Old City District on display

Our Services

Mission

Old City District's mission is 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. 

Aerial of Old City District boundaries

The service area for Old City District includes the 22-block area bounded by Florist Street to the north, Walnut/Dock Streets to the south, 6th Street to the west and Front Street to the east.  This map generally depicts those boundaries

Old City District (OCD) was established by ordinance of Philadelphia City Council in 1998, with the support of the commercial property owners within its boundaries, and in accordance with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Municipality Authorities Act of 1945, 53 Pa. C.S. § 5601 et seq.  In November, 2018, the City of Philadelphia authorized a 20-year extension, through the year 2038.

OCD supplements, rather than replaces, the services of the municipal government -- helping businesses be successful, visitors to enjoy their experience here and residents to maintain a high quality of life.

Neighborhood Character

Old City is home to an incomparable set of U.S. historical assets.  Here in America’s "most historic square mile", Independence National Historical Park is an international destination, attracting 3.6 million visitors annually. Important culturally and economically, Old City is also home to world-class museums, theaters and art galleries. 

The neighborhood offers excellent hotels, a wide range of dining and nightlife establishments, independent retailers and a diverse mix of technology, media, professional and service organizations.  Old City employers range from major institutions to solo entrepreneurs, together representing a significant segment of the regional economy. 

Some 8,000 residents live in historic townhouses, industrial loft apartments and new condominium properties.

Old City District Programs

  • Street Cleaning and Maintenance
  • Public Safety
  • Economic Development
  • Marketing and Promotion
  • Streetscape Maintenance and Improvements

OCD Assessments

Assessment Formula
Annual assessment charges are computed by multiplying that portion of the district's annual budget attributed to assessments (2024 total = $1,197,369) by a ratio of the assessed value of your property to the total assessed valuation of all the commercial properties in the district (2024 total = $1,504,496,935).

The assessment for each property is calculated as follows:

(1) Divide the total assessed value of the property for that tax year by the total assessed value for all commercial properties within the district.

(2) Multiply the result from (1) by that portion of the annual budget for the district attributed to assessments by OCD. The result from (2) is the property's annual assessment.

District assessments will be calculated annually using the most recent certified values as provided by the Philadelphia Office of Property Assessment (OPA).

Enclosed is a statement of your assessed charges for 2023, for the period January 1, 2024 - December 31, 2024. This assessment is due annually for all commercial properties within OCD’s boundaries and is used to fund OCD programs. Payment is due March 31, 2024. A commercial property is defined as any property that is not used by the record owner (as identified on the deed) exclusively as his or her primary legal residence or domicile. If you occupy the assessed property exclusively in that manner and your name is on the deed, then the District may exempt you from paying this assessment. Should that apply, please contact the OCD office for further information and to request an affidavit form for your use in requesting an exemption.

2023-2028 OCD 5-Year Plan