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IN THIS ISSUE:
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What's New in Old City
 It's an exciting time to be in Old City. As the new Executive Director of Old City District, I'm energized to be working with a great group of people who are looking to the future, to shape the next phase of our historic neighborhood. I'm impressed by the abundance of dedication, civic pride and spirit of creativity amongst our businesspeople and residents.
If we have not yet met, I look forward to the opportunity. By way of introduction, I hail from the burbs of Philadelphia and enjoyed living here in Old City, well, let's just say several years ago. With a professional background in corporate sales, business development and commercial real estate in the Delaware Valley, most recently I managed a Main Street downtown revitalization program for four years, in Highland Park, Central Jersey. It's great to be back home, where people cheer for the right teams, and they know how to make a real cheesesteak.
Philadelphia Magazine missed the real story here. Recently there has been a buzz about a number of new hotels, indie retailers, restaurants and cultural institutions opening here, adding to the unique mix that defines us as the place to be.
So here's what's new in Old City:
Kimpton Hotels has put the Lafayette Building under agreement, in an important location across from Independence Mall at 5th & Chestnut Streets. Following on their recent conversion of the Architects Building into the Palomar Hotel in Center City, they plan to add this property to their portfolio of 50 upscale boutique hotels nationwide. Click here.
Franklin Place, a major hotel and mixed-use redevelopment project, is proposed by ARC Properties at 5th and Race in the Pincus Brothers Building, to include a restaurant/ entertainment use and future residential development towards 4th Street. Click here.
The National Museum of American Jewish History is scheduled to open this fall across from Independence Hall at 5th & Market - it is the only museum dedicated to chronicling the American Jewish experience. Click here.
The Race Street Pier Project is the creation of a new park, being developed at the foot of the Ben Franklin Bridge by Delaware River Waterfront Corporation. Being designed by James Corner Field Operations, an internationally recognized landscape architecture and urban design firm which created the Highline Park in Manhattan, the park will tie in to Old City with the Race Street Connector project. Click here.
The Woodturning Center which specializes in craft appreciation and education, is relocating to the art district of Old City on N. 2nd Street, across from the Clay Studio. Click here.
The American Revolution Center is now making its plans to locate its museum at 3RD and Chestnut in the not-too-distant future, Here’s a recent article: Click here.
On the shopping front, many of Philadelphia’s fashionistas have discovered the great selection of unique independent retailers, to fit all styles and budgets:
Carmelita Couture recently opened at 17 N. 3rd Street, where fashion designer Carmelita Martell showcases her unique creations.Click here.
Franklin Square Design is a new boutique selling women's clothing and accessories, including some of their own lines, located at 128 N. 3rd Street. Click here.
Hide Botique is a new consignment shop for women who want to make a fashion statement on a budget. The Sarnor sisters recently opened this shop at 240 Church Street.
Old City is renowned for our many high-end home furnishing showrooms and design studios:
Hollandia International recently relocated its Philadelphia design showroom to 149 N. 3rd St., featuring what they label the most luxurious, restorative and advanced sleep systems in the world. Click here.
Fleur Old City, a new florist shop recently opened at 138 N. 3rd, which specializes in weddings and special events.
And of course, Old City is also known for our variety of great dining options:
Han Dynasty, a new Chinese eatery opened several months ago at 108 Chestnut Street, to take Best of Philly honors. Click here.
Revolution House a casual Italian eatery with a sky deck, is now under construction at the corner of 2nd and Chestnut, being developed in partnership with Panorama owner Luca Sena.
Shane's Candies will be re-opening a few doors down from Franklin Fountain, the old-time soda fountain shop at 116 Market Street, where owners Eric and Ryan Berley will move their home-made ice cream making operations.Click here.
Philadelphia Bar and Restaurant has recently opened its doors at 120 Market Street. Click here to read a review.
Crocodile Lounge is now open at 110 Chestnut Street. Click here.
Nama, a new sushi restaurant is slated to open soon at 246 Market Street.
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A Tree Grows in Old City
 When you think of a beautiful urban neighborhood, a vision of tree-lined streets often comes to mind. This fall, to bring that vision to life, Old City District is conducting a major tree planting project, in support of our ongoing mission of streetscape improvement and maintenance.
On Friday November 5, OCD will plant twenty-eight street trees throughout Old City. Various species of trees, selected for their durability in an urban environment, will be planted - all in existing tree pit locations. In coordination with Old City Civic Association and the National Park Service, a total of seventy street trees will be planted in the neighborhood this fall. Look for media coverage of our planting day, including a groundbreaking ceremony.
"We're pleased to be a part of this greening project in Old City," said Michael Mattioni, Chairman of Old City District's Board of Directors. "It adds to the charm of our beautiful historic neighborhood, helping to maintain it as a desirable location for our visitors, residents and local businesspeople alike."
The planting project will be supported by an annual maintenance contract with a professional landscape company, to ensure the growth of the newly-planted trees in their critical early stages.
OCD would like to acknowledge the efforts of Joe Schaivo, Old City Civic Association member and dedicated volunteer, who has spearheaded this and other planting efforts. Together we welcome the arrival of the new trees that will add to the charm and civic pride of Old City’s streets.
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Clean and Safe Initiatives
 Central to Old City District's mission is delivering on our mantra of "Clean and Safe." As part of the ongoing effort to address the various quality-of-life issues surrounding our nighttime economy, a number of new initiatives are happening. Currently OCD funds additional police services on the weekend Old City detail. Staffing levels are currently being evaluated, while the Clean & Safe Committee is moving forward with proposals to hire private security to supplement these services.
Harvey Spear, OCD Board member who heads the Clean & Safe Committee, and Graham Copeland, Executive Director, have met with the elected officials who work with us to make a difference. City Councilman Frank DiCicco, State Sen. Lawrence Farnese and State Rep. Michael O'Brien are all supporting the efforts to bring additional resources to Old City, which are ongoing.
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Major Street Improvement Project
 If you're wondering about all those mark-out lines and construction crews working on the crosswalks at our intersections, wonder no more. Philadelphia Department of Streets has launched the Center City Southeast Quadrant Resurfacing Project, a large-scale paving project that will include a number of the major streets in Old City. It involves the reconstruction of the handicap-accessible ramps in the district.
Many of the existing ramps, originally constructed of bluestone, have broken down, leaving hazardous ruts for wheelchair users and pedestrians. They are now being redesigned and replaced with poured, pigmented concrete ramps.
According to Stephen Buckley, Deputy Commissioner of Transportation for the City of Philadelphia, the current construction plan is to complete all of the ADA ramps first, and then perform roadway resurfacing. This project will repair the streets exclusively on the south side of Market Street, in the following Old City locations:
- Front Street, from Market to Dock Streets
- 2nd Street, from Market to Walnut Streets
- 3rd Street, from Market to South Streets
- 4th Street, from Chestnut to South Streets
The surfaces of Arch, Market, Chestnut and Walnut Streets are not affected, since they fall under PennDOT's jurisdiction for maintenance. The project totals 7 miles of road resurfacing and 661 ADA ramps. Its $7.1 million budget is being funded in part by a $3.7 million grant from the federal stimulus program, the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act.
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Addressing Homelessness
Homeless Outreach Hotline - (215) 232-1984
As part of our continuous effort to improve the business climate in Old City by enhancing the satisfaction of visitors who come into our area, Old City District is working with Project H.O.M.E. to help deal with homeless people and the panhandlers who are a regular presence on our streets. Since the 1999 passage of Philadelphia's Sidewalk Ordinance, Project H.O.M.E. has led a homeless outreach initiative that has resulted in a decrease of homeless people living on the streets of Center City of over 50%. Much of this success has been due to the creation of trained outreach teams, coordinated by the Project H.O.M.E. Outreach Coordination Center, that respond, in person, to citizen concerns about homeless and otherwise vulnerable people on our streets. This is a service that is available to us in Old City District seven days a week.
When should you call the Outreach Hotline? The primary target of the outreach teams are people who are physically or mentally impaired, who appear disoriented and vulnerable, with no apparent means of taking care of themselves. They may be sitting or lying on the street, wondering aimlessly, or panhandling. Outreach does not perform law enforcement functions or replace 911 in emergency situations.
What happens when you call? The operator at the Outreach Coordination Center will ask for a description of the person you are calling about: physical features, approximate age, gender, type of clothing, and behavior. It is important to give the person's exact location. Please give your name and call back number, so you can receive a follow-up call regarding the outcome of the outreach engagement. You can expect the Outreach Team to arrive within twenty minutes of your call, unless it is responding to another call, in which case, the team will arrive as soon as possible.
What happens when the Outreach Team arrives? The goal of the Outreach Team is to help connect homeless and vulnerable with housing and programs to help them overcome problems such as mental illness and drug and alcohol addiction so that they may recover their ability to live healthy and useful lives. The key to success is gaining the person’s trust. The trained outreach worker who responds to your call will engage the person, make an assessment of the situation, and offer appropriate services, including taking the person to a shelter or medical care facility. If the person refuses services, the outreach worker will try to obtain enough information for follow up at another time. In all cases, the interaction will be geared to establish a trusting relationship with the person.
What about panhandlers? You may want to refer those who claim to be hungry or in need of help to go to Project H.O.M.E. at 1515 Fairmount where they will receive appropriate assistance. Anyone who threatens or harasses our customers or us should be dealt with by the police.
Old City District is a member of the Combined Outreach Meeting convened by the City's Office of Supportive Housing and a partner with Project H.O.M.E. For more information, go to www.projecthome.org. Remember, for help call the Homeless Hotline at 215-232-1984.
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New OCD Website Connects Shoppers and Local Businesses
 Recent upgrades to OCD's website (www.oldcitydistrict.org) make it easy for shoppers to find businesses in Old City. Enhancements include a new online directory with sort-by-category and mapping graphics capabilities. Local businesses can list contact information, a brief description of goods and services and a website link. Additionally, the upgraded community events calendar is now available to list events. So whether you are shopping for Old City's unique mix of boutiques, restaurants, galleries and services, or a merchant getting the word out, remember to access this site for the latest information.
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Media in Our Midst
Right in our back yard are local media outlets KYW Radio, WYSP, FOX TV, Philadelphia Business Journal and CityPaper. With these Old City neighbors and beyond, we are developing access to media coverage that you can use to publicize local business happenings. For newsworthy events, please contact the OCD staff at info@oldcitydistrict.org, or (215) 592-7929 to let us know what you are planning and how we can help.
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Old City in The News
WCAU-NBC - May 12, 2010
Inclusion of the Third Annual Old City Sidewalk Sale and Stroll on NBC's "The 10! Show"
View Here
Philly.com - June 10, 2010
Coverage of Scarlett Alley on Philly.com's "SnapGlow TV."
View Here
Philadelphia.bizjournal.com - July 9, 2010
Coverage of Graham Copeland as the new Executive Director of Old City.
View Here
The Philadelphia Inquirer - August 2, 2010
Coverage of Graham Copeland as the new Executive Director of Old City in the Business section.
View Here
NBC Philadelphia.com - August 9, 2010
C&A coordinated coverage of fall fashion trends from Old City on NBC's 10!
View Here
Examiner.com - August 13, 2010
Inclusion of Old City as one of Philadelphia's top shopping destinations.
View Here
The Philadelphia Inquirer - September 15, 2010
Inclusion of Old City shops Third Street Habit and Charlie's Jeans within the style section.
View Here
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Upcoming Events
Driven Design - a Classic Car Show
Saturday, October 9th, 11:00am - 5:00pm
Along Arch Street from 2nd to 4th Street
Driven Design is a historical automotive design exhibition curated by Minima in conjunction with Design Philadelphia, a 10-day citywide design event. For one day, Arch Street will be closed to traffic and will be transformed into an outdoor showroom of dream machines.
This is a celebration of the classic car - an emblem of individualism, personal expression and the symbol of the twentieth century. The show looks at the automobile as an industrial design object, focusing on evolutionary changes of key models and types.
Each car selected for the show is a rolling sculpture, mostly designed by the great Italian design houses like Pininfarina, Bertone, Ital design, and designers like Giugiaro, Gandini etc., but including notable in-house styling by the major manufacturers as well. Only one example of each model will be shown. Here are a couple of the heavy hitters that will be part of the exhibit:
- 1974, De Tomaso, Pantera, Designed by Tom Tjaarda under Ghia
- 1974, Maserati, Merak, Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro
- 1976, Alfa Romeo, Alfetta 2000 GTV, Designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro
- 1974, Jensen, Interceptor Convertible, Designed by Carrozzeria Touring
- 1975, Ferrari, 308 GT4, Designed by Bertone
- 1973 Citroen, SM, Designed by Robert Opron
This event is free and open to the public.
www.minima.us | www.designphiladelphia.org
Old City Window Design Competition
Friday, October 1st - Sunday October 17th
The public is invited to Old City Windows 2010, a neighborhood-wide art exhibit and competition. In its second year, the contest celebrates innovative thinking and visual inspiration from students, recent graduates, professionals, and artists in various fields of design.
Hosted by the Old City Business Collective, Windows attracts designers from the Philadelphia metro area and beyond. Last year, over fifty of Old City's retailers, galleries, and restaurants were transformed into a virtual art gallery. The 2010 agenda promises a greater diversity of window designs and activity. As part of DesignPhiladelphia, an exciting mix of design events, trunk shows, lectures, and parties are taking place in Old City. Public voting makes the event even more interactive - vote for your favorite window online at www.oldcitybusinesscollective.org/windows or simply by text voting.
On Friday, October 8 from 6-9 PM, an opening reception hosted by Dane Décor will feature cocktails and hor's d'oeuvres in their Old City Showroom at 315 Arch Street. Winners of the competition will be announced at a celebratory event at Trust (249-51 Arch St.) on October 22 from 6-9.
The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC), Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS), and Old City Civic Association invite you to an update on the streetscape design project for Race Street from 2nd Street east to Columbus Boulevard.
PHS, DRWC, stakeholders, and the community have helped inform a design that will enhance this block as a connector street to the river. Through a combination of streetscape improvements and public art, the Race Street connector design project will seek to improve the pedestrian experience and promote access to the waterfront.
A presentation of the schematic designs and process to date will be made by the design team, James Corner Field Operations. Funded by the William Penn Foundation, and in partnership with the City and Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy. Please join us!
Delaware River Waterfront Corp | PA Horticultural Society
Household Hazardous Waste and Special Recycling Drop-Off Event
For Residents & Small Businesses
Old City Civic Association
Saturday, November 6 - 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
229 Arch Street (intersection of Bread and Arch Streets)
The following items will be accepted: batteries of all types - computers - small electronic devices solvent–based paints - paint solvents & thinners old gasoline - cleaning solvents - aerosol cans - fluorescent tubes photographical chemicals - lead items of any type - propane cylinders - oven & drain cleaners - spent fire extinguishers
For a complete list of materials considered to be Hazardous Waste by the City, please visit: http://www.phila.gov/streets/hhw.html
Furniture, televisions, and appliances cannot be accepted
Recycling Bin Bonus - OCCA will provide free recycling bins and information on the City's recycling bonus program.
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