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This new CCD/CPDC report examines the current state of the downtown restaurant and retail sectors. Using pedestrian, transit and parking occupancy counts and detailed visual surveys of almost 2,000 retail premises, conducted by CCD staff, the report provides a close-up look at business conditions, supplemented with information from the commercial office sector, employment trends, housing market data and ecommerce trends.

Commentary by Paul R. Levy, CCD President and CEO: Philadelphia was beginning its 11th year of growth when we started researching and writing our annual State of Center City report. Then everything changed. We considered not publishing, but decided only to adjust tense in the text, reflecting current realities.

This groundbreaking study by the CCD examines over 2.5 miles of Philadelphia's alley network with the goal of transforming these underutilized spaces into valuable public assets. This comprehensive survey of 45 Center City alleys, reveals significant challenges but also significant, achievable potential to evolve into safer, cleaner, and more active urban spaces.

Homelessness is solved best not with placards and slogans, nor simply by money, but through the thoughtful integration of multiple disciplines.

Dilworth Park at City Hall welcomed record-breaking weekend crowds during December 2016, its third winter season.