Back in 1993, when Ed Rendell was Mayor of Philadelphia, one of his goals was to really expand the Center City brand as much as possible. Since South Broad St has always been known as Philadelphia’s “Theater District,” Rendell decided to capitalize on our existing assets and jump start a new non-profit called “Avenue of the Arts.”

Nowadays when you drive down South Broad St, you would think that South Broad St has always looked this cool. Great architecture, lots of theaters, excellent restaurants, and high-end living accommodations. But the truth is, Avenue of the Arts was really what made that all happen.

To build on that success, there is a new plan brewing for North Broad St; and it starts with the “Promenade of Lights.”