Morning Headlines: University City Named as a Rising “Innovation District”

Plus: Sixers talking about practice and the future of Suit Corner

4101 Sansom, in development by Campus Apartments. Photo: Laura Kicey

4101 Sansom, in development by Campus Apartments. Photo: Laura Kicey

Newsworks reports that the Brookings Institution has named University City among seven “innovation districts” on the rise nationally. The announcement came via Brookings Vice President Bruce Katz in a report titled “The Rise of of Innovation Districts: A New Geography of Innovation in America.”

Katz said Brookings identified University City’s potential given its proximity to transit, its iconic status and its history of attracting entrepreneurs (see: First Round Capital lured to University City).

He told Newsworks’ Holly Otterbein:

“Philadelphia’s challenge — that will be quite similar to the challenge in many other cities in the U.S. — is not just to grow more innovative jobs,” he said, “but to grow better jobs and help upgrade the education and skills of residents in surrounding neighborhoods so they can participate in the growth.”

Katz said the city’s schools can help by teaching more technical skills.

Well, yes. Perhaps Drexel could help with that?

In other news…

Development plan for Delco open space riles residents [Philly.com]

Suit Corner to make a comeback as … Shirt Corner [Philadelphia Business Journal]

Sixers seek $82M deal to build Camden practice facility [Philly.com]

One & Olney Square up for sale [Philadelphia Business Journal]