PHILI\DELPHIA HISI'ORICAL COMMISSION C0!~1ITI'EE ON HISI'ORIC DESIGNATION 13 March 1989 The thirty-fourth meeting of the Cormnittee on Historic Designation began at 12:30 p.m. on Monday 13 March 1989, in Room 1313 City Hall Annex. Present: David Brownlee, Chairman of the Cormnittee on Historic Designation David Baldinger, Deputy Director, Philadelphia City Planning Also: Cormnission caroline Golab Janet Klein Sandra Tatman Richard Tyler, Historic Preservation Officer, Philadelphia Historical Corrmission Randal Baron, Preservation Planner, Philadelphia Historical Cormnission Rebecca Trumbull, Preservation Coalition of Greater Philadelphia NEW BUSINESS The Cormnittee reviewed and voted on the boundaries of the proposed Spruce Hill Historic District. The Cormnittee toured the district Monday, 27 February 1989, using a map supplied by the Preservation Coalition which they used as a starting point for their walk. The discussion revolved mainly around whether or not to include various rows of houses along the northern and northwestern edges of the district. The Cormnittee voted on separate segments of the boundary. The Corrmittee first took up the issue of the rowhouses and church of the historically Black corrmunity along the 4000 and 4100 blocks of Ludlow Street. The arguments in favor of including the area consisted of, 1) the architectural continuity of these mid to late 19th century speculative buildings with the building fabric of the rest of the district, 2) the historical relationship of many of the inhabitants of the area who worked in the houses in the heart of the district, 3) the fact that the buildings are contiguous to the district and the historical building fabric runs out just on the other side of these buildings, 4) the fact that these buildings possess a high level of integrity. The reasons against including this area consisted of, 1) the argument that this Black community can be seen as having a history that is separate and distinct from the middle class corrmuter neighborhood further south, 2) the fact that the houses in this area are somewhat smaller than is typical of the district and, 3) that the streetscape of these blocks is somewhat fragmented. With a vote of 4 to 1 the Corrmittee recomnended against inclusion of 3 Woodlands Cemetery, and on the east side by the University of Pennsylvania. A copy of the map showing the recornrrended boundaries is attached. There being no further business the Cormri.ttee adjourned at 2:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted Randal Baron Preservation Planner Illustration 1. Boundaries Sprice Rain
recomnended against inclusion of 3 Woodlands Cemetery, and on the east side by the University of Pennsylvania. A copy of the map showing the recornrrended boundaries is attached. There being no further business the Cormri.ttee adjourned at 2:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted Randal Baron Preservation Planner Illustration 1. Boundaries Sprice Rain Historic District