Philly readies big development announcements

The Nutter administration is promising a series of major economic development announcements over the next month, including a new hotel in or near Center City, a new health-care facility at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the relocation of a major company to the city, and the groundbreaking for a corporate headquarters.

But reporters were left guessing at the details Tuesday as Mayor Nutter and his deputy mayor for economic development, Alan Greenberger, sought publicity for their broad efforts to promote Philadelphia as a smart place to start, relocate, or expand a business.

"Smart City. Smart Choice," boasts a new promotional brochure from the city's Department of Commerce - printed, in line with the city's increasingly green self-image, with soy ink and using 50 percent wind power.

"One of the most important things I can do as mayor . . . is to make sure the world knows about the extraordinary opportunities in our city," Nutter told a group of 100 business leaders and development officials at City Hall. "Throughout September, we'll be highlighting the amazing examples of innovation, entrepreneurship, and growth happening in our city right now."

Greenberger teased reporters with limited details on the big-ticket items.

He said the city had been talking with five entities about midsize hotel projects, anywhere in the 100- to 300-room range. Plans for a new hotel in Center City will be announced Sept. 15, Greenberger said, but he demurred on its size.

Greenberger said that in spite of prevailing economic concerns, both the Convention Center expansion and an upturn in international tourism seemed to be attracting hotel developers.

A news release from the Mayor's Office touted "the development of a significant new health-care facility." Asked if it would be part of the University of Pennsylvania's hospital complex in West Philadelphia, Greenberger said it would not, but suggested that it involved Children's, not far away.

A Children's spokeswoman, Rachel Salis, confirmed plans for some sort of announcement Sept. 8, apparently related to construction already under way.

The city provided no hints on major corporations planning to relocate or build new headquarters.

But the Mayor's Office put reporters in touch with Gena Alulis, president and CEO of Superfit Inc., a jewelry manufacturer with 15 employees that moved from King of Prussia to Center City last Valentine's Day.

The company owns patents on a hinged mechanism that can be added to old jewelry to provide a custom fit, and has developed its own line of finished jewelry, called "Cliq" - now produced on the ninth floor of the Belmont Building on 13th Street near Race, next to the Convention Center.

"Though we're still a small business, we're an international business, and we felt we had to move into a major metropolitan area," Alulis said.

The business plans its official Philadelphia opening Sept. 15.