On December 5, hundreds of guests attended the annual State of University City event at World Cafe Live. This year, the event focused on how University City is setting the pace for the future of work for the region. UCD Board Chair Craig Carnaroli and UCD President Matt Bergheiser spoke about University City’s role in the future of employment in the region and how inclusion and opportunity are as critical as innovation and development. UCD issued its annual State of University City report. Below are excerpts. For the full report, visit https://www.universitycity.org/blog/state-university-city-2019

Commerce. Innovation. Academic Excellence. University City is where start-ups, scholars and professionals want to be. World-class academic institutions, renowned hospitals, award-winning restaurants, and innovators from fields like robotics and gene therapy are all packed into University City’s 2.4 square miles. Continually setting the pace for development in the region, University City is a dynamic employment hub for more than 80,000 people, a transportation nucleus with some of the most pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly streets in Philadelphia, and a destination for food lovers and culture seekers. With its luxury apartments and small, tree-lined streets; skyscrapers and Victorian row homes; small businesses and anchor institutions, the neighborhood is a tapestry of diversity that nearly 55,000 people call home. University City is a neighborhood of growth and possibility built on a solid structure of success.

Real Estate Development: University City’s real estate boom continues as Philadelphia’s second skyline rises west of the Schuylkill River. Over the past 12 months, 26 real estate projects were advanced or completed, including 3675 Market Street, University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics and Trolley Portal Gardens. New projects are announced on a regular basis: In the long run, uCity Square, Schuylkill Yards, and the 30th Street Station District Plan promise to reshape the economic future of University City and the greater Philadelphia region.

Employment: University City eclipsed 80,000 jobs for the first time in 2018, adding 5,000 jobs in just three years. At over 33,000 jobs per square mile, University City remains a top regional hub for employment and home to a compelling array of jobs that are transforming the nature of work. Led by some of the largest employers in the region—the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Medicine and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia—the healthcare and education sectors continue to dominate the job market in University City, though other industries, like IT, hospitality and construction, are making gains.

Office: With over 4.5 million square feet of office space in the district and 350,000 more square feet on the horizon, University City’s office market is thriving. As of 2018 Q2, University City’s office occupancy sat at 91%, remaining the second tightest of all submarkets in the region. University City is proving attractive to the region’s growing number of innovation players, and major development at Schuylkill Yards and uCity Square will add significantly to the portfolio of office space in the years ahead.

Retail and Hospitality: With its unique mix of college and graduate students, large employers, commuters and full-time residents, University City is an attractive market for the retail and hospitality industries. In 2018 the neighborhood added national eateries like Wawa, &Pizza and SoBol, as well as local culinary favorites like Pitruco Pizza, High Street Provisions and Goldie. In addition, University City now boasts over 1,000 hotel rooms. Visitors, residents and local employees have 270 bars and restaurants and over 130 shops to explore while spending time in the neighborhood.

Higher Education: With five institutions of higher education in the district, University City is renowned worldwide for its exceptional colleges and universities. Nearly 45,000 undergraduate and graduate students are drawn to University City’s nationally-ranked academic programs, global dining scene, beautiful campuses, diverse residential communities and prime location within the city and eastern seaboard. Nearly 23,000 students live in University City —far more than any similarly-sized peer innovation district—meaning that the next generation of talented workers, scientists, artists and lawyers is already soaking up what the neighborhood has to offer while developing the skills needed to successfully land the jobs on the district’s horizon.

Healthcare: The four hospitals located within University City – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center—employ a combined 30,000 people, and are a vital part of University City’s economy. Each year, Penn Medicine and CHOP make the upper reaches of regional and national rankings. Our hospital systems are developing cutting-edge treatment options and cures for both global and local challenges, while providing premier care for the residents living in their backyard.

Transportation: Sixty eight percent of University City residents commute to work without relying on a car, far surpassing local and national numbers and outranking all peer innovation districts except Washington, DC. This year, University City once again earned a “paradise” classification for walking, biking and public transit according to www.Walkscore.com  We have one of the city’s first protected bike lanes on a stretch of Chestnut Street, and between buses, trolleys, the subway and regional rail there are ample transportation options for University City’s 55,000 residents and 80,000 employees.

People: The population of University City is young, educated and ethnically diverse, a melting pot of new families, young professionals, students and longtime residents. University City’s diverse population—which reflects Philadelphia’s growing number of immigrants—has led to cultural, religious and dining options as varied as the residents who live here. The growing population, up nearly 12% since 2010, demonstrates the improved quality of life and increased desirability of the neighborhood.

Life in the Neighborhood: University City’s fantastic amenities, great schools, excellent dining scene, eclectic arts offerings and diverse housing options make it a neighborhood of choice for nearly 55,000 residents. Our large, historic houses appeal to long-time residents and young families. Students studying at the neighborhood’s colleges have an increasing number of housing options, and every resident benefits from the neighborhood’s renowned greenery. Public transit options make for easy travel to Center City or the suburbs, and active neighborhood associations and community groups inject unique character and civic pride to the sub-neighborhoods located within the district.

Innovation: University City is considered the region’s leader in science and innovation. Discoveries initiated in University City spark billions of dollars in economic growth and attract international attention to those working in fields like robotics, biotech and medicine. Forty two percent of Pennsylvania’s National Institutes of Health funding is awarded to University City institutions, which has remained consistent even as statewide funding has increased.

University City by the Numbers

• 80,000+ jobs
• 54,319 residents
• $1.48 billion in research and development funding
• 1,306,000 square feet of development
• 90.9% office occupancy
• 59% of residents ages 25 or older have a bachelor’s degree or higher
• 20-24 minute median commute for UC residents
• 131 retailers
• 44,922 students across 5 colleges and universities
• 68% of residents walk, bike or ride public transit to work
• 4,411,662 annual Amtrak passengers at 30th Street Station
• 270 restaurants and bars
• 22% of households speak a non-English language at home
• $1,500 median apartment rent
• $400,000 median home sale price in 2017
• 5,181 outdoor seats