Occupy Philadelphia protesters ordered to leave Dilworth Plaza

The clock is ticking down to the end of Occupy Philadelphia’s encampment at Dilworth Plaza.

The city posted signs Wednesday afternoon saying commencement of the Dilworth Plaza construction project is imminent and that protesters should vacate the plaza immediately.

Paul Levy of the Center City District said he can’t say when the construction on the site next to City Hall will start because it depends on when the city issues necessary permits.

“When you have a project of this scale, there are lots of approvals that are required from lots of different city agencies,” Levy said. “The city has absolutely committed to expediting those but until then, no one wants to say a precise date … but ‘very soon’ is a good description.”

Mark McDonald, a spokesman for Mayor Michael Nutter, said that now that a contractor has been chosen, the process will move ahead quickly.

“I can’t provide a precise time as to when that will be completed but I feel certain that it will be a relatively quick process,” he said.

The city is sending a homeless outreach team into the encampment to help those without a home find a place to stay.

The protesters have been camping out for more than a month.