Center City District Impact Report 2026

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Every day. Every block. For everyone in Center City.
Center City District deploys more than 200 uniformed staff every day across 233 blocks and 46 miles of sidewalk. The following pages detail the impact of their work on pedestrians, businesses, and many of Center City’s most cherished public spaces.
More than three-quarters of all CCD assessment revenues are dedicated to core services ensuring a clean, safe, attractive, and well-managed public environment.
46 miles of sidewalks cleaned 3x daily
55 tons of trash removed
120,000 cleaning staff hours per year
116,855 CSR conversations with pedestrians
13,377 bike patrol responses
3,091 CSR visits to businesses
205 unsheltered people connected to services
12.9 million Dilworth Park visitors
503 graffiti tags removed
268 CCD park events
$162.4 million in capital investments since 1997
35 years of serving Center City

Every day, more than 200 men and women from the Center City District fan out across the downtown to start their work. They sweep sidewalks, offer directions, beautify parks, respond to incidents, check in with businesses, and engage with unsheltered people.
This report is about them — and how their diligence and dedication shape how Center City looks and feels. While our annual State of Center City report documents the health of the downtown ecosystem, this companion report documents something different: who we are at CCD, what we do, and the difference we collectively strive to make every day.
This past year, our teams cleaned 46 miles of sidewalk three times a day, removed 55 tons of trash, connected 205 unsheltered individuals to housing and services, hosted 170,000 people at Open Streets, and welcomed a record 12.9 million visitors at Dilworth Park. Behind all those numbers are members of the CCD staff who are passionate about, and dedicated to, Center City’s continued success.
We are proud of what CCD has built over 35 years — and we remain clear-eyed about what the work ahead requires. The pages that follow tell that story in full.

Prema Katari Gupta President and CEO

Established in 1990 under the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Municipality Authorities Act, the Center City District (CCD) is a private-sector directed municipal authority covering 233 blocks and more than 1,600 properties in the heart of Philadelphia.
CCD devotes its assessment revenues primarily to core services — cleaning, safety, and place management — that supplement, but do not replace, city services and property owner responsibilities.
Our Mission
Our Vision
Our Values
Center City District, partner to property owners and downtown stakeholders, is the steward and advocate for a clean, safe, and thriving Center City Philadelphia.
Center City is Philadelphia’s heart of commerce, culture, and connection, generating opportunity and prosperity for the entire city and region.
• We are passionate about Philadelphia, are optimistic about the future of our downtown, and believe strongly that every employee at CCD can meaningfully improve Center City.
• We recognize that we are trusted because of our integrity, our responsiveness, our visibility, and our effectiveness, and strive to uphold that in every interaction.
• We work collaboratively, internally and with partners, to scale our impact.
• We believe in the value of face-to-face interactions and gatherings, in our office and downtown.
• We are measured and analytical, and we thoughtfully make decisions with data.
• We are an operational organization yet remain bold, open and innovative when new opportunities (and challenges) arise.
• Because Center City is experienced by residents, workers, visitors, and tourists from throughout Philadelphia and throughout the world, we believe our downtown — as well as our organization — should be inclusive and welcoming to all.

CCD's impact is delivered person by person, block by block.
Our teal-wearing team members and uniformed staff are the face of the organization — and the reason Center City feels the way it does to the millions of people who move through it every year. Learn more about their work on the following pages.
cleaners
community service representatives

Sherron Dudley, cleaning team
“I proudly serve as a sidewalk sweeper for the Center City District. I take great pride in my work and the overall experience of Philadelphia’s downtown community.”

Martina Vinson, safety patrol
“I make sure that my units have all their equipment and that they go out on patrol with a purpose. My job has helped me be a better communicator, a leader and allaround team player.”
18+
bicycle safety patrol
8 homeless outreach staff & partners

Devoun Wilburn, community service representative “My day consists of answering questions, calling outreach for unhoused clients in need, and notifying police or medics for situations that require attention. ... I got my wish of never being bored.”

Christina Madden, homeless outreach
“A lot of the people we see have been let down one way or another so it’s hard for them to trust people. Just showing up and engaging with them helps them trust us and take the next step to getting off the street.”

Sweeping & graffiti removal
About 100 uniformed cleaners and mechanical equipment operators work two overlapping shifts, seven days a week. Early morning mechanical sweeping with our signature Green Machines ensures downtown opens clean; pan-and-broom and mechanical sweeping teams cover sweep high-traffic corridors three times daily. All sidewalks also get a monthly power washing in warm weather months.
46 miles of sidewalks cleaned 3x daily
55 tons
trash removed in 2025
Horticulture & streetscape
120,000 on-street staff hours anually
503 graffiti removals in 2025
CCD cares for hundreds of street trees and planters, seasonal plantings, promotional banners, street furniture and signs throughout the district — managed year-round by staff and select partners.
1,104 street trees
205 banner poles
495 planters
804 directional signs
243 pedestrian light poles
813 banner arms
47 bike racks
792 protective bollards
21 bus shelters

CSRs walk assigned beats in the District seven days a week and serve as a one-stop resource for providing directions and information, administering first aid, and requesting police or medical services. They also survey every block in the District monthly for problems like damaged streetlights, broken traffic signs, and clogged sewers — and route reports to the appropriate agencies. The numbers below are 2025 totals.
50+
CSRs
116,800 exchanges with pedestrians
3,091 business check-ins
The bike team members cooperate in two shifts, seven days a week, on. Like CSRs, the bike patrols act as a deterrent and function like a professional town watch, communicating regularly and working in partnership with Philadelphia police as well as security personnel employed by many Center City buildings. Additional Safety Patrol personnel are also deployed in two CCD managed parks, Dilworth Park and Sister Cities Park. The number below is the 2025 total.
13,377 patrol responses
Six days per week, three teams conduct trust-building check-ins with unsheltered people in Center City. Each team pairs a CCD outreach specialist, a Project Home outreach worker, and a crisis intervention-trained police officer.
In 2025, 205 people living on the street accepted the teams’ help and were transferred to service or treatment providers suited to their individual needs. The program has connected approximately 1,500 people with services since its 2018 launch.
3 teams 205 people connected with services in 2025
1,500 people connected with services since 2018

The four parks managed by CCD are within a half-mile walk for half of downtown's workforce and a quarter of Greater Center City's residential population. Each one carves out a distinct niche, from classic cafe to urban playground to office worker retreat. The numbers below are 2025 totals.
12.9 million
Dilworth Park visitors
268
CCD park events

Laid-back café steps from the Benjamin Franklin Parkway museums.

12 office plaza events

Amenity-packed, year-round civic space and gateway to public transit.


Launched in 2024, Open Streets closes key streets in the Rittenhouse Row and Midtown Village corridors to vehicle traffic on select dates, inviting pedestrians to shop, dine, and socialize in a car-free environment. In 20 events over two years, the program has attracted more than 170,000 visitors, increased foot traffic and sales compared to non-Open Streets Sundays, earned a “Best of Philly” award and positive coverage from nearly every media outlet in Philadelphia, and garnered widespread recognition from businesses and the public.
170,000
Open Streets visitors
38% higher sales
62% higher foot traffic
Two of CCD’s longest running and most well-known initiatives, Restaurant Week and Sips, have similar goals: bolstering businesses during typically slow times of year for Center City restaurants (January) and bars (summer).
A new initiative called Let’s Do Lunch began in 2025 and is adapting a similar model for office workers on weekdays during the summer.
122
Restaurant Week participants
90
Sips participants
169,207
Restaurant Week diners in 2026
69% of Sips participants considered it a success for their business

CCD produces original research, shapes public narratives, and advocates for policies that strengthen Center City’s long-term competitiveness. The following research reports were published in 2025:
State of Center City
CCD’s signature annual compendium on downtown vitality. Examines housing, employment, retail, arts, transportation, and the office district.
Center City Housing
Annual analysis of residential development trends, absorption rates, and population growth in Greater Center City.
Philadelphia Employment
A 15-year examination of job market trends across Philadelphia, establishing CCD as a trusted regional economic voice.
Center City Retail
Yearly analysis of retail occupancy, leasing activity, and emerging trends shaping Center City’s commercial corridors.
Who’s Moving to Center City?
Survey of more than two dozen apartment buildings to examine demographic trends in the downtown residential population.
Reclaiming Alleys
Examination of Center City’s alley network to develop strategies for transforming these overlooked spaces into valuable public assets.
CCD advanced key policy positions in 2025, including regional transit funding, downtown activation strategies, office-to-residential conversion incentives, and alley network interventions. CCD also serves as a convener of cross-sector stakeholder meetings on transportation and public safety. Numbers reflect 2025 totals.
4,352 media mentions
88,000 newsletter subscribers
161,000 social media followers
1.3 million website sessions
CCD Capital Programs, 1997-2025

The Center City District Foundation (CCDF) is a separate 501(c)(3) charitable organization supporting programs beyond the scope of Center City District's assessment-funded operations — enabling CCD to do more for public safety, parks, horticulture and landscaping, and assisting the most vulnerable people in our public spaces.
Greening & horticulture
Enhanced seasonal plantings and landscape investment in CCD's four managed parks.
Arts & cultural programming
Funding events for adults and children in CCD parks and public spaces.
Homeless outreach
Supplementing CCD's outreach team and partnerships with Project HOME and the Philadelphia Police Department.
Bicycle safety patrol
Supporting the expansion and equipment needs of CCD's bike patrol.
Public spaces
Transforming the abandoned Reading Viaduct into the Rail Park; fundraising for phase 2 is underway.
CCDF relies on the generosity of individuals, corporations, and foundations who believe in a vibrant, inclusive, well-cared-for downtown.
Visit supportccdf.org to learn how you can help.

The Central Philadelphia Development Corporation (CPDC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit business leadership organization affiliated with and managed by the staff of the Center City District. It serves as a vehicle for planning, advocacy, and civic engagement for projects and initiatives that enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of Center City and are implemented by the CCD, private developers, or public agencies.
Current initiatives
Working in partnership with business, government, and civic organizations, CPDC's current work focuses on:
• Market East corridor revitalization and activation
• Downtown housing, office, and retail market research
• Comprehensive tax reform advocacy
Legacy & impact
CPDC has a track record of transformational civic achievements spanning seven decades. Its efforts have helped to shape the Center City we know today, through projects including:
• Improved Vine Street Expressway design
• Establishment of the Avenue of the Arts
• Master plan for the Benjamin Franklin Parkway as an animated cultural campus
• Major public space improvements at Dilworth Park and Sister Cities Park
Membership & programming
CPDC membership provides exclusive access to programming, networking, and civic engagement opportunities. Members guide original research, shape policy, and connect with Philadelphia’s leading business and civic leaders through committees, briefings, and member events.
Visit joincpdc.org to find out how your business can get involved.
1956 founded 70 years of civic leadership
76 member organizations
11 events in 2025
We are grateful for the generous support of our donors, corporate sponsors, and CPDC member organizations whose commitment makes it possible to go beyond the basics: greening our parks, programming our public spaces, and assisting Center City’s most vulnerable. The following list represents sponsorships and donations of $100 or more during the 2025 calendar year:
Individual Donors
Christopher Adams
Matthew Affron
Guy Aiman
AJSW Charitable Fund
Nancy Altemus
Sefakor Ampofo & Tawia Apenteng
Richard Andren
Irene Levy Baker & David Baker
Andrea M. Baldeck MD
James Bannerman
Michael Barmash
Steve Barthold
Harvey Bartle
Myron Bassman
James G. Baxter
Autumn Bayles
David L. Beik & Patrice Ierardi
Nancy Bentley
Eric Berger
Nicholas Berman
Sharon Binstock
Charles L. Bishop
Arthur R. Block
Judith Block
Charles Blume
Susan Bahme Blumenfeld
Bonnie Boccitto
Edward H. Boehner
Sheldon Bonovitz
Wendy Born
Jane Boyd
Richard Braemer
Winifred Branton
The Brind Foundation
Jonathan M. Broder
James M. Buck III
Elizabeth Buckley
Michael P. Buckley
Sandra L. Cadwalader
Jennifer Cardy
Marilyn Casper
Steven Casper
Mike & Emily Cavanagh
Edward & Sheila Chacker
Davida Charney
Linda & Jon Chorney
Margery Clare
Dana Close
Lita Cohen, Esq.
Maxine S. Coleman
James F. Conmy
James Corry
Coscia Moos Architecture
David Curtis
Hon. Georganne V. Daher, Ret.
Drew Dalton
Janecy E. Daly
Ellen Danish
Alexander J. David
Leonard & Judy Davidson
Allen F. Davis
Michael De Cuollo
Walt & Maryann De Treux
Thomas A. Decker
Drew Dedo
Luis DeVelasco
Tobey & Mark Dichter
John William Dickey
Kevin Dillon
William F. Dohmen
Deborah Anne Douglas
Jason Dresner
Jason Duckworth
David Durham
Jill Durovsik
Pamela Ende
Louis Eni
Deborah Epstein
Joseph M. Evancich
Amy Yu-Hsin Fan
Alan Feldman
Peter Ferry
David & Jaimie Field
Joseph & Marie Field
Herbert Fineburg
David & Julia Fleischner
Jeremy J. Flood
Michael C. Forman
Lisa Formica
Amy Fox
Elizabeth Fox
Janet Fox
Susan Frank
J. Leonard Freed
Rachel Weinstein
Paula T. Fuchsberg
Frank F. Furstenberg
Stephen Gansz
Stephen Gardner
Elizabeth H. Gemmill
Alice George
James B. Ginty
Richard & Wendy Glazer
Harold Goodman
Denise Goren
Mary H. Grant
Thomas J. Gravina
Robert Green
Alan Jay Greenberger
Stephen Greenfield
Jane Greenspan
Adele Greenspun
Edward Grinspan
Harriet Gross
John Grossman
P. Richard Grove
Eugene Gualtieri
Bernard Guet
Elinor Haider & Matthew Lee
Mary D. Hangley
Harold Huntley Hardison MD
Steve Harris
Sally Harrison
Holly & Tom Harrity
Guilaine Hedquist
Miles Herman
Hess Giving Fund
Hether & Donald Smith Charitable Trust
Ralph & Natalie Hirshorn
Bettina Hoerlin
Bonny Hohenberger
Christine Hollister
James Holtzman
Lynne & Harold Honickman
Margie & Jeffrey Honickman
Ann Marie Horner
John Houle
Susan M. Huffman
Medha Narvekar
David Hyman & Farah Jimenez
Jeff Jacobs
Terry Jacobs
Nancy Jantsch
Joan M. Johnson
Lisa Kahn
Barbara Kaplan
Eliot J. Kaplan
Mitchell Kaplan
Donald & Dorothy Kardon
Judith S. Kastenberg
Gloria J. Katsiff
Constantine Katsinis
Edda Katz
Eunkyung Ann Kauh
Brian Keith
Madeleine Kessler & Richard N. Weiner
Rachel Kieser
Donald & Gay Kimelman
Stephen B. Klein
Elizabeth L. Knighton
Marian Kornilowicz
George Koulas
Elizabeth L. Kozart
Vicki W. Kramer
Henry Kranzler
Stuart & Elaine Kravitz
John Krzeminski
Steve Landis
Henry I. Langsam
JM Lanzone
Ann Lesch
Bruce & Joye Lesser
Richard Levy
Geri Lincoln
Margaret Lippincott
Susan Kreithen Lipson
Sueyun Locks
Mary Lonergan
Judith Sorkin Losben
Matthew Luce
Patricia Ma
Thomas Maciag
Harvey Magarick
Nicholas J. Maiale Esq.
Steven J. Maisel
Marcia Moore Makadon
Mark Robert Makurath
Gail Marcus
Ann Elizabeth Mayer
Linda McCarthy
James McElwain
Dennis McGlade
Laura McGrath
William A. McKenna
The Meier & Berlinghof Families Fund
Cibeles Mello
The Merck Foundation
Mark P. Merlini
Wendy & Jim Meyer
Thomas Sherman
Nancy Middlebrook
Lynn H. Miller
Kathleen S. Miller
The Miralie Fund
Jeffrey Miripol
Anita Monaghan
Theresa Mond
Kevin Moran
Jacqueline Morrill
John W. Morris
Michael Moughan
Lauri & Michael Mufson
Ralph W. Muller
Drew Murray
James Ney
O’Donnell & Naccarato
Gerald Oetzel
Barbara Oldenhoff
Judith G. O’Leary
Amy Oshiro
Lisa Ostroff
Zoë S. Pappas
Curtis Park
James L. Paterno
Bryan Pennock
Penn’s Way
Performing Arts Foundation Inc.
Nancy Petersmeyer
The Pew Charitable Trusts
Joan Pileggi
Anthony Pipitone
Robert L. Pisani
Larry Pitt
Marc Pomper
Poor Richard’s Charitable Trust
Joseph H. Quinn
John Chase
Douglas Reale
Marilyn Reininger
Kenneth A. Richman MD
Donald H. Roberts Jr.
Robert & Caro Rock
The Rocky Run
John S. Rodgers
Beth Rogers
James Ronca
Martin J. Rosenblum
Daniel M. Rosin Esq.
George & Karen Rosskam
Joseph Rotberg
Melvyn H. Rothbard
Miki Rotman
Natalie Rounick
Martin Rubel MD
Lila A. Russo
Linda C. Saad
Nicholas M. Sanders
Patricia S. Sanders
Alice W. Sayles
Howard Scher
Corey M. Schiller
David Schlessinger
Lynnae Schwartz
Robert Schwartz
Terri Schwomeyer
Evan Seltzer
Polly Shaffer
Adam Shapiro & Terryl Decker
Steve Shapiro
Paul R. Shay
Ellen Siegel
Terry D. Silver CPA
Michelle Simon
Eileen S. Sklaroff
Serena Skwersky
Michael Smerconish
Rheta R. Smith
David Smith
William Lloyd Snyder III
Kyle Sollie
Tom Spann
Richard Spiegelman
Meredith Spindler
Sponsor Philly Events
John Stanley
Marlene Steinberg
Saul Sternberg
Julie Stoiber
Carol Striker
Roger Stronach
Gerard H. Sweeney
Thomas Swider
Brian Swope
Glenn R. Sykes
Scott & Karen Tarte
James Templeton
Robert Thomas & Sharon Keys Gray
Virginia Thompson
Eric Trachtenberg
Vijay Verma
Thomas M. Vernon
Alexander Vershbow
Laurie Wagman
Salim Walji
Colleen Walsh
Iain Ware
Lisa Washington
Barbara M. Watson
Constance R. Webber
Susan Weiler
Joshua Weingram
Joan K. Wells
Kathi Wennell
Susan West
Pamela Willmoth
Kenneth Wiseman
Daniel Wolfson
Joyce Jackson Wood
Thomas Woodward
Mr. & Mrs. Jeff Yass
Sherley Young
Susan B. Zeelander
Pamela Zimmerman
Institutional Funders
The Albert M. Greenfield Foundation
Bank of America NA
Connelly Foundation
Pa. Dept. of Community & Economic
Development
Pa. Dept. of Transportation
Poor Richard’s Charitable Trust
U.S. Dept. of Transportation
William Penn Foundation
Corporate Sponsors
Rothman Orthopaedics NRG
Temple University
Suntory Global Spirits
Boston Beer Company
Constellation Brands
City Fitness
Equinox
Metro by T-Mobile
Published by the Center City District and the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation. A companion to State of Center City 2026. Data reflects the 2025 calendar year unless otherwise noted.
CCD Board
Prema Katari Gupta, President & CEO
Paul L. Badger Jr., The Badger Group
Valerija (Rija) Beares, CBRE
Anna Boni, Parkway Corporation
John J. Connors, Brickstone Realty
Christopher Cullom, Thomas Jefferson University
Jeffrey DeVuono, Brandywine Realty Trust
Allan Domb, Allan Domb Real Estate
Brenton Hutchinson, BOMA
Paige Jaffe, Square Retail Consultants
Jamal Johnson, Comcast
Daniel Killinger, National Real Estate Developers
Robert D. Lane Jr., Esq., Bob Lane Advisory
Paul R. Levy, CCDF
Gregory B. Muller, SSH Real Estate
Drew Murray, Logan Square Neighborhood Association
James Pearlstein, Pearl Properties
Randall L. Scott, Coretrust Capital Partners
H. Hetherington Smith, Savills
Jack Soloff Jr., Savills
Angela Val, Visit Philly
Carol Watson, Kimpton Hotel Palomar
Philadelphia
Tina Byles Williams, Xponance
CCDF Board
Jaimie S. Field
Michael C. Forman, FS Investments
Thomas J. Gravina, Evolve IP
Prema Katari Gupta, Ex officio, CCD
Paul R. Levy, CCDF
James L. Paterno, Stockton Real Estate Advisors
Evan Seltzer, Comcast
Gerard H. Sweeney, Brandywine Realty Trust
Richard Vague, Gabriel Investments
CPDC Board
Ryan Ade, JLL
Rija Beares, CBRE
Brian Berson, Parkway Corporation
Mark T. Celoni, P.E., Pennoni Associates
Edward M. D’Alba, P.E., Urban Engineers, Emeritus
Harold Dichter, Aramark
Aaron Graves, Cushman & Wakefield
Joseph Healy, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, WRT
Branton Henderson, Bank of America
Monica Jindia, Commonwealth Land
Title Insurance Co.
Ajamu Johnson, Comcast/NBCUniversal
Peter Kelsen, Esq., Blank Rome
Alan C. Kessler, Esq., Duane Morris
Daniel Killinger, National Real Estate Development
Bradley A. Krouse, Esq., Klehr Harrison
Harvey Branzburg
Robert D. Lane Jr., Esq., Bob Lane Advisory LLC, Emeritus
Rachel Lewis, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
Shawn McCaney, William Penn Foundation
Matthew N. McClure, Ballard Spahr
Mark Merlini, Brickstone Realty
David Moos, AIA, CosciaMoos Architecture
Anne Papageorge, University of Pennsylvania
James R. Pearlstein, Pearl Properties
Missy A. Quinn, Chubb
Jon S. Robins, Greenberg Traurig
Christopher W. Rosenbleeth, Esq., Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young
Mark Silow, Esq., Fox Rothschild
H. Hetherington Smith, Savills
Christophe P. Terlizzi, Laurier Capital Advisors
Jason A. Tucker, The Goldenberg Group
Erik F. Williams, Saul Ewing
CPDC Members
ABM
Allan Domb Real Estate
Allied Universal
Alterra Property Group
Aramark
Ballard Spahr
Bank of America
BDO
Blank Rome
Blueprint Commercial
Brandywine Realty Trust
Brickstone Realty
Brown & Brown
CBP Architects
CBRE
Chubb
Clemens Construction Co. Inc.
Colliers
Comcast
Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Co.
Conner Strong & Buckelew
CosciaMoos Architecture
Cozen O’Connor
CraftNOW Philadelphia
Cushman & Wakefield of Pennsylvania
Dranoff Properties
Duane Morris
Econsult Solutions
Field Operations
Firstrust Bank
Fulton Bank
Gensler
The Goldenberg Group
Goldman Properties
Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
Greenberg Traurig
HDR
HNTB
JLL
KieranTimberlake
Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg
The Klein Company
Korman Communities
The Lighting Practice
Lubert-Adler
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
MPN Realty
Narducci Electric Co.
National Real Estate Development
O’Donnell & Naccarato
Olin
Parkway Corporation
Pearl Properties
PECO
Pennoni Associates
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
Philadelphia Parking Authority
PIDC
PMC Property Group
Posel Management Co.
Post Brothers
Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia
Reading Terminal Market
Saul Ewing
Savills
Scully Co.
Seravalli
SSH Real Estate
Stockton Real Estate Advisors
Strada
Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young
TD Bank
University of Pennsylvania
Urban Engineers
William Penn Foundation
WRT
CCD Senior Leadership
Prema Katari Gupta, President & CEO
Anthony E. Pipitone, CAO/CFO
Emrah Ulcay, COO
Amy Genda, VP Strategy & Design
Andrew Jacobs, VP Planning & Public Realm
JoAnn Loviglio, VP Communications & PR
Clint Randall, VP Economic Development
Adam Robinson, VP Development & Partnerships
Photography Credits
BeauMonde Originals
Kendon Photography
Chris Rivera Photos
Matt Stanley Photo
Wil To Photography
Cover Art
Branch Coverdale