelly Foundation
John J. Connors
Peter F. Cooke Jr.
Barbara Cooper
James and Sandra Corry
Coscia Moos Architecture LLC
Dr. Andrew Costarino and Dr. Jane Lavelle
Arthur Coyle
Rachel Dada
Georganne V. Daher
Kathleen R. Dalzell
Ellen Danish
Margaret W. Darby
Alexander and Susan David
Allen F. Davis
Walt and Maryann De Treux
Michael and Sandra Dean
Anthony C. Degutis
Sharon Tice DelCotto
Luis DeVelasco
Jennifer and Ramon Diaz-Arrastia
Mark Dichter
Ineke M. Dikland
Steven Docimo
William F. Dohmen
Deborah Anne Douglas
Liz Dow
Margaret Dowling
Christine Drennen and Jacob Smith
Murray Dubin and Libby Rosof
Jason Duckworth
Andrea and Alexander Ehrlich
Edgar and Barbara Einhorn
Bonnie W. Eisenfeld
Wesley Ellis
Harold Epps
Jerome and Deborah Epstein
Thomas Eshelman
Amy Yu-Hsin Fan
Paul and Judith Farber
Alan Feldman
Zachary Fernberger
Peter Ferry
David and Jaimie Field
Herb Fineburg
S. David Fineman
Fred Fisher
Fleischner Family Charitable Foundation
Andrew Fletcher
Jeremy J. Flood
Michael J. Foran
Dodi Fordham
Judith R. Forman
Forman Family Foundation
Elizabeth Fox
William J. Fox
Adrienne Frangakis
Susan Frank
J. Leonard and Janice Freed
Bruce Frohlich and Rachel Weinstein
James G. Fulton Jr.
Stephen Gansz
Terri N. Gelberg
Elizabeth H. Gemmill
Edward I. George
Monica George
James Gertie
Cheryl Gimbel
Sheila and Henry Gladstone
Richard and Wendy Glazer
Nancy Goldenberg
Richard and Mary Grant
Sharon Keys Gray
Patricia A. Green
Robert Green
Alan and Greta Greenberger
Stephen Greenfield
Bernard M. Gross
John Grossman
P. Richard and Nancy Grove
Jane Guo
William and Mary Hangley
Isabelle Harding
Margaret Harris
Miles Herman
Mary M. Hess
Janice Hinkle and Eric Bernhard
Christine Hollister
James Holtzman
Chandler Hoopes
Ann Marie and Terry Horner
Ralph Horwitz
John Houle
Susan M. Huffman
Mark Alan Hughes and Medha Narvekar
Jeff Jacobs
Terry Jacobs
Anne Jacovini
Nancy and William Jantsch
Daniel and Lisa Jaouiche
Judith and Mark Brodsky Charitable Fund
Barbara Kaplan
Peter Karasik
Kurt Karl
Gloria J. Katsiff
Edda Katz
Robert Keidel
Carol J. Kelley
Mary and Robert Keppel
Steven and Madeleine Kessler
Rachel Kieser
Jeri Kim and Ralph Zinner
Amy Jo Knaper
Elizabeth L. Knighton
Jessica and Christopher Kohles
Marian Kornilowicz
Vicki and Donald Kramer
Joanne Kundrat
Stephen Landis
Charles B. Landreth
Emily and Michael Landsburg
Henry I. Langsam
Lantern Theater Company
Joseph M. and Margaret H. Lanzone
Sandra Lau
Andrew Lee and Phoenix Wang
Virginia Lee
Seth and Ellen Lehr
Amy and William Lent
Bruce and Joye Lesser
Richard Levy
Kathleen Linneman
Nadine Lomakin
Judith Sorkin Losben
Thomas Maciag
Susan MacKinney
Harvey Magarick
Elizabeth Mahoney
Nicholas J. Maiale
Mark Robert Makurath
Petar Mamula
Joseph M. Manko
Linda & David Marder
Diane Marimow
Bernard and Jane Mason
Keith Maston
Ann Mayer
Linda and Tom McCarthy
Harry and Susan McCullough
Dennis McGlade
William A. McKenna
William McNamara
Eric McNeil
Chris and Leah McTiernan
Thomas Meade
The Merck Foundation
Mark Merlini
Ann Micka
Nancy Middlebrook and Thomas Sherman
Arthur and Kathleen Miller
Lynn Miller
Robert Miller
The Miralie Fund
Jeffrey Miripol
Karen Miura
Martha Moore
Michael J. Morales
Jacqueline Morrill
Alan Morrison and Suzanne Peck
Irving Nachamkin
Harry Neerenberg
Nancy L. Neufer
Katherine Niven
Charles & Debbie O'Donnell
Barbara Oldenhoff
Brendan O'Leary
Samuel Olshin
Karen Orman
Lisa Miclette Pappo
James L. Paterno
Bryan Pennock
John Peruto
Joseph Picardo and Jonathan Bassman
Joan Pileggi
Charles Pilkington
Robert L. Pisani
Barbara Pomerantz
Gerald Prince
Stefano Puntoni
Larry Rappoport
Jane Rath and John Chase
Louise Reed
Marilyn Reininger
Kenneth A. Richman
John and Claire Rodgers
Jeffrey Rosenstock
George and Karen Rosskam
Christyn Rossman
Joseph Rotberg
Melvyn H. Rothbard
Miki Rotman
Daniel and Barbara Rottenberg
Kathy Rouan
Martin Rubel MD
Jeanne Ruddy and Victor Keen
Marion Rudin Frank
Vincent and Lila Russo
Nicholas Sanders and Margaret Sayvetz
Patricia and Scott Sanders
Mon Sangh
Alice and Leonard Sayles
Howard Scher
Corey M. Schiller
Marla Schimmel
Deena Schneider
Mary and Carl Schneider
Paul and Barbara Schraeder
Jennifer Schwartz and Joshua Goldwert
Terri Schwomeyer
Nina Segre and Frank Furstenberg
Adam Shapiro and Terryl Decker
Paul R. Shay
Mary E. Simaitis
M. Celeste Simon
Carl Siracusa
Bonnie and Harris Sklar
Serena Skwersky
David and Gayle Smith
Rheta R. Smith
William and Deirdre Snyder
Tom Spann
Meredith Spindler
Arthur and Susan Stein
Mark Steinberger
Jacqueline Stern
Stockton Real Estate Advisors LLC
Julie Stoiber
Stephen Stumpf
Susan Summerton
Kurt and Diane Swartz
Gerard H. Sweeney
Brian Swope
Glenn R. Sykes
Michelle Taglialatela
Sabina D. Tannenbaum
Saundra Taub
Louis Temme and Kathryn Rosse
James Templeton
Chris Thompson
Virginia Thompson
David B. Thornburgh
Sharon Tice DelCotto
Ward and Lynn Utter
Richard Vague
Coenraad van der Poel
Vijay Verma
Thomas M. Vernon
Barbara Vetri
Stephen A. Villano
Marc Walton and Toni Stifano
Matt Ward
Barbara M. Watson
Harvey Waxman
Constance R. Webber
Susan Weiler
Kathi Wennell
Caroline Wischmann
Diane and Richard Woosnam
Sherley Young
Corporate Sponsors
6abc
Broad Street Brewing
City Fitness Philadelphia
Dunkin'
Equinox
Open Table PATCO
Rothman Orthopaedics
SEPTA
Suntory Global Spirits
Temple University
We are also thankful for the support of our CPDC member organizations: ABM
Allan Domb Real Estate
Alterra Property Group LLC
Aramark
Ballard Spahr LLP
Ballinger
Bank of America NA
Blank Rome LLP
Blueprint Commercial
Brandywine Realty Trust
Brickstone Realty
CBP Architects
CBRE
Chubb
Colliers
Comcast
Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Co.
Conner Strong & Buckelew
CosciaMoos Architecture
Cozen O'Connor LLP
Cushman & Wakefield of Pennsylvania Inc.
Dranoff Properties
Duane Morris LLP
Econsult Solutions Inc.
Firstrust Bank
FMC Corporation
Fox Rothschild LLP
Free Library of Philadelphia
Gensler
The Goldenberg Group
Goldman Properties
Greenberg Traurig LLP
HDR Architecture
JLL
Kenilworth Capital Advisors LLC
Keystone Property Group
KieranTimberlake
Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg LLP
The Klein Company
Korman Communities Inc.
LevLane
The Lighting Practice
Lubert-Adler
M&T Bank
Mercator Advisors LLC
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
MPN Realty
Narducci Electric Company LLC
National Real Estate Development
Nelson Worldwide
Newmark
O'Donnell & Naccarato
Olin
Parkway Corporation
Pearl Properties LLC
PECO Energy Company
Pennoni
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Philadelphia Parking Authority
PIDC
PMC Property Group
PNC Bank NA
Posel Management Company
Post Brothers
Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia
Reading Terminal Market Corporation
Republic Bank
Saul Ewing LLP
Savills
Scully Company
Seravalli Inc.
SSH Real Estate
Stockton Real Estate Advisors LLC
Strada Architecture LLC
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young LLP
Structure Tone LLC
Ten Penn Center Associates LP
Toll Brothers Inc.
University of Pennsylvania
Univest Financial Corporation
Urban Engineers Inc.
William Penn Foundation
WRT
Zarwin Baum DeVito Kaplan Schaer Toddy PC
Center City Retail Report
Just ahead of the holiday shopping season, CCD’s economic development team released its latest report, an in-depth analysis of Center City’s current retail scene, latest trends and survey responses from consumers about their most-desired businesses.
The report reveals a stabilized retail occupancy rate of 83% across the district, with significant growth in several key sectors. The total number
of retailers has grown 15% since 2019, totaling nearly 3,000 retail stores, service providers and food and beverage establishments within a two-square-mile area. Notable growth includes 35 new full-service restaurants, 26 bar/nightlife locations and multiple new retail concepts in the past two years.
Want to learn more? Check out the full report at centercityphila.org/retail
New Retailers in Center City
Avigail Adam Jewelry
118 S. 18th Street
Beat the Bomb 1218 Chestnut Street
BOTLD
118 S. 18th Street
Brunchaholics
40 S. 19th Street
Chip City
204 S. 17th Street
FIGS
1625 Walnut Street
Juan Pistola’s Tasting Room
The Shops at Liberty Place
Levain Bakery 1516-18 Walnut Street
Mama’s Falafel 18 S. 20th Street
Neuhaus Chocolates 1616 Walnut Street
Pure Green 1124 Walnut Street
Rittenhouse Deli & Juice Bar 1510 Sansom Street
Sushi by Bou Midtown 1224 Chestnut Street
Topside Tavern 10 S. 20th Street
Did we miss any new openings, or are you opening soon within Center City District boundaries? Let us know by emailing shop @ centercityphila.org with more information.
CPDC Members Tour Future Chubb HQ
In late October, members of the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation (CPDC) were invited to a behind-the-scenes hard hat tour of 2000 Arch, set to become the headquarters of Chubb Insurance in 2026. Developed by Parkway Corporation, with 18 floors and a total of 430,000 square feet, the building will be a prominent addition to Center City’s skyline and will serve to consolidate multiple existing sites across the region into a single and accessible location.
Designed by L2P / Stantec, 2000 Arch is on track to receive LEED
Platinum certification upon completion. The project includes a 3,000 square foot retail space along the 20th Street side, as well as outdoor space for Chubb employees midway up the building where the façade steps back from the street.
After suiting up in safety gear, participants began the tour with an overview of the dealmaking process from Wale Mabogunje, Vice President/Project Executive at Parkway and Brian Berson, President of Parkway Commercial Properties Inc.
Tour participants took a construction lift to the ninth floor, where they were treated to impressive views of Philadelphia from the office’s future terrace. Once completed, this space will serve as an amenity area featuring planters, pergolas, and a green-roof water management system. As the exterior work approaches completion, Parkway plans to officially hand over the office space to Chubb in early 2026, which will be an exciting and event-filled year for Center City and the region.
Become a CPDC Member Today
Business leaders who are members of the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation have access to year-round programs and events from panel discussions to behind-thescenes 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 the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation (CPDC), with almost 70 years of private-sector commitment to the revitalization of downtown Philadelphia.
Center City District
100 S. Broad St., Ste 1N Philadelphia, PA 19110 centercityphila.org
