University City is a global city—at least, that was the theme of this year’s The State of University City address hosted by the University City District and the University of Pennsylvania.

The 2013/2014 program, held Monday afternoon at the International House Philadelphia on 37^th and Chestnut Streets, focused on University City’s global reach. University of Pennsylvania Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli and Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, Vice Provost of UPenn’s Global Initiatives, both discussed how their institution, as well as Drexel University and University of the Sciences, fosters an international neighborhood connection through its diverse student body and international academic, cultural and social partnerships.

In regards to the larger University City community, University City District Executive Director Matt Bergheiser pointed to recent real estate and commercial developments, cultural and community events, and the neighborhood’s shifting demographics as factors in creating “a global University City.” Each speaker, however, stressed that, while University City does impact the global community at large, people living and working in the neighborhood must continue to promote and support initiatives that are global in practice.

While the panel itself presented numbers relative to this year’s theme, attendees were also given a packet detailing more statistics about University City. In numbers:

• 23 percent of University City households speak a language other than English at home.
• 17 percent of University City’s residents is foreign-born, five percent more than Philadelphia’s overall population.
• According to Dr. Emanuel, the University of Pennsylvania has over 7,000 foreign-born students a year. Combined with Drexel University, that’s about 9,000 foreign-born students. (Dr. Emanuel noted that UPenn doesn’t do its best at integrating University City’s foreign-born residents, which he expects to change with the construction of the university’s Perry World House.)
• Nearly $3.5 billion of new or recently completed real estate projects.
• University City has over 72,000 jobs, with a 93 percent office occupancy rate and 89% retail occupancy rate.
• About 16 academic, commercial, medical/biomedical, or residential/mixed-use properties being constructed within the next three years.
• Average property values have tripled since 2000, from over $100,000 to over $300,000 in 2012.
• Cost of living in University City is 28 percent lower than Center City.
• The number of 20- to 34-year-olds living in University City has increased by 21 percent between 2000 and 2010, with 20- to 24-year-olds making up the highest number of residents.
• Racially, the population breaks down as follows: 25 percent Black or African-American, 20 percent Asian, and 50 percent White.
• In 2012, rate of serious crimes in University City was down 50 percent since 1998, compared to just under 25 percent for the city overall.
• Between 1998 and 2012, University City experienced a -44 percent change in rate of violent crime per 1,000 residents, compared to a -16 percent change in the City of Philadelphia. 

And here are some real estate development projects in the University City area, including their scheduled completion dates:

• Academic
  • Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Partnerships: December 2014 (35th & Spring Garden)
  • Krishna P. Singh Center for Nanotechnology: October 2013 (32nd & Walnut)
  • USciences Science and Technology Center II: Spring 2014 (43rd & Woodland)
  • Arts Research and Culture House: January 2014 (36th and Locust Walk)
• Commercial
  • 3.0 University Place: Fall 2015 (41st & Market)
    

    Rendering of the Croydon Apartments at 49th and Spruce.

  • 3737 Market Street: June 2014 (38th & Market)
• Medical:
  • Henry A. Jordan Medical Education Center: 2014 (Health Sciences Drive)
  • Advanced Care Hospital Pavilion at Penn Presbyterian: January 2015 (38th & Lancaster)
  • Buerger Center: 2015 (Civic Center Blvd)
  • Robert and Penny Fox Tower: 2014 (36th & Spruce)
• Residential/Mixed Use:
  • 3601 Market Street: Spring 2015 (36th & Market)
  • 38th and Chestnut Apts & Phila. Episcopal Cathedral Office Complex: Summer 2014-Summer 2015 (38th and Chestnut)
  • 43rd and Sansom: Summer 2014-2015 (43rd & Sansom)
  • Croydon: June 2014 (241 49th St)
  • Lancaster Ave Development: Fall 2015 est. (34th & Lancaster)
  • New College House: Fall 2016 (34th & Chestnut)

–Annamarya Scaccia