Working every day to enhance the vitality of Center City.

Center City District has helped transform downtown Philadelphia with a simple but ambitious mission to make the downtown clean, safe and attractive for people to work, live and enjoy.

Enjoy sunshine and socially distanced seating at CCD managed parks- Dilworth Park, Sister Cities Park and Cret Park. Fountains have returned on low water settings. Check back for more updates soon.

On Tuesday, May 11, 2021, CPDC hosted a virtual membership meeting to review the annual report State of Center City 2021 and the most recent recovery report, Monitoring Philadelphia’s Economic Recovery, May 2021. Industry leaders discussed what is needed for continued recovery and getting office workers, visitors and tourists to return to offices, reanimate hotels and restore jobs in Center City Philadelphia.

This is a transformational moment for Philadelphia, when investments in economic development funded by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) can be combined with the long-recommended changes to Philadelphia's tax structure to prompt faster and more equitable citywide job growth.

The pandemic has dramatically highlighted the interdependence of the diverse components of the Center City economy. Downtown offices drive demand for retail and restaurants and attract business travelers. Colleges and universities create demand for apartments, retail and restaurants, and supply graduates who replenish the workforce. Arts and cultural institutions draw regional visitors and tourists, and convention attendees book hotels and restaurants. Remove any of these interconnected components and vitality is challenged, while revenues that support citywide services are curtailed.

SEPTA is working day and night to keep their riders and staff safe and healthy, whether they’re taking Regional Rail downtown or making their way around town on our subways, buses or trolleys.

Demand for Center City retail has been built upon a diversified base of office, education and health care workers, a large and growing downtown population and an expanding number of tourists and convention attendees. At the center of the region’s highway and transit system, Center City is the most concentrated employment node in the region, hosting 42% of Philadelphia’s jobs, creating opportunity for residents of all city neighborhoods and surrounding counties.

6abc featured Center City District Community Service Representative and lifelong Philadelphian Moses Pierce on February 25, 2021 on their Art of Aging program.

Center City is ready when you are: Businesses throughout the downtown are following CDC and local guidelines to reopen with care. There are a range of resources that can help you navigate these challenging times while enjoying the unique amenities our downtown offers.

After decades of job loss, Philadelphia has enjoyed nine straight years of job growth that accelerated in 2014. Despite the recent upturn however, the city has rebounded more slowly than most peer cities.

This CCD, CPDC report examines business density and the disparities between the number of Black-owned and white-owned businesses in Philadelphia and compares them to four other East Coast cities.

This CCD, CPDC report suggests that Philadelphia should increase its commitment to quality of life investments and resume its prior commitments to tax reduction, in order to retain and attract residents and businesses and spur widespread and inclusive private-sector job growth.

This summer, Dilworth Park will once again host small outdoor concerts on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons featuring a full lineup of local artists. All Live @ Lunch presented by PNC performances will take place from noon-1 p.m., from June 2 through July 29.

The Center City District Foundation is pleased to announce the successful launch of a new initiative, Plant Center City, which has the goal of planting 200 new trees in the central business district during the next two years.

CCD, Project Home and Philadelphia Police have partnered to create combined outreach teams that help people living on the streets connect with services and shelter.