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City outlines 2026 commercial‑corridor investments and public‑safety planning for major events
Summary
City officials described a program to boost neighborhood commercial corridors ahead of a major 2026 event schedule, combining physical corridor improvements, business digital asset support and coordinated public‑safety planning with county and state partners.
City officials told City Council they plan a neighborhood‑driven approach to ensure economic benefits from major 2026 events reach commercial corridors beyond Center City, paired with a planning effort to maintain public safety during large, citywide events.
Michael Numis, director of the city’s 2026 planning office, described a commercial‑corridor program in the FY26 budget that will fund physical enhancements, marketing and technical assistance for neighborhood businesses. Numis said the program will work with district council offices, CDCs and partners such as Visit Philadelphia to help businesses create digital assets and marketing materials; he cited the need for restaurants to have robust online imagery to attract visitors.
Carlton Williams, director of Cleaning and Greening Initiatives, said his office is working with Commerce to identify about 20 neighborhood corridors for “cleaning and greening” improvements — planters, street trees and pedestrian enhancements — so the neighborhoods retain benefits after 2026. Williams referenced a completed example on Lancaster Avenue and said the city is prioritizing improvements outside Center City.
Councilmembers raised concerns about whether neighborhood police staffing would be reduced during major events downtown. The administration said the FY26 budget proposes investments intended to balance event requirements and neighborhood safety. Commissioner Bethel, speaking on deployment planning, said the city will plan for the significant challenge of deploying officers for large events and will request mutual aid and support from neighboring counties and state police as needed, similar to previous large events. Public safety director Adam Geer said the administration expects to expand PAD (Philadelphia Addiction Diversion or similar PAD facility) operations to 24/7 before the end of the month as part of services related to event and community safety.
Officials emphasized a neighborhood‑forward economic approach: the city will provide grants through Commerce for corridor participation, physical improvements and training for small businesses to capture visitor spending. The administration said more announcements and initial corridor selections would be shared as FY26 funding and transfer actions take effect.
Ending: Councilmembers asked for earlier engagement with districts and for clarity on staffing and cadence; the administration said it would meet with council offices to coordinate corridor selection and public‑safety deployment plans.
