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CCD and Mural Arts Philadelphia are pleased to announce a streetscape enhancement project to bring original works of art to a variety of downtown businesses that have been temporarily shuttered due to the current health crisis.
Jobs are back, salaries are rising, Center City’s population continues growing, conventions, tourism and retail are all rebounding, and pedestrian vitality is almost fully restored in many portions of the downtown. Office vacancy, however, is rising, challenged by a partial return to office and reinforced by a wage tax that encourages suburban residents to remain remote.
This summer, PNC Bank will once again support local artists by underwriting CCD’s arts and culture programming in Dilworth Park, including Live @ Lunch presented by PNC beginning Wednesday June 1, and continuing every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon through July 28. These small outdoor concerts at lunchtime, featuring a full lineup of musicians representing Philadelphia’s eclectic music scene, will take place from noon-1 p.m. Attendance will be free for all.
The 75-page State of Center City, 2017 report has been released, utilizing the latest research, original reporting and analysis, plus charts and photos to present a downtown that has progressed a long way, but presents a few lingering challenges.
For the last two decades, Greater Center City has been the fastest growing residential section of both Philadelphia and the entire region. After a temporary dip in population, the number of downtown residents on sidewalks in Center City had rebounded to 2019 levels by the end of 2021. Rents and home sale prices held up and the number of newly-permitted residential units in both Center City and citywide reached the highest point in decades in 2021.
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.
Does Philadelphia Have What It Needs to Recover? This Center City District/Central Philadelphia Development Corporation report highlights Philadelphia’s signs of recovery and examines the serious challenges that must be addressed.