What Does the Alphabet of Old City Do for Us:

OCAA, OCCA, OCBC, OCD, OCCF?

PART 1 - Mission and Structure

By Janet Kalter

This question is often asked - why do we have so many organizations in Old City? - and the intonation changes according to how upset or frustrated the person is at the moment.

In this series of articles, the missions and structures of the organizations will be described (Part 1); the source of their revenues, and how they attempt to carry out their respective missions will be revealed (Part 2).

A future article will discuss the limits of their purview and authority; that is, the tasks that they can or cannot perform (Part 3).

Old City Arts Association (OCAA), founded in 1991, is a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and maintaining Old City as a vital meeting place for arts, culture and commerce in Philadelphia. There is no paid staff.

Old City Civic Association (OCCA), the oldest of our organizations , whose mission is preserving history, enhancing quality of life, and promoting a prosperous community of residents, businesses, and institutions in Philadelphia's most unique neighborhood. OCCA is a non-profit, volunteer organization with no staff.

Old City Business Collective (OCBC), the youngest of our organizations founded in 2008, is dedicated to supporting the growth and improvement of the Old City business community. OCBC is a non-profit, volunteer organization with no paid staff.

Old City District (OCD) mission is "to help provide cleaner, safer and a well-managed environment for the advantage of residents, businesses, and visitors. The District will achieve this goal by supplementing municipal services with maintenance, public safety, hospitality, and promotional programs."

OCD is different from the three organizations mentioned above in that it is a municipal authority, founded in 1997 under the terms of the City's Municipal Authorities Act of 1945.
Operating revenues are based on the assessed valuation of all taxable commercial properties within the boundaries of the District, as determined by the City's Board of Revision of Taxes. Additional funds are derived through service contracts.
The District is overseen by a nineteen-member volunteer board. A chief executive officer, who reports to the Board of Directors, manages the activities of the District and its operations. This is a paid position.
OCD does have other paid staff. According to the original charter, there is an Executive Director and a Supervisor of Maintenance. Some OCD services are contracted through Center City District, (e.g., the 2009 budget shows line items for "Administrative Charges" and "Direct Personnel - Streetscape" paid to Center City District.)
Additional services are contracted through the police department so that Old City will have more adequate police coverage in the restaurant district on weekends.

We don't hear much about the Old City Community Fund (OCCF).
The Old City District is related to OCCF by common board membership. OCCF was established on March, 2002, for the purpose of promoting the restoration and maintenance of the facades, sidewalks and roadway on Market Street in Old City. We knew it previously as Historic East Market Street (HEMS).

Old City Community Fund entered into an Assumption Agreement with Historic East Market Street (HEMS) in 2002, whereby HEMS transferred control of its net assets to OCCF of which OCCF has the right to use part of the Original Amount for performance under the City Agreement. HEMS assigned its Private Sector Agreement with the City of Philadelphia to OCCF. Investment income earned on the principal is also to be used for performance under the City Agreement. Most of the funds are restricted.
Funds in excess of the Original Amount may be used by OCFF for administrative purposes. Additional funds raised by OCCF may also be used for administrative purposes.
OCCF is a not-for-profit organization.

With these missions defined, we see that we have five organizations that are focused on the welfare of Old City residents, businesses, and institutions - each in its own way.

So, while there is overlap among these organizations in their general concern for the community, if they each meet their specific missions Old City would receive good coverage for many of its needs.

To summarize:

OCAA - developing and maintaining arts, culture, and commerce
OCCA - enhance the quality of life and preserve historic character
OCCB - improve business climate; maintaining our unique character
OCD - clean, safe, well-managed environment
OCCF - promoting the restoration and maintenance of the facades,
sidewalks and roadway on Market Street in Old City.