Chris at UCD's blog

UCD wants to help local businesses and organizations during this uncertain time. While our efforts typically focus on initiatives like creating destination events along commercial corridors to beautifying streetscapes to keeping the streets clean and safe, our main focus right now is providing economic support and recovery while we all struggle with the unknowns and uncertainties tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. To that end, we wanted to share some important resources at your disposal, and highlight a few ways UCD is helping small businesses.

Below, we are aggregating ways you can support local businesses through promotions, specials, and donations. If you would like your information added please email us to be added!

In 2008, UCD installed 70 pedestrian streetlamps along Baltimore Avenue, between 45th and 50th streets. A few years later we held a contest for the design of banners to represent Baltimore Avenue. After eight years, we’re looking to replace the faded banners with new versions, and are seeking community submissions for what the design will be. Here's your chance to have your design printed and placed along Baltimore Avenue for the entire community to see and enjoy!

Here are the contest basics:

We are excited to share that daily weekday food vending is back at The Porch! For March of 2020, we'll welcome one truck each weekday to vend during lunchtime hours, plus Schmear It offering breakfast on Thursdays*. The full schedule is below! Stay tuned for the return of two trucks each day, plus other exciting programming for 2020.

*Please note Schmear It is vending on Monday, March 2nd instead of Thursday, March 5th due to a scheduling conflict. 

Help keep your neighborhood clean by joining a community cleanup on Saturday, April 4th from 9 AM to 2 PM. UCD is partnering with the City of Philadelphia to assist block captains, students, volunteer groups and neighbors by providing trash bags, brooms, work gloves, and trash pickup. Additionally, Clarkville at 4301 Baltimore Avenue will have a 30' dumpster available for public use during the cleanup. Feel free to dispose of large items not typically taken during weekly trash collection. 

University City District works year-round to change places and change lives. We invite you to explore our 2019 Annual Review online, where you can see our impact across our community. Thank you to all the partners, funders, and supporters who make our work possible. We look forward to coming together with all of you in 2020 to make University City a vibrant, welcome community for all.

Trolley Portal Gardens, our public space located at the intersections of 40^th and Baltimore, received a huge boost this winter thanks to a $100,000 donation from longtime neighbors and community leaders Barry Grossbach and Mike Hardy. The money will establish an endowment for the continued beautification of the space, including upkeep of the flower mounds and planters, and Barry and Mike are hopeful their example will inspire other members of the community to contribute as well.

Local organizations throughout our neighborhood are offering events to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, January 20th. See below for a collection of celebrations and volunteer opportunities. Want more to do? Our community calendar has a comprehensive list of upcoming events. 

We are pleased to announce that we are the recipients of $895,000 in funds from the Connelly and William Penn Foundations. The funding will help to expand the reach of our West Philadelphia Sklils Initiative (WPSI) and support career growth and pathways out of intergenerational poverty, with a particular focus on Green City Works (GCW). GCW, a landscaping social venture which employs West Philadelphians, provides high quality design-build-maintenance landscaping services while transforming the way the industry trains, advances, and supports its workforce.