BUILDING PHILADELPHIA FOR THE NEXT 100 MAYORS BY ERIN DWYER HARVARD, DIRECTOR, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS | GBCA This year, 2023, is a major year in Philadelphia politics. We will be electing our 100th mayor who will lead and steer our diverse and unique city over the next four years. This mayor, possibly Philadelphia’s first African American female mayor or the first Asian American mayor, will be stepping into power at a crucial time in our city’s growth. As we continue to recover from the effects of the pandemic, there’s positive momentum on several fronts to build an even stronger city. Now is the time to fuel, not stifle, Philadelphia’s growth through responsible development, job creation and safety initiatives, and to lay the groundwork that will see Philadelphia through its next 100 mayors.
A Growing City Since the days of William Penn, Philadelphia’s growth has relied on a pro-building environment. Executing Penn’s plans for the city required the expertise and oversight of the Master Builders from the Carpenters’ Company of the City and County of Philadelphia as early as the 1720s.. In the mid-1900s, famed urban planner Edmund N. Bacon, known as “The Father of
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Modern Philadelphia,” developed Market East, Penn’s Landing, Society Hill, Independence Mall and other defining areas of the city for Philadelphians and visitors alike. Building has been and remains a vital pillar of Philadelphia. New construction enables world-class organizations and over 1.5 million residents to call Philadelphia home. Although new development is vital, restoring and preserving our historic structures is equally as important to the fabric of our city. The General Building Contractors Association’s contractors — many of which have been building our skyline for over 100 years — range in expertise, but each builder relies on well-funded city departments, particularly licenses and inspections, revenue, and city planning, and a tax structure that’s friendly to ongoing economic development.
Elevating Philadelphians Despite all it has to offer, Philadelphia is one of the poorest big cities in the U.S. with one of the highest poverty rates among large cities. However, we can improve our city’s economic
