Current Advocacy Issues
Philadelphia Historical Commission Budget – Philadelphia, PA
Project: The Preservation Alliance is trying to help increase the budget of the Philadelphia Historical Commission.
Current status: No increase in the Historical Commission's budget was included when City Council approved the budget for the 2007-2008 fiscal year. The Alliance continues to advocate for the increase through the ".00008% Is Not Enough" campaign.
Background: Since fall 2006, the Alliance advocated for a budget increase to the Philadelphia Historical Commission. In 2007, staff met with Mayor Street to express concerns and the Mayor expressed that he had every expectation to include additional funding for the Commission in his budget recommendations to City Council. When he did not include the increase, the Alliance turned its attention to City Council. We spoke at the budget hearings, as did David Richards of the West Washington Square Historic District. Also we created a postcard with the provocative slogan: .00008% is Not Enough. (The current budget of the Historical Commission is merely .00008% of the total City budget!) Over 800 citizens sent postcards to City Council President Anna Verna. However, no increase was included in the budget adopted.
The Preservation Alliance and the Historic Districts Council have renewed efforts to obtain additional funding for the Commission in 2008. If you wish to be a part of this effort, send a letter of support to Mayor Nutter or contact Sabra Smith, Advocacy Associate (215-546-1146 x8) for more information.
CONVENTION CENTER DEMOLITION - Philadelphia, PA
Preservation Alliance Statement regarding the Commonwealth Court Decision January 23, 2008
Contact: John Andrew Gallery, Executive Director john@preservationalliance.com
215-546-1146 x1
The Preservation Alliance is disappointed with the Commonwealth Court decision that allows the Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) and the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority to demolish the Philadelphia Life Insurance Co. building and its Mitchell / Giurgola designed addition. It is even more disappointing that the Convention Center Authority and DGS have refused to honor the agreement reached with preservation organizations, as long ago as the year 2000, to retain these properties as part of the convention center expansion. This agreement was in place for seven years, and the retention of the buildings is shown in 100% of the construction drawings. To simply walk away from this agreement at the last minute is irresponsible on the part of both state agencies.
After reviewing the opinion of the Court, the Preservation Alliance has decided not to appeal this decision further. However, we continue to feel the buildings should be preserved, and we continue to believe that the buildings can be preserved without an adverse economic impact on the convention center project. The decision will result in a significant loss for Philadelphia. Not only will two important buildings be demolished—buildings that are nationally recognized example of how new architectural design can relate to an historic building—but the historic character of North Broad Street will be adversely altered.
The Philadelphia Life Insurance Co. building and annex, along with the Liberty Title and Trust building, provide an important transition from the historic urban character surrounding City Hall to the new convention center building. More importantly, this is further evidence of a state agency's unwillingness to honor the historic character of Philadelphia when undertaking projects in Philadelphia. If there are lessons to be learned from this experience they are as follows: first, the only real legal protection for historic properties comes from listing on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. The Philadelphia Life Insurance Co. buildings were not listed on the Register and they should have been. Philadelphians must become more diligent in identifying significant buildings that are not on the Philadelphia Register and nominate them for inclusion. Second, the state History Code does not provide the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission with sufficient authority to intervene when important historic properties are threatened.
A re-examination of the History Code would be in order, and the Preservation Alliance intends to pursue this issue as a state-wide concern with Preservation Pennsylvania.The Preservation Alliance is grateful to all those individuals and organizations that expressed support for the preservation of the Philadelphia Life Insurance Co. buildings. We appreciate the coverage given to this issue by the news media, the efforts of the Design Advocacy Group, the AIA Historic Preservation Committee, Marc Stier and many others who expressed there views in letters and email. We greatly appreciate the work of our attorney, Paul Boni, Esq., who advocated effectively for our case
BACKGROUND: On January 22, 2008, Commonwealth Court Judge Keith B. Quigley issued an opinion, removing the stop work order on the Department of General Service's December 22, 2007, preliminary demolition of the Philadelphia Life Insurance Co. Building and Girugola addition. The withdrawl of this order allows DGS to fully demolish these significant buildings immediately.
Yet on January 8, 2008, Judge Quigley granted the Preservation Alliance's request for an injunction preventing further demolition of the Philadelphia Life Insurance Co. buildings on North Broad Street by the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority and DGS. This injunction was to remain in place until a full hearing on the demolition of the historic buildings, set for January 24, 2008, in Harrisburg, but the opinion was given just two days before this scheduled appearance.The Preservation Alliance sought this injunction following the start of demolition of the historic buildings on Saturday morning, December 22, 2007, and the decision of DGS that it would not honor the prior written agreement with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) to preserve the Philadelphia Life Insurance Co. building and its modern addition designed by Mitchell / Giurgola Associates in the mid- 1960s. (See links to letters below)
At the hearing on January 8, attorneys for the state agency argued that the Preservation Alliance had no standing to seek an injunction on this matter and that the Alliance should be required to post a $1.2 million bond. The state challenge to the Alliance's standing was based on the fact that the Alliance was not a party to the Memorandum of Agreement and that the state History Code is not applicable in this matter. The issue of standing was to be ruled on by Judge Quigley on January 22. On the matter of the bond, the Judge ordered the Alliance to post a $2,500 bond — not the $1.2 million requested by the state — recognizing that non-profit advocacy organizations would be precluded from legal appeals is bonds of such magnitude were required. Philadelphia Inquirer architectural critic Inga Saffron covered the results of the hearing well in her January 8 article "Preservationists Get Reprieve."
There were two important issues at stake in this case: first, does a state agency have the ability to simply walk away from written agreements that were made with representatives of state and local historic preservation organizations; and second, is there any need or justification to demolish the two buildings which the state's own consultants say are structurally sound and can be preserved as originally planned.
For more press coverage; letters and links please click here.
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Other Advocacy Issues:
Guthrieville General Store - Guthrieville, PA
Project: Convenience mart operator, Wawa, proposes to demolish the historic Guthrieville General Store, to make way for a Super Wawa facility.The loss of the General Store would have an adverse effect on the entire Guthrieville historic district's eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places.
Current Status: Delays to the demolition of the building are due to an Army Corps of Engineer's permit required to redirect a stream and handle wetlands issues under a federally required Section 106 Review for historic properties. A positive consequence from this threat is the revitalized and strengthened East Brandywine Historic Commission.
Background: In 2000, Wawa acquired an equitable interest in three parcels at the corner of Horsehoe Pike (PA322) and Bondsville Road in the historic village of Guthrieville and at the location of the Guthrieville General Store, the largest historic structure in Guthrieville's historic district. In 2001, Township Supervisors granted preliminary approval for demolition to the property's owner and in 2006, an extension to that approval. Both the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Preservation Pennsylvania have recognized the significance of this historic resource, with Preservation Pennsylvania including it in its 2006 Top Ten Most Endangered Places in Pennsylvania list. Alternatives for the site's use were proposed to Wawa. Members of the Historic Commission and the grassroots group "
SaveGuthrieville.org" hope to facilitate a compromise with the Wawa Corporation in terms of location, design and/or scale and find a suitable reuse for this historic structure.
Curtis Institute - Demolition of Locust Club and adjacent historic buildings approved by Historical Commission
At the November 2007 Philadelphia Historical Commission meeting, the Commission approved the Curtis Institute's proposed demolition of 1610-1618 Locust Street to make way for a new rehearsal and dormitory facility. The facades of 1610 and 1618 Locust Street will be retained, but the Locust Club facade and the interiors of all buildings will be demolished to accommodate construction of a five-story building on Locust Street and an adjoining 10-story residential tower on Latimer Street.
The Curtis Institute argued that the demolition of the historic buildings is necessary in the public interest. The claim of public interest was made on account of the music institution's service to the city of Philadelphia by providing free concerts, producing graduates who go on to serve area ensembles like the Philadelphia Orchestra, preserving the institute's buildings at 18th and Locust streets and continued engagement of the public in this new building's program, which will include rehearsal and residential space for Curtis students.
Dilworth House – Philadelphia, PA
Project: Proposal to demolish rear half of the residence of former Mayor Richardson Dilworth in order to build a 16-story condominium.
Current Status: The Philadelphia Historical Commission gave final approval in November 2007 for demolition of half of the Dilworth House.
Background: The Dilworth house is the home of former Mayor Richardson Dilworth and his wife, located at 223-225 South 6th Street across from Washington Square. Since 2005, John and Mary Turchi, the current owners of the Dilworth House have been seeking permission to demolish or substantially alter the property in order to build a condominium project designed by Venturi Scott Brown & Associates. The Preservation Alliance, the Society Hill Civic Association, and condominium associations adjacent to the site have opposed demolition or alteration of the property, which is listed as significant in the Society Hill Historic District.
In 2006, the owners presented a new design to the Historical Commission that proposed retaining the front portion of the house and demolishing the rear wing—slightly less than 50% of the building—to accommodate a 16-story condominium. Several of the lower floors of the condominium tower would provide expansion space for the adjacent Athenaeum of Philadelphia. Representatives of the developer argued that the proposed demolition of the rear wing should be considered as an “alteration” and therefore not have to meet the tests for demolition of historic properties in the City’s ordinance. The Commission gave conceptual approval to the plans and the proposed demolition at its September 2006 meeting. Immediately thereafter, the Preservation Alliance, the Society Hill Civic Association and a group of adjacent neighbors filed appeals with the City’s Department of Licenses and Inspections Review Board. For background information, go to www.savedilworthnow.org.
Final plans were submitted to the Philadelphia Historical Commission in October 2007 and approved at the Commission's November 2007 meeting.
Divine Lorraine - Philadelphia, PA
Project: Renovation of the Divine Lorraine for residential use, accompanied by demolition of the Annex to allow for new construction of a condominium project.
Current Status: The Historical Commission approved in concept the demolition of the Annex in January 2007, on the grounds that it was an “alteration.” Although the Alliance is very supportive of the renovation of the Divine Lorraine, we feel that the demolition of the Annex should not be considered an alteration. The Alliance appealed this decision and has been working with the developer to try to resolve this matter.
Background: Plans for the renovation of the Divine Lorraine at Broad Street and Fairmount Avenue in North Philadelphia were submitted to the Historical Commission in December 2006. The Divine Lorraine will be converted to condominium units, the 6-story annex will be demolished and a new 800-unit residential complex constructed in several phases adjacent and connected to the Divine Lorraine. The complex will also have health club facilities and may have a supermarket. The condominium units are small and targeted to young professionals. The Historical Commission approved the plans in concept, allowing the demolition of the Annex as an “alteration.” The Annex was constructed in 1898 and designed by noted 19th-century architect Willis Hale.
Although the Alliance is very supportive of the renovation of the Divine Lorraine and also of the adjacent new construction, we feel that the demolition of the Annex should not be considered an alteration. The Alliance appealed this decision and has been working with the developer to try to resolve this matter.
Lazaretto– Tinicum Township, Delaware County
Project: Preservation and use of the 1799 Lazaretto quarantine station and site.
Current status: Tinicum Township has agreed to establish an independent non-profit organization to manage the preservation and operation of the Lazaretto site, with some members of the board appointed by preservation organizations. In addition, a consultant has been selected to conduct a feasibility study of potential uses of the site.
Background: The Preservation Alliance, Preservation Pennsylvania and the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed for an injunction to prevent construction of a new fire station on the 10-acre Lazaretto site. The Lazaretto is a 1799 quarantine station and the only facility of its kind and date in the United States. Although an injunction was not obtained and construction of the fire station has proceeded, the legal action led to an agreement with Tinicum Township that a non-profit corporation would be created to manage 5 acres of the site, including the historic Lazaretto building. Three members of the corporation are appointed by the Township and three by the preservation organizations, with one additional member to be jointly named.
In July, the preservation organizations named the following appointments to the board: Mary DeNadai, an architect with John Milner Architects; Paul Steinke, general manager of the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia; and Donna Ann Harris, a nationally-known preservation consultant. The Township named Michael Messina and James McCombie. In addition, the Township selected the consulting firm of Stantec Inc. to conduct a feasibility study of the site to determine potential uses.
Nugent / Presser Homes – Philadelphia, PA
Project:
Renovation of the Nugent and Presser buildings in Mt. Airy accompanied by new residential development.
Current Status: In July 2007, the developer (Philadelphia Preservation Group) submitted a new plan to the Philadelphia Historical Commission for the new construction portion of the project. The plan was approved in concept, with comments from the Commission’s Architectural Review Committee and the Preservation Alliance suggesting the need for further refinement of the design. No final plan has been submitted.
Background: The Nugent Home for Baptists and the Presser Home for Retired Music Teachers (101-121 and 221 West Johnson Street) were saved from demolition in 2005 when nominated for historic designation by the Preservation Alliance and Mt. Airy community organizations. The site was subsequently purchased by Philadelphia Preservation Group, which proposed to build the three new condominium building at the back of the site, in addition to rehabilitating the historic Nugent and Presser Homes. These plans were approved in concept by the community and the Philadelphia Historical Commission. As a result of the change in the condominium market, the developer has decided to switch to a rental department development and to simplify the new construction on the site. Current plans call for restoration of the three historic buildings on the site and the construction of on a new 6-story building.
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