Preservation Matters Fall 2009 Presvnews Fall09fin:Fall 09 9/1/09 10:14 AM Page 3

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PRESERVATION Preservation Alliance

for greater philadelphia MATTERS

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PRESERVATION ALLIANCE FOR GREATER PHILADELPHIA FALL 2009

Historic Interiors Protection Becomes Law EXECUTIVE Photo by Wyatt Gallery Photo by Tom Crane Photo by Wyatt Gallery DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE hen the Preservation Alliance decided to pursue the idea of Wcreating a preservation plan for Philadelphia we had no clear idea of what form such a plan might take. We knew that a citywide survey of historic resources was essential—surprisingly, none has ever been done for Philadelphia—but how to do that and what else such a plan should include was uncertain. Now, three years later, we have completed several stages of work on this project and have a clearer idea of where we are headed, which we are eager to share with others and to receive comments and suggestions. Two key reports completed this year have been posted on the website we created for this project—www.Preserve Philadelphia.org. Historic Preservation in 2020, A Strategic Vision and Strategic Fisher Fine Arts Building, University of Masonic Temple Ritz-Carlton Lobby Actions summarizes the key ideas about Pennsylvania what preservation might be like in 2020 and the actions needed to get there. Historic Context Statements and Survey hiladelphia has joined the ranks and regulations at its October meeting. tions. Further discussions were held in Method ology, Summary Report describes of major cities in the United Once the Commission has received public 2009 with representatives of cultural insti- how to undertake a citywide survey of PStates that allow for the designa- comments and adopted the rules and reg- tutions that house many of the city’s finest historic resources using contemporary tion and protection of historic interiors. ulations, the Records Department is interiors, leading to some additional technology. Effective January 2010, the Philadelphia required to have a 30-day public comment amendments. As a result of this deliberate The recommendations in Historic Historical Commission will have the period before the rules go into effect. and thoughtful approach, the legislation Preservation in 2020 are intended to pro- authority to designate historic interiors City Council approval came slightly had broad support from preservation and vide a focus for the Preservation Alliance’s work in the coming years, and are also for listing on the Philadelphia Register of more that one year after Councilman Bill cultural organizations, the architectural intended to provide a framework for the Historic Places as a result of an amend- Green introduced the bill, co-sponsored by community and civic groups. work of other organizations concerned ment to the city’s historic preservation Council members William Greenlee and The Preservation Alliance commends with neighborhood development and ordinance passed by City Council in June. Blondell Reynolds Brown. Council man Councilman Green and his key staff mem- historic preservation. Developing partner- Mayor Nutter signed Bill #080527 into Green’s introduction of the bill was bers, Sophie Bryan and Seth Levi, for their ships to help carry out this vision is a key law on July 1. prompted in part by the listing of the Boyd patience and persistence, and for their care part of the vision and an important next The amended ordinance will allow the Theater on the National Trust for Historic in making sure that all interested parties step in the process. Historical Commission to list on the Preservation’s 11 Most Endangered List in had time to discuss and comment on the Brief descriptions of the content of the Philadelphia Register historic interiors May 2008. City Council’s Rules Committee legislation. The Preservation Alliance also reports and a series of supporting reports can be found on page 6 of this newsletter. that are open to the public as a part of nor- held hearings on the bill in 2008 as did the extends its appreciation to members of I encourage you to go to the website to mal business operations or were designed Historical Commission. The Preservation City Council who supported the amend- read the reports and send me your com- to be open to the public. This would Alliance testified at both hearings offering ment and to Mayor Nutter for promptly ments and suggestions. We are also seeking include office building lobbies, restau- support and suggesting minor modifica- signing the bill into law. your help in identifying the historic rants, theaters, hotel ballrooms and simi- resources of your own neighborhood or lar spaces. Interiors of private residences historic resources you admire throughout were deliberately excluded. The amend- the city. The Neighborhoods section of ment does not become effective until www.PreservePhiladelphia.org allows you January to allow the Historical Com - What’s Your Favorite Historic to send us photos of historic places in mission time to write and adopt rules and Philadelphia’s neighborhoods and com- Philadelphia Interior? ment on neighborhood history and events. regulations for the nomination of historic Please go to the website and help us learn interiors. Until that time, no nominations The Preservation Alliance is seeking suggestions of historic interiors to more about what you value about the his- can be approved. nominate to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. Please send toric character of your neighborhood and The Historical Commission staff is see what other residents value about theirs. expected to present a schedule for adop- your ideas to Randy Cotton at [email protected]. JOHN ANDREW GALLERY tion of the rules and regulations at its Executive Director September meeting and a draft of the rules

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BEFORE AFTER Helping City Homeowners: The Alliance’s Historic Properties Repair Program 306 S. Camac St. aintaining and repairing an older house can sometimes be a financial chal- lenge for low- and moderate-income homeowners. To help address this chal- BEFORE AFTER M lenge the Preservation Alliance has, since early 2006, provided grants to low/moderate-income homeowners to help subsidize the costs of restoring the exteriors of their residences. The grant program recently celebrated the completion of its 50th project. The source of the grant funds came from the City of Philadelphia’s Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, which provided more than $1.4 million to the Alliance’s Historic Properties Repair Program; the National Trust for Historic Preservation provided an additional $130,000. Typical projects are masonry, carpentry and roof repairs, porch restorations and window and door replacements. Projects have been in historic districts in Parkside, Germantown, Girard Estate, West Philadelphia, Overbrook Farms, Fishtown, Queen Village, Fairmount, Powelton, Manayunk and north central Philadelphia. The homeowners that have completed projects appreciate the historical and architec- 823 St. Bernard St. tural significance of their homes and value the opportunity the grant program allows them to have restoration-quality workmanship that they otherwise could not afford. “Thank you so much for all your good work and good energy in helping preserve my BEFORE AFTER cherished piece of the 18th century,” said one South Philadelphia homeowner. “It meant a great deal to me. I still can’t believe it,” reported another homeowner who was able to have historically correct windows installed. To be eligible for the restoration grants, homeowners must live in a residential property that lies within a city or national historic district in Philadelphia or that is individual- ly designated as historic. The grants pay the difference between the cost of non-historic “remodeling” and a more authentic restoration-level project that meets the standards of the Philadelphia Historical Commission. A grant of up to $20,000 can go to each project; the average grant is about $16,000. For more information on the project check under the “Programs” tab at www.Preservation Alliance.com or contact program director Randy Cotton at [email protected], 215.546.1146 x2. 1516 North St. l htsb J. Randall Cotton All Photos by BEFORE AFTER BEFORE AFTER

3411 Hamilton St. 48 E. Haines St.

Preservation and Form-Based Zoning

“Form-based zoning” is a popular concept azine called “the relationship between infill development in historic neighbor- hybrids have been applied in historic down- these days among planners and architects building and street.” Preservationists are hoods. Lindberg believes a form-based code towns and commercial corridors. She also with important implications for historic increasingly interested in form-based zon- will provide appropriate guidelines for most reported that the new zoning code could preservation. With Philadelphia at work ing because it is potentially much more sen- of the city. But Denver also anticipates using enhance preservation regulation by comple- on developing a new zoning code, the sitive to existing context than conventional conservation districts to set additional menting historic district designation with Preservation Alliance brought James zoning. design guidelines for neighborhoods cover- expanded conservation district regulations Lindberg of the National Trust for Historic Denver began a comprehensive review of ing about 15 percent of the city’s 175,000 and more sensitive base zoning. Preservation to speak on how this alterna- its zoning code in 2005 and concluded that properties. Stricter historic district designa- The consulting team working on tive to conventional zoning and historic a form-based code would suit its needs. tion would cover an additional five percent Philadelphia’s new zoning code will present its preservation regulation is being integrated Lindberg told a July gathering of about 50 of Denver buildings. recommendations to the Zoning Code in Denver. invited planners, architects, city officials and No decisions have been made in Commission on September 9 and a public While traditional zoning focuses on land others that Denver will use its form-based Philadelphia, Zoning Code Commission outreach campaign is planned for this fall. use, form-based zoning codes regulate code to encourage preservation of existing Executive Director Eva Gladstein told the Visit www.zoningmatters.org for details and development based on physical form or fabric while establishing sympathetic stan- gathering, but one possibility could be a updates. To learn more about Denver’s new what a planner quoted in Urban Land mag- dards for the massing and scale of new and form-based overlay for Center City. Such zoning code, visit www.newcodedenver.org.

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Nemours: The Little-Known Story Behind the Restoration of duPont’s “East Coast Versailles”

The Conservatory Entry Hall

ven after more than 35 years practicing preser- Preservation Achievement Award winner and the whole vation architecture in nearby Chester County, winning team can be viewed at www.Preservation EMary Werner DeNadai, FAIA had only been Alliance.com. DeNadai herself received the Alliance’s once to Nemours Estate, the extraordinary East Coast 2007 James Biddle Award for lifetime achievement in Tour of Nemours Versailles built by Alfred I. duPont in Wilmington, DE. preservation; John Milner was similarly honored in 2005.) Renowned preservation architect Mary DeNadai, Despite its enormity (47,000-square-foot house, 222 Altogether, about 35,000 man-hours were spent who headed the restoration of Nemours Mansion acres of gardens) and significance (Beaux Arts house and restoring Nemours, with DeNadai coordinating a vast and Gardens, will lead a special, private tour for formal landscape designed in 1910 by noted architects range of work. Most of the interior walls had been paint- the Preservation Alliance on Saturday, December Carrere and Hastings), “it was a secret,” recalls DeNadai. ed with multiple coats of latex paint that, attempting to 5. Nemours will be lavishly decorated for the holi- Today, however, DeNadai, a principal with John match what was there, got progressively darker and days and DeNadai will share her experiences and Milner Architects, is intimate with every inch of the monochromatic. Extensive paint analysis revealed the insights into the ongoing restoration of one of the property after heading its $28 million restoration—the correct palettes. In some places, such as the conservatory first phase on what is expected to be a $100 million proj- with its elaborate trellis, painters used the smallest country’s grand historic homes. ect completed in 2020. artists’ brushes to paint individual two-inch squares. In duPont, one of three cousins who bought a controlling the dining room, where the elaborate Adamesque ceiling interest in the DuPont Chemical Company in 1902, built was in danger of collapse, workers on scaffolding used the house in 1910; he died in 1935 and his wife, Jessie hypodermic needles to inject glue behind the failing can- Ball duPont, lived at Nemours until her death in 1970. vas. Throughout the house, gold leaf was painstakingly The estate was opened to the public in the mid-1970s. reapplied and elaborate woodwork restored. For decades until restoration began in 2004, the house Over 250 light fixtures were restored to recreate appro- was maintained and there were no physical alterations, priate lighting levels and sprinklers, smoke and motion but the historic integrity of the estate suffered. detectors, etc., were thoughtfully installed so as to be vir- “Superficially the mansion looked pretty good,” says tually invisible. Executive Director Grace Gary. But inappropriate clean- The goal was to interpret the house as it appeared during and maintenance techniques, careless painting and ing the many years of the duPonts’ residency. “By not incremental deterioration took their toll, especially to a using a firm date, we flew in the face of convention,” con- trained eye. Equally significant, the mechanical sys- cedes Gary, “but if we chose 1935 [the year of Alfred’s tems—original 1910 electrical wiring, 1970s HVAC, lack death], we would have had to take down Turners, of a fire suppression system and inadequate fire and Lawrences and Canalettos that Jessie bought after 1935.” security alarms—desperately needed upgrades. There On the grounds, landscape elements including the A bus will leave at 10:30 a.m. from Center City. was no handicapped access to the house. Of the grounds, vista inspired by the Petit Trianon gardens at Versailles, a DeNadai will join us at the nearby DuPont says Gary, “the gardens looked shabby.” colonnade and sunken gardens, reflecting pool, foun- Country Club for a brief introduction over lunch, Gary, a former Mid-Atlantic director for the National tains and statuary were restored and gold leaf was reap- after which the group will tour the estate, return- Trust for Historic Preservation, joined Nemours in 2004 plied to Henri Crenier’s sculpture “Achievement,” the ing to Philadelphia by 5 p.m. with the directive to take the estate to a new level as an now-dazzling emblem of the estate. operating house museum. With her knowledge of the Nemours reopened to the public in 2008 for seasonal $75 for general public; $55 for Preservation region, she was able to quickly identify John Milner guided tours. Future phases of the restoration are Alliance members. Price includes transportation Architects, which specializes in restoration and adapta- planned to continue work on the interior of the mansion, and lunch at the DuPont Country Club. tion of historic buildings, as ideal to lead a large team rehabilitate 17 outbuildings and greenhouses and, the Reservations and advance payment are required. which also came to include Rodney Robinson Landscape aspect that DeNadai and Gary are most excited about, Seats are limited. Register at www.preservation Architects, conservators and craftspeople. “This could create a new water-management system that will re-use alliance.com/events/allianceevents.php not have worked if we hadn’t gotten the right group of rainwater and “gray” water from the adjacent Alfred I. people together,” says Gary. (The project was a 2009 duPont Hospital for Children to maintain the gardens. or call 215.546.1146 x3.

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New Grant Brings Technical Support to Historic African American Churches and Sites

he Preservation Alliance has extended its African American initiative with a new $64,000 grant from the Heritage Philadelphia Program of the Pew Center for Arts Tand Heritage. The grant will enable the Alliance to provide technical assistance to staff and volunteers at selected African American congregations, small historic sites and house museums in Philadelphia. The goal of the historic site/museum component of the grant is to assist the sites in developing public interpretive programs and marketing to attract broader audiences. Participants include the Marian Anderson Residence Museum in South Philadelphia, the Legendary Blue Horizon in North Philadelphia and the Paul Robeson House in West Philadelphia. Philadelphia-based museum consultants Remer & Talbott LLC and marketing firm Karma Inc. are working with the Alliance on this project. As part of the program, the Alliance’s Melissa Jest, coordinator of the African American initiative, led historic site representatives to New York City in August to visit the Weeksville Heritage Center and the Louis Armstrong House to explore best practices used in the area of interpretation, programming and marketing. [Top] Representatives of African The second component of the grant consists of technical assistance to historic African American historic sites in Philadelphia American churches. The goal is to train five or six congregations on how to research and visited Weeksville Heritage Center, a understand their history so they can better tell their stories to the public. These congrega- 19th-century, free Black community, in Brooklyn, NY, in August. tions will also be better prepared to nominate their buildings to the National and/or Philadelphia Registers as a means of preservation. [Bottom] Weeksville staffers Kadrena This outreach and training is being developed in cooperation with Partners for Sacred Cunningham and Anna Maternick Places (PSP), a Philadelphia-based, national, non-sectarian, nonprofit organization dedicat- described the site’s operations. ed to helping congregations who care for America’s older religious properties. The Alliance and PSP have developed a component that will incorporate historic preservation and inter- pretative programming into PSP’s current training program as a further method of encour- aging historic churches to effectively tell their stories and preserve their significant buildings. Community Groups Get Grants to Promote “A Sense of Place”

Four community projects are moving forward, thanks to small, seed-money grants made by the Maintain, Repair, Preservation Alliance at the “A Sense of Place, Restore: Preserving Philadelphia Neighborhoods” conference Free Homeowner in May. The grants are intended to support commu- Workshops nity efforts that focus on recognizing and preserving neighborhood history and character. Looking for the best ways to restore and maintain your old house? Want to get it fixed up for Northwest Interfaith Movement received $1,500 to collaborate to 52nd streets, to produce “Baltimore Avenue Venue Menu.” the holidays? Or maybe your flat roof, wood with historians and neighborhood historic sites, scholars and a The brochure will include a description of the area, a map of the windows or porch needs repair or restoration. group of local congregations to produce and present cluster of houses of worship along the route and detailed infor- Historic preservation professionals share “Germantown Speaks,” a series of inter-generational public his- mation about the spaces in each sacred place that is available for their know-how at the Preservation Alliance’s tory programs that will examine 20th-century Germantown public and community use. The goal is to educate the local fall 2009 series of FREE workshops for own- street life, World War II, civil rights struggles and community community and visitors about the history of the area, and to ers, and aspiring owners, of older and historic festivals. encourage increased knowledge, appreciation and preservation homes. Workshops are being conducted Germantown High School students will conduct video inter- of the area’s important historic resources. through October 1 in Tacony and at Historic views with senior citizens in order to capture stories of the RittenhouseTown in Germantown. recent past. The results will be shared at a program at the high Powelton Village Civic Association received $1,000 to collabo- These popular programs are FREE and school, along with a mini-exhibition and a project brochure. rate with the University City District and Drexel University to open to the public, but seating is limited create and display 80 to 100 banners celebrating the sesquicen- The New Kensington Community Development Corporation and reservations are required. For the full tennial of Powelton Village in 2010. The goal is to draw schedule and to make a reservation, visit received $1,500 to develop the “Delaware Riverfront Lost and attention to the heritage of the area and to encourage broader Found Scavenger Hunt,” a self-guided tour where participants www.preservationalliance.com/events/work community support for the preservation of its historic will follow a route along the riverfront and through Fishtown. shops.php or call 215.546.1146 x4. resources. The education and outreach effort will also include a Maps and other materials will incorporate a sense of “lost and The workshops are presented by The special sesquicentennial issue of the Powelton Post. found” and will provide a historic context to buildings and Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia spaces along the waterfront, as well as information about their and The Fairmount Park Historic Preservation About 140 leaders from neighborhoods throughout the city current status and ways to get involved with ongoing efforts to Trust in collaboration with: The Historical preserve and revitalize the area. attended the May conference, the first citywide gathering Society of Tacony, Tacony Civic Association, emphasizing historic preservation as an indispensable tool for Tacony Community Development Corporation, Vineyard Community Church received a $1,000 grant to collab- community revitalization. The Alliance plans to convene anoth- Historic Germantown, Historic Rittenhouse - orate with community and business organizations, congrega- er such conference in fall 2010 and to offer additional small Town, The Germantown Historical Society and tions and other civic groups along Baltimore Avenue from 40th grants for neighborhood projects. The Chestnut Hill Historical Society.

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ADVOCACY

The fate of La Hillman Medical Center Ronda has become a national news story as efforts Demolition Approved continue to save the historic Bryn Mawr mansion from demolition. For the most up-to-date news on the fast- changing situation, visit www.PreservationAlliance.com. Endangered Properties ntil the John Buck dle decades of the 20th century.” Proposed tower for site of Company of Chicago and Because the property is listed on the Hillman Center. Update Uthe owners of the Sidney Philadelphia Register, the owner and There have been significant developments on two of the list- Hillman Medical Center at 2116 proposed developer needed to secure The City Planning Commission ings on the 6th annual Endangered Properties List, published Chestnut Street proposed to demol- approval of the Historical Com- recommended approval of zoning late last year. ish the building to build a 33-story mission for demolition. A financial variances at its July meeting. In apartment structure, most people hardship application was submitted August, the Zoning Board of Garrett-Dunn House were probably not aware of this dis- claiming that the owner had been Adjustment completed hearings on tinctive example of 1950s mod- unable to sell the property and that its the variances, but had not issued its The Garrett-Dunn House in Mt. Airy burned to the ernism. Designed by Louis rehabilitation was unfeasible. The decision at press time. The two adja- ground August 2 after being struck by lightening during a Magaziner and Herman Polss in Preservation Alliance questioned cent churches indicated support for heavy storm. Working closely with the city and other part- 1951, the building is listed as a con- many aspects of the financial hardship the variances and the Center City ners, the Alliance only last winter had engaged contractors tributing resource in the local application, but at its June 2009 meet- Residents Association did not oppose to stabilize and secure the property against the elements Rittenhouse Fitler Historic District. ing, the Commission approved the the variances. The Preservation after obtaining a court order. The house was abandoned in The Pennsylvania Historical and application and gave permission for Alliance opposed the variances on the spring 2008 by developer John Capoferri mid-way Museum Commission (PHMC) demolition. The Alliance has appealed grounds that there was no hardship through conversion into condominiums, leaving the recently determined the building eli- that decision. with respect to the property that pre- structure exposed and vulnerable. gible for individual listing on the The project also requires approval vented it from being developed con- National Register of Historic Places. of the new design by the Historical sistent with the existing zoning. The Hillman Center is significant Commission and approval of zoning To add further complexity, the both for its architecture and its histo- variances. The architectural design developer is applying for funding ry and its demolition would be a loss was revised by the developer in from the U.S. Department of Housing to the city and historic district. response to concerns raised by two and Urban Development (HUD) and Hillman was the first medical facility adjacent churches—the First Uni- consequently a Section 106 review of Lawrence D. McEwen Photo by in the country jointly created by tarian Church and the Lutheran the project must be undertaken to employers and the unions represent- Church of the Holy Communion— determine the impact on historic ing their employees. and by neighbors along South 22nd resources. PHMC found that the The building was named for Street. The proposed project currently project had an adverse impact on both Sidney Hillman, an important labor consists of a four-story, brick-faced the historic building and on the leader, and served as the model for base building that houses parking, Rittenhouse National Register District.

eight other medical centers in other retail and office space, on top of which This requires a further review of the NEIGHBORS AIRY MOUNT WEST OF COURTESY cities, also named after Hillman. is a 33-story, glass-and-aluminum project to determine if mitigation is The house was a rare example of the residential work of David Brownlee, professor of art tower. At its July meeting, the His - possible to lessen the impact on the Thomas Ustick Walter, architect of Girard College and the history at the University of Penn- torical Commission approved the historic resources. dome of the U.S. Capitol. Records discovered in the Girard sylvania, has referred to the building proposed design; the Alliance For the latest developments on the College archives only at the time the building was nomi- as “one of the most architecturally opposed approval on the grounds that Hillman project, visit www.preser nated to the Philadelphia Register in 2006 confirmed that and historically significant buildings the design is out of character and scale vationalliance.com/advocacy/current the house was designed by Walter. built in Philadelphia during the mid- with the historic district. issues.php. Carnegie Libraries On a happier note, the Alliance was successful in nominat- Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance ing four of the city’s Carnegie libraries to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. In June, the Commission des- With the Preservation Alliance as a partner, Pennhurst It is hoped that the Community Design Collaborative ignated the Holmesburg (built 1908), Haddington (1915), Memorial and Preservation Alliance (PM&PA) was recent- grant will result in a land-use plan that respects the historic Logan (1918) and Kingsessing (1919) branch libraries, all ly awarded a design services grant through the Community resources yet provides for appropriate and viable mixed-use built with grants from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Design Collaborative, a volunteer- development that the current owner The Alliance listed the historic branch libraries as endan- based organization that provides could endorse and perhaps develop gered in 2008 and undertook the nominations in reaction pro bono preliminary design serv- with other nonprofit partners. to planned library closures. ice to nonprofit organizations. The design team will engage in Pennhurst is a historic 112-acre an active dialogue with a task force campus of over 20 Jacobean Revival of community leaders to produce a buildings in Chester County, high feasibility report that will be pre- Nominations to the 7th Endangered on a hill overlooking the Schuylkill sented to the public. To date, the Properties List are Invited River. Founded in 1908 as the volunteer team consists of John Eastern Pennsylvania Institution for Milner Architects (architects and Do you know of any historic buildings that are endangered the Feeble Minded and Epileptic, historic preservation), Thomas by demolition or neglect that should be on the Alliance’s Pennhurst closed in 1987 and was Committa Associates (town plan- 7th Endangered Properties List? For an online nomination subsequently sold by the state. A current development pro- ners and landscape architects) and Larsen & Landis (struc- form, and more information, visit www.preservation posal would result in the demolition of all or most of the tural engineer). It is anticipated the planning process will alliance.com/advocacy/endangered.php historic campus. be completed by the end of the year.

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tory of African American historic sites in the disparate sites, I wrote a brief historic the city. Originally compiled about 10 context statement that will also be avail- Building Awareness of African years ago, the inventory included churches, able on the Alliance’s web site. I hope that schools, businesses, homes, clubs, benevo- the inventory will be a useful tool for lent associations and more. I incorporated neighbors, scholars, students and others American Historic Sites historian Emily Cooperman’s 2008 who are interested in preserving by Dana Dorman research for the Alliance about African Philadelphia’s past. hanks to a grant from the Samuel American churches in the city, corrected Dana Dorman interned with the S. Fels Fund, I worked at the and expanded the existing inventory list- Preservation Alliance this summer, support- TPreservation Alliance this sum- ings, and added details about architects, ed by generous funding from the Samuel S. mer on a project to build a foundation for building dates, local and national historic Fels Fund Internships in Community Service greater public awareness and preservation designations and state historic markers. Program. Her work is a significant contribu- of African American historic sites in The inventory now includes 450+ sites tion to the Alliance’s ongoing African Philadelphia. I recently graduated from and structures, including numerous lesser- American Outreach initiative. Temple University’s Master’s Program in known sites like the Campbell A.M.E. Public History, so I was excited to jump Church in Frankford and the Mt. Airy into an internship that would let me put home of Sadie T. M. Alexander, a ground- theory into practice. breaking lawyer and economist appointed Philadelphia was a vital center of free by President Harry S. Truman to the black life in the U.S. in the 18th and 19th Committee on Civil Rights (among many centuries, and it has continued as an other accomplishments). At least 100 of important hub of African American life the resources listed on the inventory have already been lost, but I hope that drawing The Campbell AME Church in Frankford is one through the 20th century and into the present. Unfortunately, sites and buildings public attention to the remaining struc- of the properties on the African American his- tures will help preserve them. toric sites data base. Established in 1807, it is associated with this vibrant African The final inventory will be available on one of the oldest African American congrega- American history have too often received tions in Philadelphia. The current 1870 church little attention. the Alliance’s web site as a searchable data- building replaced an earlier frame structure at My primary task for the summer was to base, and we hope to develop an interac- this location. update and expand on the Alliance’s inven- tive map of all the sites. To help connect

Supporting Reports PRESERVATION PLAN UPDATE Historic Context Statements, Emily T. Cooperman, Malcolm Clendenin, Clair Schmeider, (www.preservephiladelphia.org/survey/reports) The first phase of the creation of a history of the physical development of the city, including: The first phase of A Preservation Plan for Philadelphia has been completed. • Overview of the history of the physical development of Philadelphia • Frankford/ Bridesburg/ Wissinoming/ Tacony Neighborhood Cluster The reports resulting from this work are posted on www.PreservePhila • Building Industrial Philadelphia delphia.org. The following is a list of the key reports and a brief summary of • Philadelphia Architectural Design 1945-1980 their contents. The Frankford Survey, Preservation Design Partnership and Judy Peters (www.preservephiladelphia.org/survey/reports) Summarizes the use of historic atlases to Summary Reports conduct historic resource surveys with illustrations of historic atlases and contemporary Historic Preservation in 2020, A Strategic Vision and Strategic Actions (www.preserve property maps, plus survey data forms for 100 residential properties in Frankford. philadelphia.org/plan/reports) A vision of what historic preservation might be in 2020 and Supplements Frankford Study #1. recommended actions to get there. The report recommends that actions focus on four key areas: Survey Guide, Preservation Design Partnership • Creating and communicating information about historic resources and public educa- (www.preservephiladelphia.org/survey/reports) A handbook to guide field surveys of his- tion programs on the importance of preserving Philadelphia’s distinctive character; toric resources, describing and illustrating architectural styles and building materials found • Neighborhood revitalization; in Philadelphia. • Economic development and sustainability, with a focus on creating new National Focused Conversations on a Preservation Plan (2008) and Follow Up Conversations (2009), Register Districts, including along commercial corridors; and (www.preservephiladelphia.org/plan/reports) Heritage Consulting Inc. • Developing organizational capacity and coordinated management. Online Survey, Summary Report (www.preservephiladelphia.org/plan/reports) Historic Context Statements and Survey Methodology (www.preservephiladelphia.org/ survey/reports) How to undertake a citywide survey using scanned atlases of historic The Preservation Plan project has been made possible by grants from the Barra Foundation, the maps and guided by historic context statements that describe the history of the physical William Penn Foundation and the Heritage Philadelphia Program of the Pew Center for Arts development of the city by neighborhood clusters and key themes. The report includes a list and Heritage. The project has been undertaken with the support and participation of the staff of 1,100 historic atlas plates that are now available on www.GeoHistory.org, including 14 of the Philadelphia Historical Commission and the Philadelphia City Planning Commission. atlases covering the entire city. Technical work and overall direction of the project has been provided by Randall Mason of Penn Praxis and the Graduate Program in Historic Preservation at the University of Special Report Pennsylvania; Emily T. Cooperman, PhD; Dominique Hawkins of Preservation Design The Economic Impact of Historic Preservation in Philadelphia 1998-2008, Econsult, Inc. Partnership and Judy Peters. Special assistance has been provided by the Atheneaum of (www.preservephiladelphia.org/plan/reports) Documentation of over $7 billion of historic Philadelphia, Heritage Consulting Inc. and Javelin Design. preservation investment in Philadelphia resulting in $67 million in tax revenues to the City In addition, approximately 100 individuals participated in discussion groups and interviews and $258 million in tax revenues to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The report also and another 350 people responded to an online survey. Members of the Historical Society of concludes that historic district designation increases property values an average of 1% per Frankford made special contributions to the Frankford Survey. year following designation. The Preservation Alliance is grateful for the interest, support and contributions of all participants.

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THANK YOU! The Preservation Alliance expresses its appreciation to the following organizations and individuals.

CORNERSTONE Mr. Paul Pincus Dan Lepore & Sons Company Chestnut Hill Window McMullen Roofing Inc. FOUNDATIONS SOCIETY Peter and Caroline Piven DOMUS Construction Daniel J. Keating Co. Palmer Waterproofing, Inc. Barra Foundation Kenneth P. and Betsy Balin Mr. Michael T. Scott Eastern State Penitentiary George Woodward Co. Patrick J. Murphy & Associates Inc National Trust for Historic Mrs. Deborah Bishop Mr. Paul Steinke John Milner Architects, Inc. Hanson General Contracting Patterson and Perkiss Preservation Mr. and Mrs. Alan Buerger* Ms. Rebecca Stoloff John Milner Associates, Inc. Haverstick-Borthwick Company Pennsylvania Real Estate Pennsylvania Historical and Mr. John G. Carr Museum Commission Ms. Kate F. Stover and Mr. Keast & Hood Co. Heritage Consulting Group Investment Trust Mr. Richard Cohen Timothy D. Wood The Pew Center for Arts and Kise Straw & Kolodner Heritage Consulting, Inc. Philadelphia Industrial Ms. Mary DeNadai, FAIA Development Corp. Heritage, through the Heritage * Leadership Circle Members Milner + Carr Conservation, LLC Historic Germantown Philadelphia Program Ms. Sandi Foxx-Jones Pinemar Building Company, Inc. Philadelphia Management Co. HUB International The Pew Center for Arts and Mr. William Frankel PATRON MEMBERS Please Touch Museum Philadelphia Museum of Art John Canning & Co. Heritage, through the Ms. Linda A. Galante Mrs. Joseph T. Beardwood, III Plumstead Studios Philadelphia Cultural Preservation Initiatives, Inc. JRB Historic Restoration LLC Mr. John Andrew Gallery Mr. Eugene Buckley, III and Mr. Powers & Company, Inc. Management Program Colin Likens The Shusterman Foundation K & A Appraisal Co. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Gunther Rampart Holdings The Pew Center for Arts and Ms. Helen H. Ford VITETTA Kelly/Maiello Architects Heritage, through the Mr. Douglas Harnsberger, AIA Reading Terminal Market Corp. Klehr Harrison Harvey Philadelphia Exhibitions Mr. and Mrs. John C. Haas Russell Roofing Mr. Edward Hillis* PROFESSIONAL Branzburg Ellers LLP Initiative Mr. Henry G. Hart, Jr. Saul Ewing LLP Dr. and Mrs. Henry A. Jordan PARTNERS Klein & Hoffman, Inc. Philadelphia Cultural Fund Mr. Arthur F. Loeben Shelterfield Valuation Services Mr. Leroy E. Kean A.D. Marble & Company, Inc. Knapp Masonry Samuel S. Fels Fund Ms. S. Yvonne Novak and Mr. Susan and Leonard Klehr Ahern Painting Mr. Wayne S. Spilove Aaron Weindling KPMG William Penn Foundation Ms. Janet S. Klein* AIA Philadelphia Larsen and Landis Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young Mr. David Robb LLP Mr. Marian A. Kornilowicz Allied Construction Services II, PARTNERS Mr. Hugh G. Rouse and Mr. Levine & Company, Inc. Inc. Templetown Realty IN THE FIELD Mr. H.F. Lenfest* Leonard R. Olds Loretta C. Witt, CRS, GRI, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. L. Gie Liem Miss Lisa M. Witomski Architectural Window of Associate Broker Philadelphia Inc. Toll Brothers, Inc. John And Chara Haas Mr. and Mrs. David G. Marshall Mark B. Thompson Associates LLC Atkin Olshin Schade Architects UCI Architects Don and Bevo Meginley* CORPORATE Martin Jay Rosenblum, AIA & H.F. Gerry Lenfest SPONSORS Blue Rock Construction, Inc. Associates Voith & Mactavish Architects Mr. and Mrs. William E. National Trust for Historic Millhollen 806 Capital LLC Bristol Millwork Inc. Masonry Preservation Group, Inc. W.S. Cumby, Inc. Preservation Mr. John D. Milner, FAIA ARCWheeler Buell Kratzer Powell Ltd. Masters of Modernism Watson & Henry Associates Samuel S. Fels Fund Brad and Bekah Palmer The Bancorp Bank Cecil Baker + Partners Matthew Millan Architects, Inc. Wu & Associates, Inc. List complete as of August 12, 2009 Preservation Alliance Welcomes Four New Board Members New Member Benefits The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia green spaces, water reclamation and urban garden- recently welcomed four new members to its board of ing. He is a graduate of Drexel University. The Alliance is proud to offer directors: Stephen Marshall, vice president, Amerimar some exciting new benefits Realty Company; Andrew R. Palewski, founder and Professor Thomas J. Sugrue of the University of to our members, including: principal, Palewski Architectural Preservation; Pennsylvania specializes in 20th-century American Half-price admission for Thomas J. Sugrue, Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn politics, urban history, civil rights and race. He is the all Alliance Architectural professor of history and sociology, the University of author of several books, most recently Sweet Land of Pennsylvania; and the Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler, senior Liberty: The Forgotten Struggle for Civil Rights in the Walking Tours Stephen Marshall pastor at Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church. North (Random House, 2008), and lectures widely. Tom served for more than six years as vice chair of Stephen Marshall serves as vice president of the the Philadelphia Historical Commission and has Discount shopping at the Center City-based Amerimar Realty Company, served on the boards of the Urban History AIA Bookstore and which focuses on the acquisition and financing of Association, the Social Science History Association Design Center (store and under-utilized commercial properties. Such proper- and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. He is www.aiabookstore.com) ties are sometimes blighted, requiring renovation currently co-chair of the board of directors of the and preservation to return them to productive use. Bread and Roses Community Fund, a foundation With his wife Nicole, Stephen has volunteered in that supports grassroots organizations working for Reduced rates on home and leadership positions with city institutions including racial and economic equality. He was educated at auto insurance from Andrew R. Palewski The Academy of Music Young Friends Committee Columbia, King’s College, Cambridge and Harvard, HUB International for the Academy Ball, Art After Dark for the where he earned his PhD. Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Franklin Institute Science Awards Committee and the Philadelphia Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler became the 52nd pastor of 30% off John Gallery’s Antiques Show. Stephen is an alumnus of the Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia in 2008. The church, established in new edition of University of Pennsylvania. 1787 by A.M.E. founder Bishop Richard Allen, is a Philadelphia Architecture: Andrew Palewski founded Palewski Architectural National Historic Landmark and a major heritage A Guide to the City Preservation in 1995 and has worked on many of tourism destination. Mark has a PhD in education- Philadelphia’s foremost historic sites, including the al leadership from the University of Dayton and his Visit us online at Thomas J. Sugrue Wyck House, Eastern State Penitentiary and research is focused on the history of clergy educa- www.preservationalliance.com/ Cliveden of the National Trust, all National Historic tion in the A.M.E. church during the mid-19th cen- membership/categories.php Landmarks. Andy has been an active participant in tury. He serves as an adjunct professor at both Payne to see all of our member the Alliance’s Old House Fair and homeowner Theological Seminary in Ohio, from which he benefits and why it pays to join! workshops. He recently successfully nominated the received his Masters of Divinity, and at the New 1849 Church of the Assumption in North Brunswick Theological Seminary, where he also Philadelphia’s West Poplar neighborhood to the serves on the board of trustees. Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. Andy is co- founder and president of Lemon Ridge Garden, a The Preservation Alliance also wishes to express nonprofit organization that provides an outdoor its great appreciation to outgoing director Betty Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler laboratory for the understanding of sustainable Marmon for her years of dedicated service.

WWW.PRESERVATIONALLIANCE.COM fall 2009 preservation matters 7 PresvNews_Fall09FIN:Fall 09 9/1/09 10:14 AM Page 8

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Philadelphia, PA ARE YOU A MEMBER? preservation Permit No. 987 Your Preservation Alliance membership Alliance helps to preserve the architectural treasures and for greater philadelphia historic places of the Philadelphia region. For details on exclusive member benefits, go to www.PreservationAlliance.com 1616 Walnut Street, Suite 1620 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Join online or use this form ❏ Student $25 $15 Special Through Oct. 31 ❏ Individual $35 ❏ Household $50 ❏ Contributor $100 ❏ Sustainer $250 ❏ Patron $500 ❏ Benefactor $1,000 CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP ❏ Non-Profit $75 ❏ Professional Partner $250 ❏ Corporate Sponsor $1,000 ❏ My check (payable to Preservation Alliance) is enclosed Please charge my: ❏ Visa ❏ Master Card ❏ American Express

Card # ______Exp. Date ______

Name ______

Address ______

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Phone ______Email ______❏ I prefer not to receive membership gifts. Please mail this application to: Preservation Alliance 1616 Walnut Street, Suite 1620, Philadelphia, PA 19103

Memberships are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1.800.732.0999. Registration does not imply endorsement. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! r

PRESERVATION ALLIANCE FOR GREATER PHILADELPHIA With the fall comes a full calendar of 1616 Walnut Street, Suite 1620 Preservation Alliance events. For details, Philadelphia, PA 19103 visit www.PreservationAlliance.com TEL 215.546.1146 FAX 215.546.1180 CAN’T MISS! E-MAIL [email protected] WEB SITE www.PreservationAlliance.com

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Guided Architectural Walking Tours Advance registration is required: tours@preservation Katherine A. Dowdell, AIA Chair Through October 31 alliance.com or 215.546.1146 x3. Peter Benton, AIA Vice Chair Note that instead of Wednesday evening tours, the This tour is presented by the Preservation Alliance in conjunction Rosemarie Fabien, PhD Secretary post-Labor Day schedule is 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. tours both with DOCOMOMO North America Tour Day, highlighting modern Christophe P. Terlizzi Treasurer Saturday and Sunday. Visit us at www.preservationalliance. architecture throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada, and DesignPhiladelphia. John G. Carr, Linda A. Galante, Esq., com/events/walking_tours.php for details. Susan Glassman, Stephen Hague, Homeowner Workshops Philadelphia Architecture: A Guide to the City Michael Holleman, AIA, Wednesday, October 28 Marian A. Kornilowicz, Esq., Through October 1 5:30 p.m. Eugene Lefevre, Edward A. Liva, Workshops on a wide range of old-house topics are held in Tacony and Historic RittenhouseTown in Germantown. See The Athenaeum of Philadelphia Stephen D. Marshall, 219 S. 6th St. Randall F. Mason, PhD, Andrew Palewski, page 4 for details. FREE Alliance Executive Director John Andrew Gallery and his Paul Pincus, Harry Schwartz, Esq., son, photographer Wyatt Gallery, will speak and sign copies Rebecca Stoloff, Thomas J. Sugrue, of the 2009 edition of popular this guidebook. Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler, New Member Reception FREE Diane-Louise (DL) Wormley Thursday, October 8 Join the Alliance NOW to secure your invitation to the In conjunction with the ongoing exhibit of architectural photography STAFF from 1936 to1970 by prolific Philadelphia photographer Jacob Preservation Achievement Award-winning Crane Stable, John Andrew Gallery Executive Director Stelman, which continues through November 7.

UPCOMING AND AND UPCOMING in conjunction with DesignPhiladelphia. Elise Vider Deputy Director FREE J. Randall Cotton Associate Director Grand Opening: Beth Sholom Visitor Center Patrick Hauck Director of Modernism in America’s Oldest Neighborhood Sunday, November 15 Neighborhood Preservation Programs Festivities to mark the new visitor center at the Frank Lloyd Melissa Jest Neighborhood Saturday, October 10 Wright-designed synagogue in Elkins Park. Watch for details. Preservation Program Coordinator 2 p.m. FREE Holly Keefe Director of A special guided tour, with visits inside several private Membership Development residences, of the great modern architecture that co-exists alongside restored 18th and 19th-century buildings in Nemours Mansion and Gardens The Preservation Alliance for Society Hill Philadelphia. Learn how modernism and historic Saturday, December 5 Greater Philadelphia actively promotes preservation were thoughtfully integrated in one of the 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. the appreciation, protection, and revitalization greatest examples of mid-century urban renewal. An exclusive private tour. See page 3 for details. of the Philadelphia region’s historic buildings, $20 for general public; $10 for Alliance members. $75 for general public; $55 for Alliance members. communities and landscapes.

8 preservation matters fall 2009 WWW.PRESERVATIONALLIANCE.COM