Hundreds of local leaders, community partners, and neighborhood stakeholders gathered on Wednesday night for University City District’s (UCD) annual event, which served two purposes: celebrating a major transition in organizational leadership and marking the official release of The State of University City 2026 report.

The gathering was the formal send-off for longtime UCD President Matt Bergheiser, who was widely praised by attendees for his years of stewardship and community impact. The evening also was the official welcome for incoming President and CEO Sarah Steltz.

Steltz laid out a forward-looking vision for the district, emphasizing its position as an economic and civic anchor for West Philadelphia and its importance to the region’s overall economic success.

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Movies in Clark Park returns in August. (Photo courtesy UCD)

Summer is just around the corner and the University City District has unveiled a schedule of live events in the neighborhood. From the return of the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll to outdoor movies in Clark Park, here’s what’s in store for the next four months.

Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll
June 4 and September 3 | 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

The stretch of Baltimore Avenue between 40th and 51st Street will once again transform for the Dollar Stroll. Neighborhood businesses and community vendors will offer $1, $3, and $5 deals on everything from signature bites and pet supplies to theater tickets. In addition, expect live music and local arts and crafts scattered along the avenue. Go here for more details.

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Home prices, rents, commercial construction and salaries in the neighborhoods that comprise the University City District (UCD) continue to outpace the rest of the city, according to the annual “State of University City” report issued late last week amid increased concerns about federal policies that could slow down the growth of “Eds and Meds.”

Median home prices in the neighborhoods (including Cedar Park, Spruce Hill, Powelton Village and Walnut Hill), were down slightly in 2024, settling at about $375,000, but the number of home sales was up slightly. Median home prices in Cedar Park jumped about 35 percent compared to 2023 and Spruce Hill continued to have the highest home value at about $550,000.

The median home sale price in Philadelphia was about $200,000 last year.

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Keswick Cycle opening in University City in 2011 (Archived photo).

Keswick Cycle has unexpectedly closed its University City location on Locust St. near 40th after 13 years of operation. There were no prior announcements about the closing on their social media, but there is a message on their website that reads simply:

“We are saddened to announce the closing of our University City location.”

The last post on the store’s Facebook page is dated Oct. 15. Some operations at the store are still temporarily ongoing for those who have pending order pickups.

The business was founded in 1933 in Glenside. The University City shop was their only location in Philadelphia. Two other remaining shops are in Glenside and Paoli where customers are now referred to by Keswick Cycle.

Here’s some exciting news coming from the Shop Penn district this summer.

Later this summer, Cork & Candles will be opening a new store at 3421 Walnut Street, bringing the candle making experience to University City. Cork & Candles, a family-owned small business, is a BYOB candle-making experience that invites guests to create, drink, and connect while hand-pouring custom candles.

“Our mission at Cork & Candles is to create a space where friends gather and have the opportunity to build connections while partaking in a creative experience,” says David Straub, Co-Founder and CEO of Cork & Candles. “We believe everyone is creative and we love helping people tap into that side during their time with us.”

At Cork & Candles, guests can gather with friends and explore a scent library stocked with over 60 unique fragrances, creating a custom blend to craft a handmade candle that is truly one-of-a-kind. Guests can also take part in novelty candle classes that rotate monthly. In addition to classes and candle-making experiences, guests can shop a retail section and purchase candles created in-store. While taking part in the candle-making activities, guests are invited to BYOB (wine or beer) and indulge while enjoying a hands-on and creative experience!

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The University City District (UCD) has released its annual State of University City report, which highlights different areas of development in the area in the past year, including real estate, employment, demographics, education, healthcare, transportation and more. During the presentation of the report on Thursday, UCD shared the stories of three innovative neighborhood businesses: Renata’s Kitchen, Two Locals Brewing, and Grant BLVD (check out this video).

Here are some most interesting stats from the 2024 State of University City report:

• University City has 55,953 residents, whose median age is 27.6;

• 84 percent of neighborhood residents work in University City, and 72 percent of jobs pay over $40,000 per year;

• 63 percent of residents ages 25+ have a bachelor’s degree or higher;

• The median single family home sale price is $537,000;

• 4,210 units of multi-family housing (apartments) are expected to be developed in the next three years;

• 929 new units of multi-family housing were developed in the past year;

• The number of new construction permits has decreased from 50 to a little over 10 since 2018.

• 57 percent of neighborhood residents do not use cars to commute;

• 24 percent of households’ primary language is not English.

To download the new report, click here. Read about some previous reports in our archives here.