PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — With a slick video and a host of speakers, Philadelphia officials broke ground on Wednesday on AveArts 2.0, a $150 million makeover for the stretch of South Broad Street known as the Avenue of the Arts.
The renovation will include seating, sculptures, performance spaces and lush landscaping.
“From City Hall to Washington Avenue, we are creating a tree-lined, blooming outdoor living room,” described board President Carl Dranoff.
The one-mile stretch of hotels, restaurants and theaters was the brainchild of then-Mayor Ed Rendell, seen as a risky investment at the time but one that has paid big dividends. Dranoff estimates its economic impact is worth $4 billion, and continued investment will compound the benefits.
“Avenue of the Arts 2.0 builds on that foundation to make the experience compelling and unforgettable,” he said. “The Avenue of the Arts will stand beside the Champs-Élysées as a peer, as a must-see for America, demonstrating to the world Philadelphia’s civic boldness and artistic excellence.”
The improvements will begin in front of the Kimmel Center and eventually — over a 10-year period — extend from City Hall to Washington Avenue.
The renovation will also reduce traffic lanes from six to four and eliminate parking both at curbside and on the median, which will be transformed into a tree canopy.
The first phase of work begins in front of the Kimmel on Jan. 30 and is expected to be completed by June. The sidewalk phase will begin in 2027 and is expected to take a year to complete.