Success Stories
What have other BIDs accomplished in our city?
1. Old City District
Mission: To improve Philadelphia's historic district as a place for people to meet, work, shop and live by supplementing municipal services with maintenance, public safety, economic development and promotional programs. About: Established by Philadelphia City Council in 1998 with a service area bounded by Florist Street to the north, Walnut/Dock Streets to the south, Front Street to the east and 6th Street to the west
OCD has been able to achieve major goals in cleaning and greening. Their 364 day street cleaners picked up 70 tons of trash in 2017.
In terms of public safety, OCD provides ongoing funding of supplemental police shifts and hires a private security firm on weekends.
Old City District sponsors a farmer’s market at Christ Church and Old City Festival, an annual event attracting thousands to the community as well as Wawa Welcome America Festival kicking off the summer months.
In 2017, OCD launched pop up art installations and partnerships with local colleges and universities.
“15,000 people attended Old City Festival on Sunday, October 8, 2017”
— Old City District Annual Report
2. Northern Liberties BID
NLBID was recently created and born out of the Northern Liberties Neighborhood Association. The newly minted organization is governed by a 15-member volunteer Board of Directors including 11 elected commercial property or business owners, both District City Councilmembers, and a designee each from NLNA and the 2nd Street Festival. A special provision for low income residents was created to ensure and equitable and democratic process.
Explore Northern Liberties began street cleaning services in Summer of 2018 and recently received a grant from the Sugarhouse Casino Penn Treaty Special Services District for $53,426 to purchase Big Belly trash compactors to place throughout the district.
The NoLibs BID will take over the wildly popular 2nd Street Festival which promotes local businesses and brings folks and tourists to the neighborhood.
This young organization outlines economic development goals. capital improvements and operations goals to be assessed and achieved within the first year of operation.
Primary goals of the Northern Liberties BID can be found here.
3. East Passyunk Avenue
Located just a few minutes from Center City Philadelphia, East Passyunk Avenue
is home to over 150 independently owned businesses, ranging from unique boutiques offering hand-made
wares and fashion to fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere and the world-famous “Cheesesteak Corner.”
Founded in 2002 and working with an annual operating budget of around $200,000, the East Passyunk Avenue NID has fostered the growth of one of the city’s most well loved “eat streets”.
The Passyunk Avenue BID has provided monies for capital projects like improvements to the singing fountain plaza and large events like Flavors of the Avenue.
