PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Long before the Philadelphia city workers strike, the smell of garbage was a familiar companion to anyone who walked through the city’s alleyways. The Center City District has taken stock of alleys within its purview and released a report on them Friday.
“This one smells a little less like hot garbage than some of the others I’ve walked through,” said Megan. She is with her husband, visiting from Maine and taking advantage of Philadelphia’s walkability, but that means occasional side trips down alleys lined with dumpsters and the attendant problems of litter and odor.
“Kind of a warm funk,” she added.
The Center City District has made countless improvements to optimize the downtown experience. Now, it’s taking on alleys. Its planning and urban design director, Andrew Jacobs, sees huge potential.
“We’re really excited about the opportunity that lies in this alley network,” he said.
Alleys can be destinations, like Elfreth’s Alley, but Jacobs surveyed dozens blighted by dumpster use that do not follow city codes, like being tightly sealed, emptied weekly and kept clean. He says the first step in reclaiming alleys is to raise awareness about the rules, something he says the city has already started doing.
“We’ve seen some subtle improvements. We’ve seen more locks on dumpsters. We’ve seen more permitting labels on dumpsters,” Jacobs said.
As with so many other projects, Jacobs hopes the expected tourism bump in 2026 will serve as an impetus to push the effort along. But Megan and John say not to worry too much.
“It’s part of the city. We expect it,” Megan said.
John, adding, “It’s not what I would want, but it’s real. You gotta see it all.”