University City District

Views from the Cira Skybridge ??? "Flourish" is a new art installation by Philadelphia-based artist Roxana Azar. The artwork is featured on the glass pedestrian bridge that connects the Cira Centre office building to Gray 30th Street Station and is the most recent expansion in the Art at Amtrak Program. “By showcasing the work of a local artist, Amtrak is transforming and enhancing the Cira Skybridge, enriching the daily lives of the many travelers, local residents and employees who utilize it, and provoking thought and emotion through this dynamic visual experience," said Art at Amtrak Director Sharon Tepper. Have you seen the new installation? Tell us about it! ??

Tomorrow evening, we are partnering with World Cafe Live and Brandywine Realty Trust to present a free concert featuring musician Marielle Kraft to Drexel Square as part of our University City Summer Series! The goal of our series is to bring free, engaging performances to the community while shining a light on standout public spaces within our district ? ? Situated at the corner of 30th and Market Streets, Drexel Square is a 1.3-acre urban park conceived as an intimate place for the community to gather. Marking the first completed project of Schuylkill Yards, the $3.5 billion, 14-acre mixed used neighborhood developed by Brandywine Realty Trust, Drexel Square is an investment for generations to come and reflects Brandywine Realty Trust’s dedication to sustainability and thoughtful design. ? With pathways projecting the earth’s meridian lines, sparkling white granite contrasting the lush green grass and fully-grown Dawn Redwood trees, shrubs and greenery flanking the perimeter, Drexel Square is a deliberate mix between a plaza and a park. A clear transition from downtown Philadelphia’s urban grid to an urban oasis in Philadelphia’s rising second downtown, Drexel Square was the first of a network of parks totaling 6.5 acres to be developed within the master Schuylkill Yards vision. ? We’re looking forward to welcoming music fans into this stunning public space, and filling Drexel Square with the sounds of local DJ Afrvbz followed by a live set by Marielle Kraft. The music starts at 5 PM with the headliners taking the stage at 6:30. Learn more > https://bit.ly/4en3vKB

Today members of our team headed to the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia to meet with a delegation of South Korean government officials and researchers in the field of balanced regional development to share insights into our neighborhood and our unique collaborations with local universities and large institutions. Our thanks to Nate Hommel for presenting on all that UCD does and to our foreign visitors for their curiosity and excellent questions!

Our growing West Philadelphia Skills Initiative is seeking to add a Manager of Partnerships.

One of our favorite events, the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll, returns tomorrow, September 5th from 5 - 8 PM. During this one-of-a-kind evening, local businesses and neighborhood vendors offer $1, $3, and $5 deals on food and merchandise, and we work with local groups and arts and culture partners to program live music and other activations along this bustling corridor. Come for the deals, and stay for the vibes! More details can be found at: https://lnkd.in/d_AQu4wr

Our friends from Center City District will present Open Streets: West Walnut on Sundays in September. Read about the evolution of Open Streets in Philadelphia dating back to the 1970s in this piece from Billy Penn, which includes insights from Nate Hommel, our Director of Planning and Design: https://lnkd.in/gxFtJumh

This new piece in The Philadelphia Citizen is a deep dive into the thoughtful planning that went into establishing University City as "the vital economic core of the metropolitan region." Hear from leaders including John Fry, John Grady, Jerry Sweeney, and our own Matt Bergheiser, among others, on what sets our neighborhood apart.

This morning we had a packed house for a Small Business Town Hall. Small business owners gathered to meet and connect with representatives from the Philadelphia Department of Commerce, the African-American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ & DE, The Enterprise Center, SCORE Mentors Philadelphia, LA21 21st Century Business Association CDC, and the Baltimore Avenue Business Association to discuss topics including grants and loans, available supports, small business mentorship, bookkeeping, and more. If you'd like to sign up for future small business events, please send us an email to [email protected] to be added to our outreach list!

In eight days, we'll be bringing the first of TWO free concerts to University City for the first time since 2019! RSVP now to experience Lady Alma and the Vertical Current as they light up the stage at The Lawn at uCity Square next Thursday, August 15th. We could not pull this off without the programming support of World Cafe Live and support from our hosts, Wexford Science & Technology, LLC.

A big day in West Philadelphia!