University City District Celebrates Success on the Baltimore and Lancaster Avenue Commercial Corridors
Philadelphia, PA 17 July, 2003 --On July 23rd from 4 to 6PM at University City’s Mokas Restaurant, University City District (UCD) will celebrate the first anniversary of its corridor offices on Baltimore and Lancaster Avenues.
With grants from The William Penn Foundation, Philadelphia Commerce Department, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), the Department of Community and Economic Development, and Citizens Bank, UCD embarked on a multi-year effort to enhance the commercial corridors of Baltimore and Lancaster Avenues. Tanya Washington and Eli Massar, both University City residents, were hired as corridor managers. Through the initiative, UCD provides small business technical assistance to individual businesses, design assistance for façade improvements, marketing and promotions assistance, and new physical improvements, including new curbside trash cans. UCD also assists potential new businesses looking to move onto the corridors.
Eric Goldstein, Executive Director of UCD says, "The purpose of the anniversary party is to celebrate the accomplishments and successes of the corridor projects, to thank the funders for their support, to build enthusiasm for future goals of the corridors, and to drive business to tenants and restaurants. Facilitating the preservation, rehabilitation, and maintenance of commercial corridors is crucial to improving the quality of life in University City. We are very proud of our successes and want to share them with members of the community.
D-L Wormley, University City District’s Director of Neighborhood Initiatives says, "Looking back over our first year of this initiative, we have been very successful in working with the business owners and residents to understand their needs. Tanya and Eli have collaborated with many groups, have become familiar with what the corridor communities want, and have formed the foundation for the physical improvement changes that will highlight our next year.
For more information on the corridor party, please call Lori Klein Brennan at 215.243.0555.
University City District builds effective partnerships to maintain a clean and safe environment and to promote, plan and advocate for University City’s diverse, urban community.
University City is the region’s leading community for technology, research, higher education and health care integrated with historic and desirable residential neighborhoods, vibrant commercial and cultural attractions, and strong transportation connections.
The William Penn Foundation promotes understanding of and action on important issues facing the Philadelphia region, in order to advance dynamic and diverse communities that provide meaningful opportunity, and to improve the region’s quality of life. Through its grantmaking and other efforts, the Foundation strengthens our children’s future, fosters rich cultural expression, and deepens our connections to nature and community.
The Foundation funds proposals from nonprofit organizations working in Arts and Culture; Children, Youth, and Families; and Environment and Communities, and seeks dialogue with organizations and others concerned about our communities. For more information, call 215-988-1830; e-mail to moreinfo@williampennfoundation.org; or visit www.williampennfoundation.org. The William Penn Foundation was founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas.
Release Date: Thursday, July 17th 2003
