Rick Gross Bids Farewell to CCRA Presidency
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Rick Gross Bids Farewell to CCRA Presidency
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Rick Gross Bids Farewell to CCRA Presidency
By Stacia Friedman
In June, when Rick Gross resigns from his three-year term as President of the Center City Residents Association (CCRA), Philly will be losing a civic leader who championed the city's cultural treasures, its safety and its built environment.
During his tenure as CCRA President, Gross made significant contributions to the city's development and urban planning.
Gross is proud of his involvement in the development of two Rittenhouse Square residential towers: the Harper, at 112 S 19th St., and the Laurel, at 1912 Walnut St. "There was a plan to do a 19-story building at 19th & Chestnut. I went to a meeting and spoke out against it and was invited to start a conversation with the developers to design a building that actually works.”
"We hired architect Cecil Baker as an intermediary. The result is the Harper, which doesn't block views," said Gross. "The next was the Laurel which was supposed to be 55 stories of glass, and we hired Cecil again to bring the project into focus which involved a more acceptable color scheme and lowering the building's height."
Gross is confident he is leaving the CCRA in good hands. Executive Vice-President Richard Vaughn will step up to the presidency upon Gross’ resignation, and a new president will be named in the Fall.
"I believe the City is on its way back from the pandemic," Gross said. "I spent a significant part of my presidency bringing Center City back to where it had been. The award-winning restaurant scene is amazing. But orchestra and theater subscriptions are still not where they had been. People need to be more supportive of the city's cultural institutions. Even so, I think we have turned a corner and have established Philly as one of the best cities on the East Coast."
The Early Years
Gross and his wife Roberta arrived in Philly twelve years ago, practically by default. "My wife and I had lived in Washington, DC for twenty-five years, both of us practicing law. Our initial plan was to relocate to New York. I had co-produced plays there but after looking at Manhattan real estate, our train stopped in Philadelphia and my wife said, 'What about Philly?'"
Attracted to Philly's comparatively lower cost, exuberant restaurant scene and prestigious orchestra, Gross and his wife settled into a full-floor apartment on the 1900 block of Chestnut Street. "My wife is an artist who does pastels, collage and printmaking. She joined the Plastic Club, was on their board and ran their exhibition program. It was a terrific experience for her," said Gross.
Before her retirement, Roberta Gross was a government lawyer who served as chief of investigations for AMTRAK and inspector general at NASA. "She was the one who told them their mirror didn't work," quipped Gross.
Meanwhile, Rick Gross, who had previously co-produced a Tony Award-winning revival of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf in NYC, dove head first into Philly's cultural scene. "I subscribed to everything and loved being able to walk to the Kimmel, the Suzanne Roberts Theater and the Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) for opera. We sold our car and didn't need one," said Gross. "No civic organization has ever lasted that long. I gave an award to [maestro] Yannick Nézet-Séguin and we raised $100,000 that night," he said.
Next Stop, California
"I will miss the orchestra," said Gross, who admits he and his wife would remain in Philadelphia if not for the fact that their twin sons and grandchildren lived in Los Angeles. "We are moving to be closer to them," said Gross, who qualified his comment by explaining he and his wife have no intention of living in LA. "Too much traffic. You can't walk to anything," he said.
Their destination? Santa Barbara, a smaller, charming town, just a two hour train ride from LA. "We've already started shipping my wife's artwork and art supplies," said Gross. "I am sad to be leaving, but Yannick and the orchestra will be coming to Santa Barbara in the Spring of 2025."
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Rick Gross organized the 75th Anniversary Gala for the Philadelphia Orchestra. The gala Gross organized was for the CCRA, where orchestra maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin was honored. We apologize for the error.
Community Events
Party in the Park
Get ready to kick off the start of summer with live music from the Panamaniacs band, food and beverages from local providers, and the company of your neighbors! Learn more and buy tickets here.
Ladybug Release Party
Swing by the Schuylkill River Park Community Garden (25th and Spruce Streets) Wednesday, May 22 at 5 pm for fun festivities. Help release many ladybugs to protect our garden!
Thanks for the really nice, in-depth profile of Rick Gross, and for highlighting all the wonderful things he's done for our community. You managed to discover things about him that even I didn't know, and I've been working with him for the past 3+ years. One thing, though, that I think needs clearing up: the 75th Anniversary Gala that Rick organized was NOT for the Philadelphia Orchestra; it was for CCRA, and the honoree at the event (Center City Citizen of the Decade) was Orchestra maestro Yannick Nezet Seguin.