Chris at UCD's blog

We are deeply grateful to Bank of America for their recent $100,000 grant for our West Philadelphia Skills Initiative. The generous grant is part of Bank of America's philanthropic giving efforts in local communities. Awardees were selected for their commitment to addressing basic needs, medical response, and workforce development for individuals and families.

After a pause in the first months of the pandemic, construction in University City has rebounded and then some. During the first quarter of 2020, there were just two permits issued in University City, down from five a year earlier. This trend played out across the city, with WHYY reporting that only four new construction permits were issued across the entire city in April 2020, down from 122 in 2019.

UCD works year-round to keep our streets beautiful, green, and safe for pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.

Spring has sprung, which means food trucks, performances, and pop-ups are returning to The Porch at 30th Street Station! Beginning Tuesday, April 19th, we're welcoming food trucks Tuesday-Friday for lunchtime vending from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM.

University City District (UCD) is excited to announce the return of two Baltimore Avenue Dollar Strolls in 2022, occurring on Thursday, June 16th and Thursday, September 15th, each from 5:30 - 8:30 PM. The event draws thousands of neighbors and visitors to enjoy dollar deals from participating vendors. In 2022, we are expanding the price levels vendors can offer from $1 deals to deals for $1, $3, OR $5. 

Philadelphia's street-sweeping pilot program is set to expand to certain neighborhoods in Philadelphia, including some areas of our community. Beginning April 4th, 14 pilot areas will begin seeing regular street-sweepers cleaning their neighborhoods, and six of these areas will begin receiving fines of $31 for cars that do not move during posted sweeping times beginning in May.

For over ten years, our Project Rehab program, led by Ryan Spak, has been assisting community members with real estate issues ranging from title disputes to code violations to financing for renovations. Originally conceived to help homeowners transform vacant and debilitated properties into neighborhood assets, Project Rehab's services have expanded over the years to include providing aid to non-profit organizations, community groups, and churches.

Last week, we passed the two-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down the economy and altering daily routines. In those early days of the crisis, mandated lockdowns kept Philadelphians at home, and as a result, traffic, transit ridership, and even pedestrian travel through our neighborhood all but dried up.

Dr. Romaine Thrower’s journey to working for the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative seemed destined from the start. Romaine grew up in West Philadelphia, where she attended Overbrook High School and was instilled with a desire to serve at a young age as a member of the Vine Memorial Baptist Church at 56th and Girard.  

Recently, the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Transportation, Infrastructure and Sustainability (OTIS) announced plans to implement new street safety measures on portions of West Market and Chestnut Streets, two of the main east/west thoroughfares that cross West Philad