Center City District / Central Philadelphia Development Corporation Of Philadelphia

Who We Are

What We Do

Publications & Reports

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.

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)

2009 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.

2009 | 58 pgs | First hard copy free, extras $10 ea. | PDF (3.5 MB)

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 (2.7 MB) • Broad Street and City Hall | PDF (3.3 MB)

Development Maps

Survey of major retail, residential and office developments in Center City. Includes color map.

Retail Development Map, 1999-2007 | PDF (189 KB)
Residential Development Map, 2001-2011 | PDF (231 KB)
Current Projects Development Map, 2007-On | PDF (212 KB)

Center City Reports: Residential Development, 2009: Riding Out the Storm

Housing production data in Center City.

2009 | 12 pgs | Free | PDF (2 MB)

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: The State of Center City Retail 2009

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.

2009 | 8 pgs | Free | PDF (2.4 MB)

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)

Make It Philadelphia: It Makes Financial Sense

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.

2009 | 2 pgs | Free | PDF (200 KB)

Center City Reports: Sidewalk Cafés

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

2009 | 4 pgs | Free | PDF (840 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.

2009 | $10

Center City’s Office Sector: Restarting the Engine for Growth

Original research by CPDC on Center City’s office economy and recommendations to make Philadelphia more competitive.

2005 | 10 pgs | Online only | PDF (487 KB)

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

Retail Crime Prevention Guide

Proven tips on how to spot and stop business crime.

1996 | 11 pgs | $20 for those outside the district

About Us

2008-2012 CCD Plan & Budget

Center City District's proposed 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:

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)

Community Court Brochure

Brief general overview of the Philadelphia Community Court, an innovative, problem-solving court that combines criminal justice with provision of social services to address quality-of-life crime.

Free

Center City District Customer Satisfaction Survey

Annual customer satisfaction survey form.

2007 | 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

About Us: Physical Improvements

Center City Reports: Transforming Dilworth Plaza

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

2009 | 6 pgs | Free | PDF (2 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

Video

Benjamin Franklin Parkway Signage System: Google Video
Philadelphia Phlash On Board: Google Video
Managing Success in Center City: Reducing Congestion, Enhancing Public Spaces: Google Video
Center City's Residential Revival- 50 years in the Making: Real Player (35 MB) | Windows Media (25 MB)
Making the Office District: Lessons from the Development of Penn Center: Real Player (27 MB) | Windows Media (13 MB) | Google Video
The Impact of Interstate Highways on Center City: Real Player (35 MB) | Windows Media (17 MB) | Google Video
Market Street East: Updating the Vision for the 21st Century: Real Player (35 MB) | Windows Media (17 MB) | Google Video
The Parkway and Broad Street: Arts and Culture in Center City: Real Player (28 MB) | Windows Media (27 MB) | Google Video
Developing Center City's Waterfront: Real Player (27 MB) | Windows Media (21 MB)

Presentations

Beyond Stimulus: Thinking Strategically About Infrastructure: Presentation from June 9, 2009 CPDC Meeting.
2009 | 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)

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