Center City Gains Residents, But Not Jobs

The historic Philadelphia-area city has been part of a concerted effort to rebuild, but housing, not retail, is where the money is.

1 minute read

June 10, 2005, 7:00 AM PDT

By Brenda Meyer

"Thanks in part to a 10-year property-tax abatement enacted in 1997, residential construction has taken off not just in Center City but in several other nearby neighborhoods. In Center City, this new housing just furthers the trend of the past decade, in which the downtown population rose 8 percent even as the city as a whole continued to lose residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This virtuous cycle has even spread to neighborhoods such as Spring Garden, Northern Liberties, Bella Vista, Southwark, Southwest Center City and beyond.

But instead of reinforcing Center City's historic role as the region's biggest employment center, all this activity is instead creating the region's newest bedroom community."

Thanks to Brenda Meyer

FULL STORY: Sleeping in Center City

Wednesday, June 8, 2005 in The Philadelphia Inquirer

Housing Pennsylvania

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Get 25% Off Your Subscription

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.