Chris at UCD's blog

Pop-up performances are returning to Trolley Portal Gardens (40th and Baltimore)! We're once again teaming with local performer and curator Gretchen Elise for five weeks of free, all-ages entertainment. Our pop-ups will run on Thursdays in 2024 from May 9th through June 6th, the evening of our first Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll. Performances will move inside to Renata's Kitchen during inclement weather. 

On Thursday, April 18th, University City District held our annual State of University City event. We were thrilled to be joined by hundreds of partners, stakeholders, local leaders, and neighbors. During the program, we looked back at a year of major impact within our neighborhood, and looked forward to major events on the horizon, including the upcoming 250th anniversary of America, the rising buildings that will continue to transform our skyline, and UCD's own ambitious plans to enhance access to the Schuylkill River.

At our State of University City event on Thursday, April 18th, we announced details about a grand and ambitious vision for a new public space that aims to transform the river close to 30th Street Station.

University City District (UCD) will hold two editions of the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll in 2024, on the evenings of Thursday, June 6th and Thursday, September 5th. The event draws thousands of neighbors and visitors to enjoy dollar deals from participating vendors. In 2022, we expanded the price levels vendors can offer from $1 deals to deals for $1, $3, OR $5.  

Throughout the year, UCD organizes multiple volunteer cleaning efforts. Our next community clean-up will be held on Saturday, April 6th, 2024, in coordination with the citywide Philly Spring Cleanup. Help keep your neighborhood clean by tidying up your streets from 9 AM to 2 PM.

Today, we at University City District are thrilled to share that our West Philadelphia Skills Initiative (WPSI) has received a $4 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott through her charitable organization Yield Giving. The unrestricted gift will accelerate WPSI’s goals of providing opportunities for job seekers, program alumni, and incumbent workers to secure meaningful employment that will help break the cycle of poverty.

Our partners at SEPTA have announced upcoming work that will impact a portion of our neighborhood. From March 18th through May 4th, 2024, they will be performing excavation and renewal of a corroded and broken rail on Spruce Street between 40th and 42nd Streets; vehicular traffic and parking will be restricted in the work area during this time, and the 42 bus will be detoured. 

The intersections at 40th and Spruce and 42nd and Spruce will not be impacted by this work. 

SCOPE and SCHEDULE

Since 1997, University City District has invested in the vitality of our neighborhood. We foster clean, safe, and active streets; we cultivate civic infrastructure and activate dormant public spaces through placemaking efforts; we provide assistance to local businesses and neighbors; we plan and execute signature local events; and we create an opportunity infrastructure that connects talented Philadelphians to life-altering careers at major employers.

Today UCD is very excited to announce that noted civic leader Sarah Steltz has rejoined our organization in the new role of Senior Vice President of Strategy. 

We are very excited to begin 2024 by sharing the exciting news that the Hummingbird Foundation, the New Jersey-based charitable organization that helped us launch WPSI University in 2023, has continued its support of the Skills Initiative with a new gift of $500,000 over two years.