Philly hopes $1.8M makeover jumpstarts Market East revival
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Market East is getting a glow-up for the nation's 250th birthday, rolling out ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
Why it matters: It's a shot in the arm for a business district desperate for a revival.
The big picture: Market East has endured stalled abandoned development projects — including a scrapped Sixers arena — plus other unrealized revitalization efforts, along with safety concerns.
Driving the news: The improvements are being funded through a $1.85 million city grant, the Center City District said.
- Eight pop-ups will fill properties owned by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment.
Meanwhile, Comcast and the Sixers are pushing back the timeline to demolish several properties they own on a nearby stretch of Market Street, the Biz Journal reported.
Zoom in: Retailers are TBD. The Center City District has promised more details on specific pop-ups and upcoming art installations.
- Notable improvements: Planting more than 40 trees, installing 10 temporary murals, rehabbing four transit head houses and 21 bus shelters.
- Plus: Adding fresh coats of paint, new lighting and banner poles.
By the numbers: About 1.5 million people are expected to visit Market East during Philly's yearlong slate of semiquincentennial activities, according to figures from the mayor's office.
What they're saying: City officials hope the improvements are "a catalyzing spark in the engine of Market East's revival," Mayor Cherelle Parker said in a statement.
What we're watching: A Market East advisory committee continues working toward a longer-term vision for the corridor.