$50 million facelift for Dilworth Plaza

The area outside City Hall in Philadelphia is in line to receive a major makeover.  It could be transformed into a lush green space ushering in visitors to the seat of city government.

 

A bill in City Council would put Dilworth Plaza into the hands of the Center City District – at just one dollar a year for 30 years.  CCD President Paul Levy has lofty plans for the under-used and off-putting plaza.

 

“At the surface level we will create a wonderful park, a combination of Millenium Park in Chicago and our own Rittenhouse Square.”

 

Councilman Darrell Clarke believes in the project.

 

“The Dilworth Plaza surface is going to be quite spectacular, there’s going to be a lot a greenery, a lot of glass. It will provide a much more acceptable pedestrian walkway to the subway, in addition to other rail lines across 15th Street. So I think it’s going to be quite a specific development.”

The city will put up about $5 million,  with the balance of the $50 million project coming from state and federal funds, along with private donations.