PRESERVATION MATTERS The newsletter of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia Advocacy Successes and Struggles Message From The executive director: The following is a brief summary of some of the would be a sad conclusion to the long struggle to In early August, months of effort by Toll Advocacy is the common thread that runs most important advocacy struggles and successes preserve the Naval Home when a fire damaged Brothers’ staff and consultants—and by the staffs through all of the Preservation Alliance’s as of early August. Biddle Hall, the principal historic building on the of city, state, and federal historic agencies— activities. The most common form of advocacy Moving Towards site (see our Spring 2003 newsletter). But fortu- resulted in the presentation of plans to the might be called “reactive”: a property owner, nately, the fire that damaged much of the roof Philadelphia Historical Commission for approval. public agency, or some other circumstance Successful Conclusion also lit a fire under both the City and the The plan for the overall site follows the one causes a historic resource to be threatened and (We Hope!) property owner, Toll Brothers. At the urging of approved in 1999 with some positive changes. the Alliance reacts by raising concerns, building the Alliance, the City filed a court action to Rather than a rental housing development, Toll public awareness, and trying to preserve and U.S. Naval Home ensure the proper reconstruction of the roof. At Brothers has decided to take advantage of the protect whatever resource is affected. Another the same time, Toll Brothers also became more strong housing and condominium sales market form of advocacy can be called “proactive.” Few properties have been of greater concern to serious, deciding that the time was ripe to restore in Center City Philadelphia and switch to an the preservation community in Philadelphia than This means taking steps in advance to build Biddle Hall and begin development of the site. entirely homeownership approach. This has an awareness of and programs of support the National Historic Landmark U.S. Naval resulted in a reduction of the total number of Home. In February 2003, it seemed that there for preservation issues before they reach a units on the site from 1,200 to what will probably crisis state. be about 800. Biddle Hall will be restored for 66 residential units in the first phase of construc- During the past year, the Alliance has been tion, expected to begin in the spring of 2004 if all actively involved in a wide range of both historic reviews continue to move on schedule. reactive and proactive advocacy, primarily in the city of Philadelphia. Many of these efforts focus After many years of uncertainty, the preservation on individual buildings, while others focus on of the U.S. Naval Home is almost a reality. policies and programs to assist preservation in the future. Fortunately, many of the individual Boyd Theater buildings we have been concerned about seem Although no public announcement has been to be moving towards very positive conclusions. made, the Goldenberg Group, owner of the This issue of Preservation Matters highlights historic Art Deco Boyd Theater (see our Fall 2002 these hopeful successes while also reviewing the newsletter), has shared its proposed plans for the status of situations still unresolved. theater with the Alliance and the Friends of the Boyd Inc. Happily, the plans propose a full The Alliance is not the only organization that restoration of the historic theater for use as an advocates for historic preservation in entertainment center focusing on live musical Philadelphia. We are fortunate that other productions with opportunities for film non-profit organizations have taken leadership programs. The Goldenberg Group has secured for key historic resources including religious an operating partner for the project, but some properties and the collection of historic financing still needs to be put in place to make properties in Fairmount Park. This issue of the newsletter highlights the work of a few other Naval Home site plan/Toll Brothers continued on page 2 organizations as well, in recognition of the important role others play in helping us pre- serve the extraordinary heritagecontinued of on Philadelphia. page 2 John Andrew Gallery FAIRMOUNT PARK HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRUST Executive Director CELEBRATES 10 YEARS By Matthew Rader and John Carr Although best known for its grass and trees, demolition, the victim of declining city funding CANDIDATES FOR Fairmount Park contains about 200 historic and inappropriate use. Today, as the home of the structures ranging from the well-known Park Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia, its future MAYOR RESPOND Houses to lesser-known barns and houses. looks bright. TO ALLIANCE Preservation of these historic resources is as critical as preserving the park itself. The resources the Trust undertook to manage a QUESTIONS decade ago are rich and varied. When For 10 years, the Fairmount Park Historic Pennsylvania’s legislators created Fairmount Park Preservation Trust has been responsible for some in 1867 to preserve Philadelphia’s water supply, of the key historic properties in the park. On they also preserved one of the most remarkable Mayor John F. Street, Democratic June 5, the Trust celebrated this milestone with a collections of historic buildings in the nation. candidate for Mayor, and Sam Katz, major event at Rockland Mansion in East From high-style riverfront villas like Rockland Republican candidate, responded to Fairmount Park. The venue itself, one of the to vernacular barns, the Park’s more than 400 questions from the Alliance regarding their city’s most handsome Federal villas, stands as a historic buildings document Philadelphia’s views on historic preservation. testament to the positive impact the Trust has architectural evolution from the 17th to the See inside, page 5, and full had on Fairmount Park’s cultural resources. A 20th centuries. responses on our web site decade ago, Rockland faced almost certain Restoration in progress at the Sheys Barn, a project funded by the continued on page 3 www.preservationalliance.com William B. Dietrich Foundation. fall 2003 www.preservationalliance.com 1 Preservation Advocacy Advocacy Successes and Struggles continued from page 1 the project feasible. Through the initiative of Preservation Coalition, and the current state of the Goldenberg Group and the City adminis- conservation districts in other cities. This effort tration, the theater was listed as an eligible has led to a revised proposal for the creation of project for funding from the state. Mayor Neighborhood Conservation Districts. With Street’s administration, the Alliance, and the the assistance of the Community Design Friends of the Boyd, as well as many others Collaborative, the proposal will be reviewed including the National Trust, have urged with representatives of neighborhoods that Governor Rendell to appropriate funds for the might be appropriate for such designation with project. A significant appropriation from the the expectation that Councilman DiCicco may state could complete the financing and ensure introduce a modified bill this fall. that restoration of the theater will move forward. This would be an extraordinary Victory Building accomplishment, especially for the Friends Although the Victory Building has not been a of the Boyd, which has led the grassroots focus of the Alliance’s advocacy efforts in the advocacy for preservation of the theater. past year, it has been a long-standing concern of the preservation community. Here again, Neighborhood Transformation there is good news. Recently, work has begun Initiative on the interior of the Annex, adjacent to the In our Fall 2003 newsletter, we highlighted the Victory Building, and in August, the Historical historic preservation issues raised by the City’s Commission approved plans for the restora- Neighborhood Transformation Initiative tion of the first floor storefront. In addition, (NTI), and particularly our concern that NTI the interior of the Victory Building itself is would result in the demolition of many being cleaned out in anticipation of historic residential properties. Since that time, rehabilitation. Both buildings will be used by Jefferson University. we have continued our dialogue with the City Proposed Fairmount Waterworks addition. agencies responsible for NTI with some success. Patricia L. Smith, director of the NTI Still Struggling appealed by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to This case is significant for two reasons. First, program, was immediately responsive to the Fairmount Waterworks the Department of Licenses and Inspections most obviously, because demolition of the historic preservation concerns and began to Board of Review, which overturned the church will result in the loss of an important In April, the Fairmount Park Commission look for ways to include historic preservation designation. The City will appeal that decision historic property and community landmark to reviewed a proposal for an addition to the in the decision-making process for property to Common Pleas Court. The Archdiocese is be replaced, most likely, by a drug store or fast Engine House at the Fairmount Waterworks, a demolition. In addition, she and Maxine closing the church and wishes to be able to food chain. But secondly, because a ruling National Historic Landmark and one of the Griffith, executive director of the City Planning remove religious elements from the building against the City could undermine the most beloved historic properties in Commission, took advantage of the interest of before offering it for sale, including all of the Historical Commission’s ability to require Philadelphia. The addition is intended to pro- the National Trust for Historic Preservation in distinctive exterior murals. property owners to submit complete economic vide additional seating for a restaurant, which this issue by submitting and receiving approval hardship applications before consideration by is proposed to be located in the Engine House. for a National Trust Preservation Development the Commission.