Center City Philadelphia

Below is a list of the Center City District's and Central Philadelphia Development Corporation's available publications. To order any of these publications, call 215.440.5500.

Many of our publications are now also available on Google Books.

Center City Business: Planning and Development

Managing Success in Center City: Reducing Congestion, Enhancing Public Spaces

Documents the challenges and causes of an increasingly congested downtown and proposes a series of short-, mid- and long-term solutions.

2008 | 34 pgs | Free | PDF (4.4 MB)

2011 State of Center City Report

The State of Center City report is designed to measure the progress of Philadelphia's downtown, to document continuing challenges, and to be of use to those who seek to develop, locate, lease, invest or meet in Center City.

To download the report in full, or by chapter, visit our State of Center City page.

Center City Reports: Leading the Way- Population Growth Downtown

For the first time in 60 years, Philadelphia's population has grown. This remarkable development occurred most notably in Center City, which has increased its number faster than any other portion of the city. This report analyzes the numbers and looks at what this growth means for housing, employment and education.

2011 | 10 pgs | Free | PDF (437 KB)

Center City: Planning for Growth 2007-2012

The Center City District retained seven design firms to look forward, focusing on four districts: East Market Street, West Market Street and JFK Boulevard, Broad Street and City Hall and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

2007 | 54 pgs | First copy free, extras $5.50 ea.; District Plans: $1 ea. | PDF (11.4 MB)

Specific area plans :
East Market Street | PDF (3.6 MB) • West Market and JFK Boulevard | PDF (4.0 MB)
Benjamin Franklin Parkway | PDF (377 KB) • Broad Street and City Hall | PDF (3.3 MB)

Center City Reports: Bicycles

Results of a CCD survey of bicycle ridership patterns in Center City, along with recommendations for the future.

2010 | 2 pgs | Free | PDF (200 KB)

Center City Reports: Vital Statistics - December 2011

A monthly report tracking city employment trends, municipal tax collections and hospitality industry data.

2011 | 2 pgs | Free | PDF (62 KB)

The Success of Downtown Living: Expanding the Boundaries of Center City

Analysis of demographic trends and downtown growth.

2002 | 12 pgs | Free | PDF (906 KB)

Turning On the Lights Upstairs

A guide for converting the upper floors of older commercial buildings to residential use.

1996 | 57 pgs | Online only | PDF (17 MB)

Center City Business: Retail, Dining and Office

Center City Reports- Philadelphia's Major Employment Nodes: Where City Residents Work

How many jobs are in each sector, where do the people live who hold these jobs live, how much do people from different neighborhoods and employment sectors earn, how do we compare to other cities? Working from a brand new data source, we can now answer for the first time, these and many more questions of vital interest to developers, owners and retailers.

2010 | 12 pgs | Free | PDF (880 KB)

Center City Reports: Retail 2011

This report describes the state of Center City retail, and includes an analysis of retail demand, the results of CCD’s annual retail survey, as well as updated pedestrian traffic counts. The report also compares resident and worker populations with surrounding communities and highlights opportunities for retail and restaurant growth in an already strong retail market.

2011 | 4 pgs | Free | PDF (285 KB)

Make It Center City Philadelphia

Booklet providing the latest information to help firms make the decision to locate their businesses here in Center City.

2008 | 12 pgs | Free | PDF (1.2 MB)

Philadelphia: Smart City. Smart Financial Choice

This report demonstrates how Philadelphia with its well educated and affordable labor force, very reasonably priced real estate, an exceptional quality of life and affordable cost of living, all combine to make Philadelphia far more competitive than other Northeast cities for a business location.

2011 | 2 pgs | Free | PDF (2 MB)
Creative Economy Supplement 2010 | 1 page | Free | PDF (300 KB)

 

Center City Reports: Outdoor Cafes

Results of the most recent survey on sidewalk cafes in Center City and Old City.

2011 | 4 pgs | Free | PDF (576 KB)

 

Pedestrian Count Report Detail

Report includes 15–minute interval counts and hourly average number of pedestrians on each street and comparative reports and graphs. Historic statistics are available upon request derived from annual counts of pedestrians on selected Center City Philadelphia streets.

2011 | 13 pgs | Free | PDF (2.8 MB)

Center City Life: Schools

Center City Reports: Retaining College Graduates, Survey of College Graduates in Center City

Analyzing the results of a college graduate survey.

2006 | 8 pgs | Free | PDF (478 KB)

Center City Reports: Growing Smarter: The Role of Center City's Public Schools in Enhancing the Competitiveness of Philadelphia

Published by Central Philadelphia Development Corp., this report looks at ways to improve the quality and customer focus of public schools serving downtown and examines how better schools will help retain young professionals and sustain the downtown housing boom.

2004 | 8 pgs | Free | PDF (1.6 MB)

Center City Life: Safety

Crime Prevention Services Brochure and Smart Tip Cards

Proven tips on how to spot and stop car, office, street and travel theft.

Single copies free; call for prices on multiples

About Us

2008-2012 CCD Plan & Budget

Center City District's approved plan and budget for 2008-2012.

2007 | 4 pgs | Free | PDF (203 KB)

Center City Digest Newsletter

Quarterly newsletter of the Center City District and Central Philadelphia Development Corporation (current and back issues available). To download an archived PDF edition of the Center City Digest, click on the appropriate link below:

2011: Winter | Fall | Summer | Spring
2010: Winter | Fall | Summer | Spring • 2009: Winter | Fall | Summer | Spring
2008: Winter | Fall | Summer | Spring • 2007: Winter | Fall | Summer | Spring
2006: Winter | Fall | Summer | Spring • 2005: Winter | Fall | Summer | Spring
2004: Winter | Fall | Summer | Spring • 2003: Winter | Fall | Summer | Spring
2002: Winter | Fall | Summer | Spring • 2001: Winter | Fall | Summer | Spring

Center City District Brochure

Brief general overview of the Center City District.

Free

Central Philadelphia Development Corporation Brochure

Brief general overview and description of membership benefits of the Central Philadelphia Development Corporation.

Free | PDF (1.7 MB)

Center City District Customer Satisfaction Survey

Annual customer satisfaction survey form.

2011 | 6 pgs | $25

Community Service Representative Guidebook

Policies and procedures for bargaining unit personnel.

2008 | 85 pgs | $750

Community Service Representative Program Overview

Goals and operations overview of Community Service program.

2000 | 8 pgs | $15

OPDC | CPDC - 50 Years of Remaking Center City

Chronicles the history of the Old Philadelphia Development Corporation and Central Philadelphia Development Corporation, decade by decade, through archival photos, interviews and reprints of vital documents.

2006 | 82 pgs | PDF (2.3 MB)

About Us: Physical Improvements

Center City Reports: Transforming Dilworth Plaza (2011-2013)

The latest in the next stage of a major initiative to transform Dilworth Plaza, in front of City Hall. Includes diagrams, plans and an historical overview of the site.

2011 | 6 pgs | Free | PDF (1.8 MB)

Destination Philadelphia: Direction Philadelphia

Brief description of Direction Philadelphia vehicular wayfinding system

2004 | 1 pg | Free | PDF (84 KB)

Destination Philadelphia: Walk!Philadelphia

Brief description of Walk!Philadelphia pedestrian wayfinding system

2004 | 1 pg | Free | PDF (621 KB)

Walk!Philadelphia: The Center City District Streetscape Improvements Packet

Project summary provides an overview of the goals and objectives.

2000 | 4 pgs | Free

About Us: CCD Construction Documents

Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program Plan

Per 49 CFR Part 26, for the Dilworth Plaza Renovation Project.

2011 | 31 pgs | Free | PDF (160 KB)

Video

Benjamin Franklin Parkway Signage System

YouTube

Philadelphia Phlash On Board

Google Video

Managing Success in Center City: Reducing Congestion, Enhancing Public Spaces

YouTube

Center City's Residential Revival- 50 years in the Making

Real Player (35 MB) | Windows Media (25 MB) | YouTube

Making the Office District: Lessons from the Development of Penn Center

Real Player (27 MB) | Windows Media (13 MB) | YouTube

The Impact of Interstate Highways on Center City

Real Player (35 MB) | Windows Media (17 MB) | YouTube

Market Street East: Updating the Vision for the 21st Century

Real Player (35 MB) | Windows Media (17 MB) | YouTube

The Parkway and Broad Street: Arts and Culture in Center City

Real Player (28 MB) | Windows Media (27 MB) | YouTube

Reclaiming the Delaware Waterfront

Real Player (27 MB) | Windows Media (21 MB) | YouTube

Presentations

Green and Sustainable: Making Downtown Competitive

Presentation from the 2011 Grubb & Ellis Center City Real Estate Forecast.
Paul Levy: PDF (7.6 MB)

High Speed Rail in the Northeast Corridor: Game Changer for Philadelphia?

Presentations from December 15, 2010 CPDC Meeting.
Al Engel, Vice President, High-Speed Rail, AMTRAK: PDF (8 MB)
Paul Levy: PDF (3.3 MB)

Beyond Stimulus: Thinking Strategically About Infrastructure

Presentations from June 9, 2009 CPDC Meeting.
Paul Levy: PDF (2.2 MB)
Robert Yaro: PDF (1.6 MB)

What can be the ripple effects of the expansion of the Pennsylvania Convention Center?

Presentation from June 10, 2008 CPDC Meeting.
2008 | PDF (2.3 MB)

Elsewhere

The Drexel Law Review- Business Improvement Districts and the Evolution of Urban Governance

Business Improvement Districts in Philadelphia: A Practitioner's Perspective
By Paul Levy: PDF (153 KB)

Center City District: A Case of Comprehensive Downtown BIDs
By Göktuğ Morçöl*: PDF (161 KB)

Publication Orders: Order any of the publications listed above by emailing info@centercityphila.org or calling 215.440.5500.