University City District.PNG

University City, Inc.

Just minutes west of downtown Philadelphia, the University City neighborhood is home to the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and University of the Sciences. The University City District (UCD) was created to help revitalize the West Philadelphia community.

They’re Doing it By:

  • Cultivating strong connections with anchor institutions and the extended neighborhood through the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative.

  • Growing University City’s population by increasing residents ages 21-34 by 20% since 2000.

  • Focusing on making the neighborhood of West Philadelphia clean and safe.

  • Employing public safety ambassadors that patrol the neighborhood on foot and bicycle.

Facts and Figures

  • Year Founded: 1997

  • President/Executive Director: Matt Bergheiser

  • Anchors:

    • University of Pennsylvania

    • Children’s Hospital

    • Drexel University

    • Penn Medicine

    • University of the Sciences

  • Staff size: 93

  • Annual Operating Budget: $9 million

  • Funding Sources: Foundations, anchor contributions, corporate, earned income and contracts

  • Services: Clean, safe, workforce development (West Philadelphia Skills Initiative), public space development, business attraction/retention, public events, marketing and communications

  • Geographic Boundaries: University City Neighborhood