PRESERVATION Preservation Alliance MATTERS for greater philadelphia THE NEWSLETTER OF THE PRESERVATION ALLIANCE FOR GREATER PHILADELPHIA FALL 2004 Region’s Most Endangered Historic Properties he Alliance’s second Associated Press annual Endangered Properties List is 2004 based on nomina- ENDANGERED PROPERTIES LIST Ttions received from P H I LADE LPH IA community organizations, historic Independence Square preservation organizations, mem- ■ bers of the Alliance and the general Nugent Home for Baptists public. We thank all those who sub- ■ Presser Home for mitted nominations for their inter- Retired Music Teachers est and concern for the historic ■ properties in their communities. Dilworth House ■ Historic School Buildings Independence Square ■ Upper Roxborough 5th and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia National Historic Distric ■ SIGNIFICANCE Independence Square is Provident Mutual the location of Independence Hall and one Life Insurance Building of the most significant park spaces in ■ Philadelphia. It was here that the Chester Avenue Street Paving Declaration of Independence had its first ■ public reading. The square was purchased Madison Square by the Provincial government in 1730 to provide the site for new municipal buildings R E G I O NAL and has been a public park ever since. Over the years many organizations in Philadel- Dolington Village phia have worked to preserve the square as Bucks County an important public place and previously ■ raised funds to remove buildings that once Heidelberg (Kerlin Farm) occupied portions of the square. impact on historic sites, and should be resolved. No plan should be adopted with- Montgomery County capable of being removed easily once the out full public disclosure and opportunity ■ THREAT At the request of the Department current security concerns have been for debate. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 of the Interior, which has declared Independence Hall to be a “key asset” for protection from terrorism, the National Park Service recently prepared a security plan which would erect a new security and Kahn Masterpiece and Six Other Buildings Designated restroom building in the square. The site proposed is the location where some his past summer the Preservation Retired Music Teachers. The Presser Home Richards Medical Research Building believe the Declaration of Independence Alliance nominated six historic nomination was prepared by Stephen and David Goddard (Biology) Laboratories was read. In addition, the plan proposes to T properties to the Philadelphia Anderson, a resident of West Mt. Airy. 3700-3800 Hamilton Walk divide the square in half with an eight-foot Register of Historic Places. Although thou- Peter B. Olson 1957-60; Architect: Louis I. Kahn high fence running from 5th to 6th streets sands of city properties are already includ- through the center of the square. Although ed on the historic register many properties When Louis I. Kahn designed the the plan has not been released publicly, the are not listed, including some that are Richards Medical Research Building, he Park Service has implied that this plan rep- National Historic Landmarks. Listing on envisioned it as an alternative to the then resents the preferred plan among several the register officially recognizes the archi- current form of modern architecture exem- alternatives it has examined. tectural and historic significance of the plified by the sleek steel and glass prisms of properties and provides protection through the International Style. Kahn had already RECOMMENDATION Independence Square the city’s historic preservation ordinance. begun to challenge modernist notions in is owned by the City of Philadelphia and The Alliance was fortunate to receive a his earlier projects, but the Richards leased to the National Park Service. As the grant from the Samuel S. Fels Fund to hire Building represented the first, full realiza- owner of the square, the City should exer- a summer intern who researched and tion of Kahn's design philosophy. Through cise its fullest legal rights to review and drafted the nominations. its heavy masonry construction and its approve any plans for its alteration. The The Philadelphia Historical Commission articulation of what Kahn referred to as ‘ser- Park Service’s current security arrange- officially designated five of the nominated vant and served’ spaces. Three eight-story ments appear to be working well, even if properties at its September, October, and towers comprise the research laboratories’ — the temporary fencing provides an unat- November meetings and the sixth will be the ‘served’ spaces — arranged around a tractive element on the mall. If there is a considered in December. core ‘servant’ tower that houses the eleva- need to change, new security plans should In addition, the Commission also approv- tors, areas for lab animals, and utilities. be developed so as to create minimum ed the designation of the Presser Home for CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 WWW.PRESERVATIONALLIANCE.COM fall 2004 preservation matters 1 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Most Endangered Properties EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S M ESSAGE ur second annual Endangered Properties List provides a Oglimpse of the diverse range of issues facing historic preservation in the Philadelphia region. Derived from sug- gestions made by community and preservation organizations, the list includes historic open spaces as well as buildings, and thematic issues that affect more than an individual building. Unlike the simple prospect of historic properties being lost by neglect or the standard reasons for demolition, most of these sites are threatened by unusual circumstances that often have positive aspects to them. Threats to demolish schools in Philadelphia’s National Register Thematic District of historic schools are a consequence of the School District of Philadelphia’s intent to improve facilities for public education by building new schools; the threat to Independence Square is a result of the National Park Service’s concern for security at Independence Hall. The unusual nature of these circumstances often means that finding preservation solutions may be difficult, but in many instances opportunities for preserva- tion are often hidden within the nature of the danger itself. Nugent Home for Baptists structure and a prominent landmark in its THREAT The future of both the Nugent and neighborhood. Home and Presser Home was threatened by At the same time as some buildings Like its next-door neighborhood, the the expansion plans of a neighboring reli- and sites are endangered, others are Presser Home for Presser Home for Retired Music Teachers is gious institution. However, community being protected. Thanks to a summer Retired Music Teachers both a distinguished architectural accom- organizations in West Mt. Airy responded intern grant from the Samuel S. Fels plishment and a testament to a remarkable promptly to the threat and, with the assistance West Johnson Street individual. Theodore Presser founded the of the Alliance, both buildings were designat- Fund, the Alliance was able to begin Mt. Airy, Philadelphia company that bears his name, which, by ed by the Historical Commission thereby what we hope will be a regular process the 1930s, was the leading music publisher protecting them from demolition. However, of nominating buildings to the SIGNIFICANCE The Nugent Home, for- in the world. As his music empire flour- that does not solve the problem. Both build- Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. mally called the George Nugent Home for ished, he became a generous philanthro- ings are vacant. Unless a suitable developer is Surprisingly, our research showed that Baptists, opened in 1896 as a retirement pist. Presser commissioned Davis and found both properties may continue to community for elderly ministers and Davis to build a grand Renaissance Revival decline and be demolished by neglect or for some National Historic Landmarks are parishioners of Philadelphia’s Baptist com- structure adjacent to his own home in Mt. another new development proposal. not protected from demolition or munity. George Nugent made his fortune Airy for retired music teachers. The three adverse alteration. These nominations as a manufacture in Upper Merion story gray brick and limestone structure RECOMMENDATION Community organ- also include our interest in identifying Tow nship. However, he resided in the Mt. housed about 100 retirees and continued izations and residents of West Mt. Airy and buildings from the mid-20th century Airy neighborhood and was dedicated to to operate until 1980. (Based on the nomi- the Preservation Alliance - all of whom sup- the Baptist community in Philadelphia. nation prepared by Stephen Anderson.) ported designation of the properties - now that are now sufficiently old to be called Upon his death, he left his have an obligation to assist the historic. estate of half a million dollars owner find an appropriate devel- Both the Endangered Properties list for the creation of the Baptist oper for the properties. The con- and the nominations for designation home. Designed by J. Franklin tinuing rise of the real estate Stuckert, the well-respected market in Mt. Airy and the still- were based on suggestions made by architect of many of Phila-del- glorious charm of the these community and historic preservation phia’s churches, synagogues, buildings suggest that preserva- organizations, members of the Alliance, and other religious buildings, tion for apartments or condo- and other individuals. We thank you all the Nugent Home’s high miniums may be possible. Both not only