What is "Old City District"?
Recent Challenges
Pandemic Response
Committees
Clean & Safe
Marketing
Economic Development
Post-Pandemic Recovery
New in Old City
What's Next
Questions
To improve Philadelphia's historic district as a place for people to meet, work, shop and live by supplementing municipal services with maintenance, public safety, economic development and promotional programs.
Established by Philadelphia City Council in 1998
Service area bounded by Florist Street to the north, Walnut/Dock Streets to the south, Front Street to the east and 6th Street to the west
OCD is a Business Improvement District (BID) in which commercial property owners pay an assessment to fund supplemental services and improvements within the district’s boundaries
Owner-occupied residential property owners do not pay an assessment
OCD serves to supplement, but not replace, both the services provided by the City of Philadelphia and the responsibilities of property owners
Jennifer Nagle, Independence Visitor Center
Corporation - Board Chair
Patrick Shillenn, FKB Studio - Vice Chair
Kathryn Bittner, WSFS Bank - Treasurer
Donn Clendenon, Clendenon Properties LLC –
Secretary
Miquon Brinkley, Thinker Makers Society
Jeffrey Brown, Jeffrey M. Brown Associates
Erik Derr, Becker LLC
Jonathan Dubrow, Coldwell Banker Commercial
Vince Lattuca, Christ Church Preservation Trust
Valerie Lyons, Weber Gallagher
Donal McCoy, Sassafras Bar
Ashley Peel, Philadelphia Independents
Betsy Oliphant Ross, Consultant
Brennan Tomasetti, Civetta Property Group LLC
National Park Service Liaison: Cynthia MacLeod, Independence
National Historic Park
Ex-Officio/Non-Voting Member: Hon. Mark Squilla, Philadelphia City Council
Counsel: Josh Grimes, Esq.
Jennifer Nagle, Independence Visitor Center
Corporation - Board Chair
Patrick Shillenn, FKB Studio - Vice Chair
Kathryn Bittner, WSFS Bank - Treasurer
Donn Clendenon, Clendenon Properties LLC –
Secretary
Miquon Brinkley, Thinker Makers Society
Jeffrey Brown, Jeffrey M. Brown Associates
Erik Derr, Becker LLC
Jonathan Dubrow, Coldwell Banker Commercial
Vince Lattuca, Christ Church Preservation Trust
Valerie Lyons, Weber Gallagher
Donal McCoy, Sassafras Bar
Ashley Peel, Philadelphia Independents
Betsy Oliphant Ross, Consultant
Brennan Tomasetti, Civetta Property Group LLC
National Park Service Liaison: Cynthia MacLeod, Independence
National Historic Park
Ex-Officio/Non-Voting Member: Hon. Mark Squilla, Philadelphia City Council
Counsel: Josh Grimes, Esq.
Job Itzkowitz
Executive Director
Brett Mapp DirectorofOperations
Gabriella Sacidor DirectorofMarketing
Cassidy Martin
EconomicDevelopmentandPolicyCoordinatorJessica Caampued
MarketingIntern
December 22, 2018 – Government shutdown (longest in history –35 days)
January 7, 2020 – Water main break
More than 100 B2B newsletters distributed in 2020
News, business guidance, grants, resources
Street ambassadors deemed “essential workers” and continued to sweep streets throughout the shutdown and the pandemic
Old City District was the Lead Sponsor of the Farmers Market, which provided fresh food and essential goods throughout the pandemic in a safe, outdoor environment
OCD provided signage for business entrances and employee break rooms and distributed PPE kits from the City
OCD worked with a PR consultant to procure earned media opportunities
Source: Placer.ai
83% decrease in visits from February 2020 to April 2020
Month / Year
Visits: Total number of visits over the time period, even if that person visited more than once during that time period.
Second year
Street and sidewalk cleaning operations
364 days per year, all weather conditions
Manual sweeping
Power washing
Removed 16,000+ pounds of litter and debris in 2022
Pounds of trash collected
16,775
Needles 676
Graffiti/stickers
614
Animal waste 377
Human waste 94
Private security firm on weekends
Coordination with nightlife establishments & regulatory and enforcement agencies
Conditional Licensing Agreements
Old City Nuisance Task Force
Old City foot patrol officer, Al Macchione
Old City District partners with AlertMedia to deliver important notifications via text, app push, and email
Promote the neighborhood as a place for people to meet, work, shop and live by highlighting the neighborhood’s worldclass assets
2022 Facebook page reach: 85,430 50.2% vs. 2021
50,000 maps
Philadelphia International Airport, 30th Street Station, Philadelphia hotels, attractions
Shops, restaurants, hotels, museums, residences in Old City
• 1 print article
• 8 TV segments
• 2 radio segments
• 15 online articles
Published spring 2016 following an extensive public engagement process
Including a public survey with ~500 respondents
Intended to serve as a framework to help shape the future of Old City
Be a world-class walking neighborhood
Foster civic life through great public space
Re-Occupy vacant buildings and unbuilt parcels
Clarify goals of the neighborhood for developers
Cultivate people: more resident, workers, visitors
Enhance and protect historic and creative character
Attract neighborhood-serving retail (especially a grocery!)
Connect better to nearby neighborhoods
Encourage car-free travel as the first choice of most
Market Street Transformation
Neighborhood-serving retail attraction
Public space work
Commerce Street
Park at 2nd & Market
Dolly Ottey park
Funding for road diet is complete and engineering is past the 60% mark
RFP is expected this year
Market Street improvements should be completed by 2026
2016 – Developed concept through large scale public process period
NPS preferred alternative
2022 – NPS advised they will work with Independence Historical Trust to fundraise for the project
Total estimated cost now at $2.4M
Councilman Squilla has committed $100k+ for soft costs
IHT has committed to supporting fundraising efforts
Waiting on grant application response
Total estimated cost TBD
Waiting on cost estimates from developer
New adjusted plans agreed upon by all stakeholders
Councilman Squilla has committed $100k to this project
Percent
69% Visits: Total number of visits over the time period, even if that person visited more than once during that time period.
Source: Placer.ai, Old City District
Visits: Total number of visits over the time period, even if that person visited more than once during that time period.
Source: Placer.ai
Percent recovery: 75%
January February
Visits: Total number of visits over the time period, even if that person visited more than once during that time period.
Percent recovery: 60%
Old City Monthly Visits Percent Recovery to Pre-Pandemic Levels and Retail Vacancy Rate
-
Visits: Total number of visits over the time period, even if that person visited more than once during that time period.
• 3 J’s Cafe
• A Four Foot Prune
• American Vegan Society
• Amina’s Lounge
• Anima’s Natural Pet Supplies
• Artistic Hair Studio
• Ava Karl Salon
• AXIOM Contemporary
• Bangin Breakfast and Wild Brunch
• Café Tolia
• Casa Vida
• Citizens Bank
• City Fitness
• City Pizza
• Claudia Mills Studio
• Cray Taste
• Dafina Co.
• Damari
• Demure Bridal
• Elektra Vintage
• Embrace Dermatology & Aesthetics
• Frame
• Fred Astaire Dance Studio
• Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken
• Haus of Wood
• Home Cuban Cafe
• Ikki Japanese Cuisine & Bar
• Istanbul Cafe
• Jacqueline Michelle & Co.
• Kadampa Meditation Center
• Kurry Shack
• Las Bugambilias
• Lilly's Ferry
• Little Susie’s Pies
• Mari Mi Bridal
• Mochinut
• Museum of Illusions
• Nic’s Grooming
• Olea
• Old City Kitchen
• Old City Vape
• Omnia Spa
• Panda Tea
• Penzey’s Spices
• Pet Dermatology Center
• Petit Jardin en Ville
Outdoor Living Showroom
• PFS Bourse Theater
• Philly Cannoli King
• Philly Style Bagels
• Pingpod
• Pulpery
• Red Parasol Café
• Ride Zoomo
• Riverwards Produce
• Sage Hair Studio
• Salon Ballyhoo
• Sol Reminisce
• Stickball Vintage
• The Bubble Tea Room
• The Dog Alley
• The Jiu Jitsu Company
• The Link Hair Studio
• Thinker Makers Society
• Together Fitness
• Vanderwende’s Ice Cream
• Victoria Roggio Beauty
• Wax & Wine
836 total units coming soon
~1,200 more residents
Source: DRWC
Additional 1,800 units planned for Durst projects
~2,700 more residents
Total projected growth:
~3,900 more residents
~57% growth
Source: DRWC Old City Wedding Stroll, April 26th
Old City Eats Block Party, June 1st
Old City Fest, October 8th
Historic Holidays in Old City
