DOCSLIB.ORG

(Draft) Greenbelt Knoll Historic District Nomination

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
(Draft) Greenbelt Knoll Historic District Nomination NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Registration Form This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations for individual properties and districts. See instructions in National Register Bulletin, How to Complete the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. If any item does not apply to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, architectural classification, materials, and areas of significance, enter only categories and subcategories from the instructions. Place additional certification comments, entries, and narrative items on continuation sheets if needed (NPS Form 10-900a). 1. Name of Property historic name Greenbelt Knoll Historic District other names/site number NA 2. Location street & number 1-19 Longford Street, roughly bounded by Holme Avenue and NA not for publication the Pennypack Park Greenway city or town Philadelphia NA vicinity state Pennsylvania code PA county Philadelphia code 101 zip code 19136 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended, I hereby certify that this nomination _ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property _ meets _ does not meet the National Register Criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant at the following level(s) of significance: national statewide local Signature of certifying official/Title Date State or Federal agency/bureau or Tribal Government In my opinion, the property meets does not meet the National Register criteria. Signature of commenting official Date Title State or Federal agency/bureau or Tribal Government 4. National Park Service Certification I hereby certify that this property is: entered in the National Register determined eligible for the National Register determined not eligible for the National Register removed from the National Register other (explain:) _________________ Signature of the Keeper Date of Action 1 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) Greenbelt Knoll Historic District Philadelphia County, PA Name of Property County and State 5. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property (Check as many boxes as apply.) (Check only one box.) (Do not include previously listed resources in the count.) Contributing Noncontributing x private building(s) 22 2 buildings x public - Local x district 1 1 sites public - State site structures public - Federal structure objects object 23 3 Total Name of related multiple property listing Number of contributing resources previously (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property listing) listed in the National Register The Legacy of African Americans in Pennsylvania, 1644-1965 0 6. Function or Use Historic Functions Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions.) (Enter categories from instructions.) Domestic/single dwelling Domestic/single dwelling Domestic/secondary structure Domestic/secondary structure Recreation & Culture/outdoor recreation 7. Description Architectural Classification Materials (Enter categories from instructions.) (Enter categories from instructions.) Modern foundation: concrete block walls: wood roof: other: 2 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) Greenbelt Knoll Historic District Philadelphia County, PA Name of Property County and State Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current physical appearance of the property. Explain contributing and noncontributing resources if necessary. Begin with a summary paragraph that briefly describes the general characteristics of the property, such as its location, setting, size, and significant features.) Summary Paragraph Greenbelt Knoll is a nine-acre development of 18 modest frame, one-story Modern houses constructed in 1955 and 1956 in suburban northeastern Philadelphia. The single-family homes are clustered efficiently along Longford Street, a cul-de-sac, on lots of approximately one-third acre each. The asphalt-paved cul-de-sac is accessed via the south side of Holme Avenue and is approximately 500 feet in length. It follows a north-south ridgeline and is bordered by concrete sidewalks. The development is heavily wooded and is bordered on three sides by the Pennypack Park Greenway. The siting of the houses and division of parcels was determined by the topography of the knoll, which drops off considerably to the west and south. Placement of the houses was intended to limit the removal of trees and incorporate the existing landscape into the design. Seventeen of the existing homes are considered contributing; one home was completely rebuilt following a fire and is considered non-contributing. An additional lot (#17) is now open-space, as the house was demolished 1997. Including the 5 detached garages, a studio, and the 2-acre community park that was part of the original neighborhood design, there are 26 resources: 22 contributing buildings and 1 contributing site (park), 2 non-contributing buildings and 1 non-contributing site (Lot #17). The development remains heavily wooded, and both the houses and landscape retain integrity. Setting and Neighborhood Plan The houses are not repetitively placed along the street, but are positioned with differing set-backs and orientations on irregularly-shaped lots (see Figure 1). While the houses follow a very similar plan and size, some are aligned with an end to the street, and others run length-wise. A few of the homes (lots #5 and #7) are “stacked” toward the rear of the neighborhood, behind other lots (#6 and 8) and are accessible by narrow right-of-way strips. An original paved “turn-around” driveway was placed at the end of the cul-de-sac in front of lots #11 and 12 for shared use by the residents of the southern end of the neighborhood. Lot #17’s home was demolished in 1997 and is now open space. There are small grass lawns on most lots, but the overwhelming effect is of a wooded property. Most of the house lots have at least a short paved driveway or parking pad. Neighbors are also able to park along Longford Street, which is 50 feet wide. The houses were sited and designed to maximize privacy and incorporate existing natural features. Fences are uncommon; currently the only permanent fence is a chain link fence surrounding part of 1 Longford’s backyard. Decks, terraces and patios all remain from the original landscape and building designs. In some cases, the original designs accommodated the landscape dramatically, modifying decks or breezeways to incorporate the growing trunks of trees through the deck floors or the breezeway roofs, and these trees remain part of the current house designs (see photos 4 and 8). In addition to the 19 building lots (which includes vacant #17), Greenbelt Knoll contained a 2-acre wooded communal park lot, located along the west border of lots #1-5. A small branch of the Pennypack Creek passes through this lot, with a railroad bed (freight spur) shadowing the west edge of the lot. This communal ground was intended to be accessed via a 10 foot right-of-way between lots #4 and 5. Part of the original design for Greenbelt Knoll included a swimming pool on the 2-acre 3 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service / National Register of Historic Places Registration Form NPS Form 10-900 OMB No. 1024-0018 (Expires 5/31/2012) Greenbelt Knoll Historic District Philadelphia County, PA Name of Property County and State lot, which was filled c.1985; no above-ground evidence remains of the pool. There is generally no distinction between private property, the park parcel, and the greater Pennypack Park Greenway, as there is an absence of fences or other barriers marking property lines. The 2-acre original park has been incorporated into the Fairmount Park Commission’s Pennypack Park Greenway (see Figure 4). The neighborhood is almost entirely surrounded by the heavily-wooded Pennypack Park Greenway, although the adjacent Pennypack Woods development is visible through the trees at the southeast corner of Greenbelt Knoll. A Pennsylvania Rail Road bed (currently a freight spur) cuts through the woods and runs along the western side of the neighborhood, particularly close to the houses at the southwest corner of the development (see photo 13 and Figure 3). The area north of Holme Avenue, across from the entrance to Greenbelt Knoll’s Longford Street, remains wooded and is also part of the Greenway. The area surrounding Pennypack Park Greenway and the small cluster of houses forming Greenbelt Knoll is intensively developed with primarily-residential areas. Greenbelt Knoll is very unusual for the area, both in design and lot size, as well as setting. The Modern-style houses set it apart, as do the lack of repetition and symmetry in building set-back and placement on the lots. The surrounding developments are dense, with uniform set-backs, and are either early 20th century row homes, post-World War II small houses, or late 20th-century townhouses or apartment complexes. Lots the size of Greenbelt Knoll’s (one-quarter to one-third acre) are non-existent in the surrounding area, as is the incorporation of nature. The Homes The 17 contributing houses share a similar Modern design and appearance. They are all rectangular, fairly narrow, single-story modest homes with flat or low-pitched roofs featuring broad eaves. While the houses are very similar, they are not exact copies of a single master design. The individual plans were influenced by each house’s orientation and siting on its lot.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Some of the Busiest, Most Congested and Stress-Inducing Traffic Is Found on Roads Crossing Southeastern Pennsylvania—The Penns
    Protect and Preserve What You Can Do It’s easy to get involved in the Pennypack Greenway. The possibilities are limited only by your imagination. n Encourage your municipal officials to protect the Within one of the most rapidly developing environmentally sensitive lands identified in local parts of Pennsylvania is found a creek open space plans. n Get dirty! Participate in one of the creek cleanups and watershed system that has sustained held throughout the Greenway. remnants of the primal beauty and wildlife n Stand up for the creek at municipal meetings when your commissioners and council members are that have existed within it for thousands discussing stormwater management. of years. It is the Pennypack Creek n Enjoy one of the many annual events that take place along the Greenway such as sheep shearing, Maple watershed, a system that feeds Pennypack Sugar Day, and Applefest at Fox Chase Farm. Creek as it runs from its headwaters in Bucks and Montgomery counties, through If You Have a Yard n Make your yard friendlier for wildlife by planting Philadelphia and into the Delaware River. native trees, shrubs and wildflowers. Audubon Publicly accessible pockets of this graceful Pennsylvania’s “Audubon At Home” program can help. n Minimize or eliminate your use of pesticides, natural environment are used daily by herbicides, and fertilizers. thousands of citizens, young and old, providing a refuge from the pressures n Control (or eliminate) aggressive non-native plants of daily life. Yet this system faces real threats. Undeveloped land alongside infesting your garden. n Reduce the paving on your property to allow Pennypack Creek is sought after for development and there isn’t a protected rainwater to percolate into the soil, and install rain passage through it.
    [Show full text]
  • How to Look at Your Neighborhood
    HOW TO LOOK AT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD A Guide for Community Organizations and the Vital Neighborhoods Initiative A Publication of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia 20112010 HOW TO LOOK AT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD A Guide for Community Organizations A Publication of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia HOW TO LOOK AT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD is a publication of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. The Preservation Alliance is a non-profit organization whose mission is to actively promote the appreciation, protection and appropriate use and development of the Philadelphia region’s historic buildings, communities and landscapes. The Alliance offers a variety of educational programs, grants, and technical assistance to homeowners and community organizations to encourage the preservation of historic landmarks and the distinctive historic character of Philadelphia neighborhoods. In recent years the Alliance has greatly expanded its programs to preserve the character of Philadelphia neighborhoods and to engage residents and community organizations in preservation activities. The Alliance offers a variety of programs and services in support of its neighborhood preservation efforts including: • Advocacy support for the preservation of neighborhood historic resources and districts; • Educational workshops for homeowners and community organizations; • Special outreach to African American communities, historic sites and churches; • An Old House Fair and recognition awards to homeowners; • Small grants to community organizations
    [Show full text]
  • Storm Drains in the 1 Litter Off the Ground
    Quench your thirst for knowledge... visit the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center! Brought to you by the 1801 1799 The Histo ry of Wat er 1880 1815 1900 TIME s clean and pure.......by 1880 pollution LINE ill River wa killed all fish.. The Schuylk .....We finally s tarted to Nobody will notice if I dump my trash 1799 1815 The Fairmount Water into the RIVER! 1900s The pollution in The Philadelphia Works was built, located right the Delaware and Schuylkill Water Department on the Schuylkill River. This Rivers got so bad that the began. site was chosen because it Philadelphia Water Depart- was the highest point close to ment built a system of water Hear Ye! treatment plants. At that time, Hear Ye! 1801 The Water Department Philadelphia on the Schuylkill. Philadelphia completed the City’s first water It used the river’s flowing it was the largest water filtration had one of the system, consisting of two pump- power to turn giant water YUCK! system in the world! Beginning first water ing stations: one located on the wheels which powered the in 1909, the treatment plants systems in the pumps. cleaned all of the river water USA! Schuylkill River at Chestnut St.; the second (above) located in before we used it. Centre Square, exactly where City Hall stands today. Untreated What’s the 1880s Although difference water was pumped from the Fairmount Park had been between the The land is Schuylkill to the dome at the top created upstream of the land and DIRTY of the Centre Square station.
    [Show full text]
  • Historic-Register-OPA-Addresses.Pdf
    Philadelphia Historical Commission Philadelphia Register of Historic Places As of January 6, 2020 Address Desig Date 1 Desig Date 2 District District Date Historic Name Date 1 ACADEMY CIR 6/26/1956 US Naval Home 930 ADAMS AVE 8/9/2000 Greenwood Knights of Pythias Cemetery 1548 ADAMS AVE 6/14/2013 Leech House; Worrell/Winter House 1728 517 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 519 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 600-02 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 2013 601 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 603 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 604 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 605-11 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 606 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 608 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 610 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 612-14 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 613 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 615 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 616-18 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 617 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 619 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 629 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 631 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 1970 635 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 636 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 637 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 638 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 639 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 640 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 641 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 642 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 643 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 703 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 708 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 710 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 712 ADDISON ST Society Hill 3/10/1999 714 ADDISON ST Society Hill
    [Show full text]
  • Get Physical
    A publication of Philadelphia Corporation for Aging May 2016 • Free Inside Discover our city’s public art & sculpture Get Physical Elder honored: Wisdom, spirituality, integrity Bocce began in Egypt ... 14 By Marcia Z. Siegal “Go, Marie! Try to find strength!” “Give ‘em hell, Julie!” “Terry, we need you!” “Green’s in!” “Red got two!” “The stress is killing me!” At Guerin Recreation Center in South Phila- delphia, bocce is serious business. Just ask mem- bers of its women’s bocce teams. Ranging in age “Swann Memorial Fountain” at from 45 to 90, the players meet Thursday eve- Logan Square was originally named nings from October until May, when the finals “The Fountain of Three Rivers” for are held. At the Guerin Center, as traditional Philadelphia’s main waterways: the • continued on page 18 Delaware River, Schuylkill River and Wissahickon Creek. In Season: VisitPhiladelphia for B. Krist by Photo Two delicious strawberry recipes ... 16 By Alicia M. Colombo civic organization dedicated to creating a “museum without walls” by integrating public art and urban design. Philadelphia is known as the “The Many of Philadelphia’s most iconic City of Murals,” but it’s also home to sculptures represent the people and plac- a collection of 1,500 pieces of outdoor es of our region. When “Swann Memo- sculpture, with a tradition of public art rial Fountain” opened in 1924 at Logan that goes back almost a century and a Square (Benjamin Franklin Parkway at half. 19th Street), it is said that 10,000 people “Philadelphia is unique in that we danced the tango in the streets to music have one of the largest and oldest collec- played by the police band.
    [Show full text]
  • Delaware Estuary Water Education Resource Guide
    2003 Delaware Estuary water Education Resource Guide A directory for educators that lists materials an d programs available through local non-profit organizations and governmental agencies on topics relating to water resources. SECOND EDITION Brought to you by: Philadelphia Water Department and Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, Inc. September, 2002 Dear Friends, The Philadelphia Water Department, with support from the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, has assembled this guide for educators in the region. The booklet is intended to help "get the word out" about all of the exciting materials and programs that address water-related issues in our region and beyond. Even though the Delaware Estuary, the tidal portion of the Delaware River, is our region's most valuable resource, little is taught about it in our schools. It is awesome to think about how the Estuary defines our lives in so many ways: geographically, economically, culturally, historically, and recreationally. In addition, for many of us, it's the source of our drinking water. This guide will help to connect educators with information on local environmental issues and resources. While it is beneficial for students to learn about the endangered species and problems that face the tropical rainforests, it is more important that they know about the watersheds where they live. Students should know that their backyards are vital habitats that, like the rainforests, are also home to many endangered species. We have attempted to make this comprehensive directory a ready reference tool that you will use time and time again. We hope that you find this resource helpful.
    [Show full text]
  • Section 8 0 Rev 1.11.12 (00190654)
    Appendix B Sense of Place Guidelines SENSE OF PLACE: DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION IN HISTORIC DISTRICTS A Publication of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia Supported by a grant from the William Penn Foundation 2007 Acknowledgements This publication was made possible by a grant from the William Penn Foundation. The William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia region through efforts that foster rich cultural expression, strengthen children’s futures, and deepen connections to nature and community. The Preservation Alliance is grateful for the foundation’s support. This publication has benefited from the work on many other organizations and the contributions of many individu- als. The Preservation Alliance is grateful to all who have contributed. A full list of credits is included at the end of the publication. The Preservation Alliance is especially grateful to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Steven W. Semes for permission to reprint Mr. Semes’s article. We are also grateful for the advice and guidance of Tim Kerner, Terra Studio, and for his assistance with research, analysis of case studies and development of the concepts presented in this report. This publication was made possible by a grant from the William Penn Foundation. The William Penn Foundation, founded in 1945 by Otto and Phoebe Haas, is dedicated to improving the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia region through efforts that foster rich cultural expression, strengthen children’s futures, and deepen connections to nature and community. The Preservation Alliance is grateful for the foundation’s support.
    [Show full text]
  • Green2015-An-Action-Plan-For-The
    Green2015 Advisory Group Conveners and Participating Organizations Michael DiBerardinis, Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner, co-convener Alan Greenberger, Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, co-convener Amtrak Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future Delaware River Waterfront Corporation Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission Fairmount Park Conservancy Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust Friends of the Wissahickon Greenspace Alliance Natural Land Trust Neighborhood Gardens Association Next Great City Coalition Office of City Councilman Darrell Clarke Office of Councilwoman Anna Verna Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Pennsylvania Environmental Council Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations Philadelphia City Planning Commission Philadelphia Department of Commerce Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections Philadelphia Department of Public Health Philadelphia Department of Public Property Philadelphia Department of Revenue Philadelphia Housing Authority Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation Philadelphia Office of Housing and Community Development Philadelphia Office of Sustainability Philadelphia Office of Transportation and Utilities Philadelphia Orchard Project Philadelphia Parks Alliance Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Commission Philadelphia Water Department Redevelopment Authority of Philadelphia School District of Philadelphia Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation
    [Show full text]
  • Section 1: General Bid Submission
    Pest Control Services S6Z61590 Issued by: CITY OF PHILADELPHIA PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT Required by: VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS Bid Opening Date: December 16, 2015 Bid Opening Time: 10:30 AM Philadelphia Local Time Location for Bid Opening: MUNICIPAL SERVICES BUILDING - ROOM 170A 1401 JFK BOULEVARD, PHILADELPHIA PA 19102 Buyer: A. Campfield Spec. Writer: K. Owens This Invitation and Bid with your quotations must be received prior to the above cited bid opening date and time. BIDDER AGREES TO COMPLY WITH ALL CONDITIONS OF THIS Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) BID. UNSIGNED BIDS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. BIDDER MUST Anti-Discrimination Policy COMPLETE THE INFORMATION BELOW: Executive Order 03-12 – Bidder Requirements NAME AND ADDRESS OF FIRM: This Invitation and Bid is issued under the Anti- Discrimination Policy described in the Mayor’s Executive Order, policy and guidelines as attached. Specific instructions must be adhered to and forms completed. Bidders are advised to review the instructions carefully. Failure to comply may disqualify the bidder. The specified ranges represent the percentage of Minority, Woman and Disabled participation that should be attained by the Bidder. Any and all questions about Executive Order 03-12 and bidder compliance should be FEDERAL EIN/SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: directed to the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) office at (215) 683-2071. PARTICIPATION RANGES: BID QUESTIONS All questions concerning this Invitation and Bid, M-BE: 10% to 15% including specifications and conditions, must be AND/OR presented prior to the bid opening date and time. W-BE: 10% to 15% Contact the Procurement Department Customer DS-BE: Best and Good Faith Efforts Service Unit by emailing [email protected] or by calling (215) 686-4720 with questions.
    [Show full text]
  • ADDRESS: 1106-14 SPRING GARDEN ST Name of Resource: Woodward-Wanger Co
    ADDRESS: 1106-14 SPRING GARDEN ST Name of Resource: Woodward-Wanger Co. Proposed Action: Rescind Designation and then Reconsider Nomination Property Owner: Mapleville, LLC, Stella and Nga Wong Applicant: Matt McClure, Esq., Ballard Spahr Individual Designation: 3/9/2018 District Designation: None Staff Contact: Jon Farnham, [email protected] OVERVIEW: This request asks the Historical Commission to rescind the individual designation of the property at 1106-14 Spring Garden Street and then remand the nomination to the Committee on Historic Designation for an entirely new review in which the property owner can participate. The rescission request contends that the property owner was not notified of the consideration of the nomination by the Committee on Historic Designation and the Historical Commission that led to the designation on 9 March 2018 and, therefore, did not have an opportunity to participate in reviews. The request asserts that the Historical Commission sent the first and final notice letters for the property owner to the wrong address because the City failed to correctly update its property tax records. The other set of notice letters, those to the property, were sent to a vacant building, where mail could not be received. Documents included with the rescission request seem to indicate that the claim is correct. It appears that the Historical Commission sent the first and final notice letters for the property owner to an outdated address. The owner did not participate in two public meetings at which the nomination was reviewed. The request indicates that the owner did not learn of the designation until 2020, when applying for a permit from the Department of Licenses & Inspections.
    [Show full text]
  • The Social Effects of Preservation: Social Wellbeing and the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program in Philadelphia
    University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Theses (Historic Preservation) Graduate Program in Historic Preservation 2013 The Social Effects of Preservation: Social Wellbeing and the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program in Philadelphia Ellis Miller Mumford University of Pennsylvania Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses Part of the Historic Preservation and Conservation Commons Mumford, Ellis Miller, "The Social Effects of Preservation: Social Wellbeing and the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program in Philadelphia" (2013). Theses (Historic Preservation). 217. https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/217 Suggested Citation: Mumford, Ellis Miller (2013). The Social Effects of Preservation: Social Wellbeing and the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program in Philadelphia. (Masters Thesis). University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/hp_theses/217 For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Social Effects of Preservation: Social Wellbeing and the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program in Philadelphia Abstract This thesis was intended to begin to fill in a gap in preservation literature by beginning research in Philadelphia and evaluating how, if at all, historic preservation affects social wellbeing. By considering tax credit investment alongside various statistical measures of social wellbeing in Philadelphia census block groups, this study tested some hypotheses about the power of preservation in community revitalization. The primary hypothesis tested is that historic preservation activity improves social wellbeing in Philadelphia. More specific hypotheses include: • Historic preservation improves the physical appearance of neighborhoods. • Historic preservation reduces crime, especially building-specific crime such as arson and graffiti. • Historic preservation preserves affordable housing. • Historic preservation creates more educated communities.
    [Show full text]
  • William Penn's Legacy
    William Penn’s Legacy A TrAdiTion of diversiTy AnnuAl reporT 2010–2011 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Pennsylvania Heritage Society® A Tradition of Diversity COURTESY HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA ounded in 1913 as the Pennsylvania Historical On October 25, 2010, Kim Sajet, president and CEO of the Historical fCommission and reorganized in 1945 as the Society of Pennsylvania (HSP), and Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Nutter unveiled a state historical marker honoring the organization, (PHMC), the commonwealth’s official history agency founded in 1824. HSP, located at 1300 Locust St. in Philadelphia documents, preserves and interprets the Keystone since 1884, is among the nation’s oldest historical institutions. State’s diverse history and heritage. Recognizing the PHMC manages a statewide system of programs enormous diversity of citizens and communities—and supporting the preservation of Pennsylvania’s unique their precious heritage—PHMC employs a wide range and diverse historical and cultural character. Governed of programs to protect and share their stories. To by a board of appointed commissioners, the agency capture and chronicle this historic legacy, PHMC employs 217 individuals through commonwealth installs state historical markers; publishes relevant service and an equal number by nonprofit groups educational and interpretive material both in print and supporting PHMC and its initiatives. In addition, on the Web; designates historic properties—including volunteers contribute
    [Show full text]