Paul Levy to Be Presented the 2005 Philadelphia Award

Paul Levy to Be Presented the 2005 Philadelphia Award

PHILADELPHIA, March 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Paul R. Levy, President and CEO of the Center City District (CCD), has been named winner of the 2005 Philadelphia Award. The Philadelphia Award is celebrating the 85th year of its founding by Edward Bok. The Award is presented annually to a citizen of the region who has done the most "to advance the best and largest interest of the community." The award ceremony will be held in May.

Levy, 59, was the founding executive director of CCD and has led the organization since January of 1991. He planned, received property owner and legislative approval for, and now directs the $14 million downtown management district.

"Paul Levy has a passion for the City of Philadelphia and is an exemplary civic leader whose work and vision embody the spirit of The Philadelphia Award," said Charisse R. Lillie, Chair of The Philadelphia Award Trustees and Vice President of Human Resources for Comcast Corporation. "His continuous flow of ideas, leadership and attention to the development and improvement of the Center City landscape and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway have been major factors in transforming Center City into a more accessible destination for residents and visitors alike. Through his dynamic leadership, the Center City District has helped create a more vital Center City, and the paradigm of special services districts is now expanding to other neighborhoods and across North America and Europe."

When Levy accepts The Philadelphia Award at a ceremony this May, he will join the ranks of a prestigious group of distinguished leaders who have won The Award. The Award, which bestows a $25,000 honorarium, was established in 1921 by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and philanthropist, Edward W. Bok.

Paul Levy responded: "I am extraordinarily honored to receive this award and accept it on behalf of 100 uniformed staff of the CCD who have worked each day since 1991 to make Center City clean, safe and attractive. Our on-street crews, the professional staff in the office, and our Board of Directors all share the vision of a vibrant downtown that is an expanding center of employment for residents of the city and region, a great place to shop and dine, and an exciting place to visit or to live."

Mr. Levy also serves as executive director of the Central Philadelphia Development Corp., (CPDC), an advocacy and planning organization supported by the downtown business community. Among its recent initiatives are: advocacy and advertising efforts to increase the downtown residential population through the conversion of vacant office buildings to apartments; business retention and recruitment focused on the commercial office sector; preparation of a master plan for new cultural, residential development, and streetscape improvements for the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the setting for Philadelphia's major museums and libraries; and a new marketing initiative and partnership with the Philadelphia School District to promote the school options available to Center City's families.

Since 1979, Mr. Levy has taught at the University of Pennsylvania in the City Planning Department, directing graduate planning studios focused on Philadelphia as well as an introductory course on downtown development and management. Other teaching experience includes Temple University (1977-1984), Columbia University (1974-1976), Public School 155 Oceanhill-Brownsville, Brooklyn, NY (1971-1972) and Public School 186, Bronx, New York (1969-1970).

Mr. Levy has also advised numerous U.S., European and Australian cities on the formation of city center management organizations.

Earlier in his career, as director, project development, for the University of Pennsylvania Department of Real Estate from 1984-1990, Mr. Levy served as project manager for the design and construction of mixed-use office and retail developments at 3401 Walnut Street, the PGH Health Center; and the 34th & Chestnut Street Garage. Mr. Levy also served at the Philadelphia Parking Authority (1982-1984), the Philadelphia Office of Housing and Community Development, (1980-1982) and the Institute for the Study of Civic Values (1976-1980).

Mr. Levy has an M.A. and Ph.D. in history from Columbia University and an undergraduate degree in history from Lafayette College. He serves on the boards of many civic organizations, including the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Committee and the Independence Visitor Center Corporation. He was a co-chair of the Philadelphia Gaming Advisory Task Force. He is a past chairman of the International Downtown Association.

His personal awards include the 2002 Wyck-Strickland Award for contributions to the cultural life of Philadelphia, the 2002 Philadelphia Committee on City Policy Community Leadership Award and the 1996 Pennsylvania Society of Architects Honor Award for contribution to an improved public environment by a non-architect.

Mr. Levy lives in Center City Philadelphia with his wife and two daughters.

Source: Comcast

CONTACT: Charisse R. Lillie, Chair of the Board of Trustees, The
Philadelphia Award, +1-215-981-7370, or Charisse_Lillie@cable.comcast.com

NOTE TO EDITORS: WHAT: Philadelphia Award for 2005 Presentation WHO: Paul Levy, President and CEO of the Center City District

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