Several PPCE projects are described more fully below; for more information, click on the title of the project.

Common Ground for Building Our City

A series of three forums that brought together more than 60 developers and 80 civic leaders from across the city to discuss divergent views and develop common ground on a highly divisive issue - the question of how developers and community organizations communicate with each other about development projects.

Results:  Eight principles for a new design review process were presented to the Zoning Code Commission which adopted six of the eight into Philadelphia’s new zoning code. 

Minds on the Edge

More than 150 citizens participated in two forums at WHYY. They focused on the challenges raised by our mental health system and developed action plans for addressing the top three issues.

Results: A set of action steps were distributed to city and state policy makers.

The City Budget: Tight Times, Tough Choices

More than 1,700 taxpayers participated in four workshops and worked through budget choices facing the City of Philadelphia. Participants identified priorities and the trade-offs they were and were not willing to make.

Results: Mayor Nutter and city officials incorporated citizen input and priorities into the City's proposed budget for 2010.

Re-Envisioning the Kimmel Center through Civic Engagement and Design

More than 300 citizens developed ideas for energizing and activating the public spaces in and around the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts.  The goal was to attract and welcome more people into the region’s premier arts center.

Results: Citizen input was used as initial specification for redesigning the public spaces at the Kimmel.  Some citizen ideas were immediately implemented.

Great Expectations: Citizen Voices on Philadelphia’s Future

More than 2,500 Philadelphians participated in more than seventy forums across the city to identify the twelve top issues Philadelphians thought the next Mayor should address. Journalists and University researchers provided solutions and innovations. Citizens then critiqued and modified the issues and solutions at a Citizens Convention.

Results: The publication of The Citizens Agenda — a Civic "To Do List" that was endorsed by Mayor Nutter.

Community Forums on the Development of the Central Waterfront

More than 5,000 taxpayers participated in eight citizen forums to develop a unified plan for Philadelphia’s central waterfront – from Allegheny Avenue to Oregon Avenue.

Results: A civic vision and an action plan that was approved by the City Planning Commission.