In Philadelphia, the
Center City District has become a household name. With its jump-suited juggernaut keeping the streets clean and planning publications that are leading the direction of Philadelphia's potent downtown, hometown accolades are never in short supply. But it's always nice when outsiders let you know that your work matters on a national level. Last week,
D.C.-based International Downtown Association announced CCD's Philadelphia Retail Marketing Alliance as the recipient for its Downtown Pinnacle Award in Marketing and
Communications. Also announced last week, Harvard's Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation acknowledged CCD's Public Spaces Initiative in its inaugural Bright Ideas program.
"It was an honor to be considered for this award," says Public Space Collaborative leader Bill Hughes. "Everyone in the collaborative really takes pride in what they are doing and this really validates everything that we do and the fact that we work as a team in Center City to create a positive environment."
Both projects used technology in new ways to organize varied information, helping Center City's planning and improvement efforts run more smoothly. The Philadelphia Retail Marketing Alliance created a partnership between Center City businesses, which directed all marketing resources toward the same goal. CCD created a website, PhiladelphiaRetail.com, that brings all the information needed to conduct business in Center City together in one location. With the Public Spaces
Collaborative, CCD staff used handheld computers to record and map potholes, broken windows and graffiti, getting alerts to the right agencies.
"This is another nice accolade to have under our belt," says PRMA leader Ivy Olesh. "We work with so many different landlords and developers and retailers and brokers, it's nice to say that this project is something that is nationally recognized."
Source: Ivy Olesh and Bill Hughes, CCD
Writer: John Steele