Old City District Community Report
April 10, 2024
Agenda
What is "Old City District"?
How is OCD funded?
Recent Challenges
Focus Areas
Clean & Safe
Marketing
Economic Development
Continued Recovery
What's Next
Questions
About Old City District
Mission
To improve Philadelphia's historic district as a place for people to meet, work, shop and live by supplementing municipal services with maintenance, public safety, economic development and promotional programs.
About Old City District
Established by Philadelphia City Council in 1998
Service area bounded by Florist Street to the north, Walnut/Dock Streets to the south, Front Street to the east and 6th Street to the west
About Old City District
OCD is a Business Improvement District (BID) in which commercial property owners pay an assessment to fund supplemental services and improvements within the district’s boundaries
Owner-occupied residential property owners do not pay an assessment
About Old City District
OCD serves to supplement, but not replace, both the services provided by the City of Philadelphia and the responsibilities of property owners
Old City District Board of Directors
Patrick Shillenn, FKB Studio-Board Chair
Donn Clendenon, Clendenon Properties LLC –Vice Chair
Kathryn Bittner, WSFS Bank - Treasurer
Valerie Lyons, Weber Gallagher – Secretary
Miquon Brinkley, Thinker Makers Society
Jeffrey Brown, Jeffrey M. Brown Associates
Erik Derr, Becker LLC
Jonathan Dubrow, Coldwell Banker Commercial
Vince Lattuca, Christ Church Preservation Trust
Donal McCoy, Sassafras Bar
Jennifer Nagle, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Ashley Peel, Philadelphia Independents
Betsy Oliphant Ross, Consultant
Joe Tice, Accelalpha
Brennan Tomasetti, Civetta Property Group LLC
Lizzie Woods, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation
National Park Service Liaison: Steven Sims, Independence National Historic Park
Ex-Officio/Non-Voting Member: Hon. Mark Squilla, Philadelphia City Council
Counsel: Josh Grimes, Esq.
Old City District Board of Directors
Patrick Shillenn, FKB Studio-Board Chair
Donn Clendenon, Clendenon Properties LLC –Vice Chair
Kathryn Bittner, WSFS Bank - Treasurer
Valerie Lyons, Weber Gallagher – Secretary
Miquon Brinkley, Thinker Makers Society
Jeffrey Brown, Jeffrey M. Brown Associates
Erik Derr, Becker LLC
Jonathan Dubrow, Coldwell Banker Commercial
Vince Lattuca, Christ Church Preservation Trust
Donal McCoy, Sassafras Bar
Jennifer Nagle, Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Ashley Peel, Philadelphia Independents
Betsy Oliphant Ross, Consultant
Joe Tice, Accelalpha
Brennan Tomasetti, Civetta Property Group LLC
Lizzie Woods, Delaware River Waterfront Corporation
National Park Service Liaison: Steven Sims, Independence National Historic Park
Ex-Officio/Non-Voting Member: Hon. Mark Squilla, Philadelphia City Council
Counsel: Josh Grimes, Esq.
Community Groups
Old City Community Action Group
• Community Cleanup-1st Saturday of each month (weather permitting)
• Meet 2nd Monday of each month at 7 pm at Old First Reformed Church at 4th and Race (Zoom option available)
• oldcityphillycag@gmail.com
Old City District Staff
Job Itzkowitz Executive Director
Brett Mapp DirectorofOperations
Leah Ben SeniorMarketingManager
Lili Razi EconomicDevelopmentCoordinator
Meet OCD's New Team Members
Leah Ben
Senior Marketing Manager
Previous experience in marketing roles for Center City District and NoMa Business Improvement District in Washington, DC
Lili Razi
Economic Development Coordinator
Lili holds a master's degree in Public Affairs/Community Development and has experience in urban design, zoning administration, and community development
Five-Year Plan & Budget
• Enabling legislation to exist through 2038
• Every five years, OCD submits a Plan & Budget for City Council Approval
• That budget states what OCD can collect via assessments each year
How do assessments work?
How do assessments work?
• Total Commercial Value in OCD is: $1,504,496,935.00
• 508-32 Walnut
• Assessed value is: $158,108,600.00
• ~10.5% of the total commercial value in OCD
• ~10.5% of OCD’s budget
• OCD’s billing amount for 2024 is $1,197,369
• Therefore, 508-32 Walnut pays ~10.5% of $1,197,369, or ~$126,000
• Rate works out to 0.0008
How do assessments work?
How do assessments work?
2023 Challenges
Five-Year Plan & Budget
Clean and Safe
New Cleaning Company
2024 Data
Bags of trash collected
1,824
Needle and Drug Paraphernalia
700
Graffiti/stickers removed
686
Pedestrian Assistance
350
Grayman Security Risk Management
• The Grayman Ambassadors works in the Old City neighborhood to ensure the safety of its businesses, staff, and residents.
• The Ambassadors also handle homeless outreach and addiction referral services.
• Teams of two ambassadors will patrol the Old City neighborhood.
• Three patrols per week, including two-weekend evening patrols
Savage Sisters
• Savage Sisters provides the Philadelphia community with resources for those living with or affected by substance use disorder
• Teams of two outreach workers
• Two rotating shifts per week
Officer Al
Old City foot patrol PPD Officer Al Macchione
Monday to Friday 10 am to 6 pm
Albert.Macchione@Phila.gov
Old City Task Force
Marketing
Marketing
Promote the neighborhood as a place for people to meet, work, shop and live by highlighting the neighborhood’s worldclass assets
Old City District Newsletter
Events and promotions
7,000 subscribers
Sign up
www.oldcitydistrict.org
Old City District B2B Newsletter
Neighborhood updates and information
Sign up
www.oldcitydistrict.org
Click "NEWSLETTER SIGNUP" at the bottom of the homepage!
Twitter/"X"
2023 Post Reach: 62.1K
2023 Post Reach: 115,403
2023 Post Reach: 98.7K
Social Media
80,000+ followers across platforms
2023 Old City District Map
50,000 maps
30th Street Station, Philadelphia hotels, attractions
Shops, restaurants, hotels, museums, residences in Old City
Old City Eats
Old City Eats
Old City Fest
Old City Fest
•5 TV segments
•7 radio reports
•32 online articles
•2 print articles
Historic Holidays in Old City
Historic Holidays in Old City
•1 print article
•6 TV segments
•
48 online articles & mentions
2023 by the Numbers
7 live events
6 events
57k+ visitors
25+ visitors
80k+ followers
2023 by the Numbers
Economic Development
Vision2026: Continuing Work
Published spring 2016 following an extensive public engagement process
Including a public survey with ~500 respondents
Intended to serve as a framework to help shape the future of Old City
Vision2026: Continuing Work
Values + Aspirations
Be a world-class walking neighborhood
Foster civic life through great public space
Re-Occupy vacant buildings and unbuilt parcels
Clarify goals of the neighborhood for developers
Cultivate people: more resident, workers, visitors
Enhance and protect historic and creative character
Attract neighborhood-serving retail (especially a grocery!)
Connect better to nearby neighborhoods
Encourage car-free travel as the first choice of most
Market Street Transformation
Market Street Transformation
Funding and engineering for road diet and Tamanend Plaza are complete!
RFP is expected next month
Market Street improvements should be completed by 2026
Commerce Street
Commerce Street
Commerce Street
Total estimated cost now at $2.6M
Councilman Squilla has committed $100k+ for soft costs
IHT has committed to supporting fundraising efforts
Toured with DCED to pitch grant opportunities
Dolly Ottey Park
Dolly Ottey Park
New adjusted concept plans agreed upon by all stakeholders
Councilman Squilla has committed $100k to this project
Total estimated cost TBD
Property owner is now revisiting its cost estimate
Potential DCED opportunity here as well
Available Commercial Properties
Broker Event
Continued Recovery
2019 - 2023 Weekly Visits
2019-2023 Weekly Employee Visits
2019-2023 Weekly Employee Visits
Total Annual Visits
31 New Businesses Opened in 2021
• American Vegan Society
• AXIOM Contemporary
• BBQ Unlimited
• Casa Vida
• Claudia Mills Studio
• Cray Taste
• Damari
• Embrace Dermatology & Aesthetics
• Frame
• Fred Astaire Dance Studio
• Haus of Wood
• Home Cuban Café
• Ikki Japanese Cuisine & Bar
• Jacqueline Michelle & Co.
• Kurry Shack
• Las Bugambilias
• Mari Mi Bridal
• Nic Grooming
• Panda Tea
• Penzey’s Spices
• PFS Bourse Theater
• Philly Style Bagels
• Pizzarama
• Red Parasol Café
• Ride Zoomo
• The Dog Alley
• The Jiu Jitsu Company
• The Link Studios
• Thinker Makers Society Together
• Victoria Roggio Beauty
43
New Businesses Opened in 2022
• 3 J’s Cafe
• A Four Foot Prune
• Amina’s Lounge
• Anima’s Natural Pet Supplies
• Artistic Hair Studio
• Ava Karl Salon
• Bangin Breakfast and Wild Brunch
• Café Tolia
• Citizens Bank
• City Fitness
• City Pizza
• Dafina Co.
• Demure Bridal
• Elektra Vintage
• Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken
• Home Cuban Cafe
• Istanbul Cafe
• Kadampa Meditation Center
• Lilly's Ferry
• Little Susie’s Pies
• Mochinut
• Museum of Illusions
• Nic’s Grooming
• Old City Kitchen
• Old City Vape
• Olea
• Omnia Spa
• Pet Dermatology Center
• Salon Ballyhoo
• Sol Reminisce
• Stickball Vintage
• The Bubble Tea Room
• The Link Hair Studio
• Together Fitness
• Vanderwende’s Ice Cream
• Wax & Wine
• Petit Jardin en Ville Outdoor Living Showroom
• Philly Cannoli King
• Pingpod
• Pulpery
• Riverwards Produce
• Sage Hair Studio
New Businesses
• 48 Record Bar
• Café Zeit
• Cour Di Caffe
• Eatwell
• Femmi and Yofi Med Spa
• Gong Cha
• JMCD Hair
• La Tienda
• Liberty & Co.
• Linda Glass Compass RE
• Lovello Elizabeth
• Ogawa Philly
• Olivier Cafe
Opened in 2023
• Sharks
• Smoke shop/convenience store
• Tibet-Nepal Handicrafts
• True Direct Home Health Care
• Volume Hair Studio
Retail Vacancy Rate
Source: Old City District
Sources: Old City District and Placer AI
Visits: Total number of visits over the time period, even if that person visited more than once during that time period.
Upcoming Challenges
How do assessments work?
Upcoming Challenges
Upcoming Challenges
Upcoming Challenges
• What happens if top 50 properties lose 50% of their assessed value?
• Total commercial value in district drops from $1.5B to $1.B
• Assessment rate jumps from .0008 to .0012 (50% increase)
How do assessments work?
Top 50 ratepayers pay 48% of OCD’s budget
How do assessments work?
What’s Next
I-95 Park Cap Underway!
Will connect Old City with the waterfront
Source: DRWC
Source: NBC Philadelphia
Market St. Project 2025
Will add bike lanes, landscaping to Market St.
Source: Urban Engineers
New Developments
Unit Count: 360
New Developments
Address: 230 Vine Street
Unit Count: 85 (potentially hospitality)
Status: Approved, but for sale
New Developments
Address: 5th and Wood Street.
Unit Count: 74
Status: In approvals
New Developments
Address: 4th and Vine Streets
Unit Count: 70
New Developments
Address: 4th and Race Streets
Unit Count:
36 group living units + 4 Accessible Units
Status: Under construction
New Developments
New Developments
New Developments
Address: 3rd and Race Streets
Unit Count: 30
Status: Permits pulled
New Developments
Address: 3rd and Walnut Street
Unit Count:
o 8-story hotel
o Retail on the first floor Status: In approvals
New Developments
Unit Count: 15 hospitality rooms and a ground floor bar space
Status: Under renovation
New Developments
New Developments
New Developments
Address: 69-71 N. 2nd Street
Unit Count: 4 hospitality rooms and a ground floor restaurant space
Status: Under construction
New Developments
Unit Count: 5 hospitality rooms
Status: Under construction
Source: thegaslampphilly.com
New Developments
New Developments
~860 total units coming soon
~1,200 more residents
~17% growth
New Developments
Additional 1,800 units planned for Durst projects
~2,700 more residents
Total projected growth:
~3,900 more residents
~57% growth
Source: DRWC
Event space and refreshments were generously provided by these businesses