To keep our neighborhood shining bright, longtime community members joined together with Temple University administrators in 2019 to form a special services district modeled after others in the city.

Led by a core group of residents, the North Central Special Services District (NCSSD) strives to enhance the quality of life and serve the needs of those who live in the area through beautification and  maintenance, public safety initiatives and the mitigation of student impact caused by increased density.

An insider's view

NCSSD Board President Joan Briley, a teacher’s aide in a nearby Head Start program for pre-K students, has lived in her home on the 1500 block of Norris Street her entire life. She is particularly interested in seeing the district address issues related to trash, safety and disruptive student behavior.

Briley says that since the NCSSD launched, she’s noticed the community coming together, especially once the crew members from One Day at a Time (ODAAT), a nonprofit recovery program, began coming around.

"It’s not like we waved a magic wand, but once the ODAAT team started sweeping up, I noticed big changes in the neighborhood,"  said Briley. "And I’m really proud of them for the work they’re doing and for the help they’re providing."

She is also optimistic that more students will start getting involved.

Take part

The North Central Special Services District is actively working on a variety of initiatives that bring together neighbors, students and businesses in our local community. Projects and services include beautifying the community, reinforcing safety measures, promoting business development and increasing neighborhood pride. 

We encourage you to learn more about how we can work together to strengthen our neighborhood ties and make our community an even better place to live, play, study and work.