Officials push for local special services district by fall

The University and other area institutions will fund the special services district privately for now. Creating a West Philadelphia special services district is a top priority for the University -- and officials are taking charge of the process in order to guarantee that such a district becomes reality. Typically, before a group can establish a special services district -- which aims to create an area that uses funds obtained from increased real estate taxes for lighting and cleaning improvements, as well as safety measures -- the Philadelphia City Council must pass a special ordinance, a process which often takes more than a year. But by establishing the district through a private initiative with the area's major organizations, University administrators hope to see it implemented by the fall. Penn is working with other major institutions in the area -- including Drexel University, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and the Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania -- to privately organize and fund the district, according to Executive Vice President John Fry. "There is a sense of urgency in getting this started," he said. "We need to stabilize this environment from a safety and cleanliness standpoint." Fry said he met with representatives of the area's largest institutions, who later agreed to participate in the initiative. And while area officials have been encouraged by the success of a similar district established in Center City in 1990, the proposed West Philadelphia district faces challenges not encountered in Center City. The largest problem stems from the nature of the area. West Philadelphia's major businesses are non-profit organizations which do not pay real estate taxes, so such a tax increase would not lead to the significantly higher revenues it did in the more commercial Center City district. This problem -- in addition to the length of time required to get an ordinance passed through City Council -- convinced the University and other major institutions in the area to privately fund the venture. "We're going to go the contractual route first and then the municipal route later," Fry said. He explained that the institutions will determine an agreement to bear the initial costs, and will work to legally establish the district once services are in place. "[The group of major institutions] will make the move initially with the understanding that [remaining community businesses and property owners] will contribute eventually if it's successful -- and I think it will be," Fry said. The 7-year old Center City special services district has resulted in street paving, additional lighting and sidewalk cleaning for the area, and the district's services have been credited with helping to reduce crime in Center City. The West Philadelphia special services district would initially focus on graffiti and trash removal and improving security throughout the area. Future goals would include additional street lighting, tree planting and facade improvements like outdoor benches. "We want a University City that's brighter, lighter and more aesthetically-pleasing," Fry said. But he added that basic safety and cleanliness would be the first concern because "until then it's useless to worry about the frills." And although the area's major institutions have committed to creating the district, details still have to be worked out over the next six months. One of the most difficult decisions facing the district's planners is determining the geographical boundaries of the special services district, because the institutions involved in the district are concerned with different parts of University City. Fry said cost is also a critical issue for everyone involved. "Everyone is concerned about what the tab will be," he noted. He said the University could end up bearing a significant portion of the cost "because the bigger institutions pay more." Officials of the major institutions met for the first time two weeks ago and have already created a steering committee, as well as three sub-committees, to determine the district's details. "I'd like to think of us [the University] as a catalyst," Fry said. "But I want it to be a community effort because it's in all of our best interests."