A city advisory group led by the CEO of Brandywine Realty Trust, Jerry Sweeney, is crafting a redevelopment strategy and upgrades for the struggling Market East shopping district in Philadelphia.

In the meantime, the city and other groups are moving forward with short-term initiatives to revitalize the business landscape. According to a Billy Penn report, eight vacant Market Street spaces will host retail pop-ups starting in May. Murals will be painted on buildings in the Fashion District, with 42 trees planted, 21 bus shelters refurbished, and four transit head houses refurbished. A $1.85 million city grant is covering these improvements.

“There is a high degree of retail vacancy on the corridor, and we think one of the ways that we can make an immediate impact — using the summer, frankly, as an excuse to kind of galvanize action — is incubating some local diverse businesses in those spaces,” said Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker at a CCD meeting on Wednesday, March 11.

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The revival is also being accelerated by a busy summer tourism slate, including FIFA World Cup events, the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations, and the MLB All-Star Game.

Investors and developers Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), Comcast, and Macerich own properties on Market East. The Philadelphia Business Journal reported that Comcast and HBSE have also put off plans to demolish buildings on the 1000 block of Market Street. 

Billy Penn also reported that HBSE’s development plan for what was supposed to be an arena area had envisioned the company working with Macerich, owner of the Fashion District, to demolish the low-rise strip of shops on the 900 block of Market Street and build a large new development with retail spaces and residential units.

In January 2025, however, the Sixers, owned by HBSE, abandoned the arena idea and instead pursued the building of a new South Philly arena with Comcast. The two companies spent $56 million to buy four sets of properties on Market Street between 9th and 11th streets, according to a Billy Penn report.

To make Market East more attractive stylistically, an installation by Cuban-Salvadoran artist Manuela Gillen will go up on the Fashion District’s exterior in the coming weeks. An abstract mural wall will be installed over the front of the Robinson’s building and a former Reebok store, according to a rendering in the CCD’s presentation last Wednesday. 

In addition, art will be added to the windows of the Giant Heirloom Market, which formerly occupied the Strawbridge & Clothier building at 8th and Market Street.

Works by eight local artists will cover approximately 5,500 square feet of exterior facades in at least 10 locations.