PresvNews_Fall09FIN:Fall 09 9/1/09 10:14 AM Page 1 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 Wyatt Photo by Tom Crane Tom Photo by Photo by Wyatt Gallery Photo by Wyatt 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 Com mittee 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 WWW.PRESERVATIONALLIANCE.COM PresvNews_Fall09FIN:Fall 09 9/1/09 10:14 AM Page 2 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 provid- ed an additional $130,000. Typical projects are masonry, carpentry and roof repairs, porch restorations and win- dow 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 proper- ty 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. All Photos by J. Randall Cotton 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