CO:!'..IITTi:E ',n :II'}'l'OHIC or:sH;:J,\'£Io:1 8 '.lovcmbcr l'JOS Grace Gary, Chairman The Twenty-second meeting of the Committee on Historic Designation began at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, 8 November 1985, in Room 1313 City Hall Annex. Present: Grace Gary, Chairman of the Committee on Historic Designation David Baldinger, Deputy Director, Philadelphia City Planning Commission Dr. Caroline Golab Janet Klein Hyman Hye rs Sandra Tatman Richard Tyler, Historian, Philadelphia Historical Commission Patricia Siemiontkowski, Architectural Historian, Philadelphia Historical Commission Randal Baron, Executive Secretary, Philadelphia Ilistorical Commission Mary Lou r1cFarland, Executive Director, Preservation Coalition of Greater Philadel?hia OLD BUSINESS The Committee discussed the suggestions brought up in a letter written by Ilyrnan Myers for the institution of ~rocedures for designation. It was agreed upon that each member of the Designation Committee will be asked by the Commission staff to write up suggested rules for ona area of the designation procedure to be discussed by the whole Committee at a future m~eting. A question raised in the letter pertaining to the legal responsibility of Committee members will he answered by the City Law Department. The Committee diGcussed and voted on advisin~ the designation of the following historical and architectural resourc~s. - 2 ~iamond Street llistoric District 1875 - 1895 Diamond Street between Broad and Van Pelt Streets, developed between 1875 - 1895, possesses significance as the most intact grand avenue of s~eculativc Victorian rowhounes in North Philadelphia and as an ex~ression of the architec- tural and residential aspirations of the city's nouveau riche during the expansive period of post Civil War indus- trialization. The emergence of Diamond Street as a residen- tial area reflects the tremendous increase in the managerial and service related middle and upper middle classes that resulted from the growth of the city's industrial base in the decades after the Civil War as well as the expansion of the streetcar system which allowed Diamond Street homeowners to commute to work. The rowhouses of Diamond Street were built by speculative de~elopers•who, taking advantage of the housing shortage created during the war, were themselves the product of the post-Civil War economic expansion. Planned as an extra wide street, this grand avenue leading to Fairmount ?ark was an ideal location for the finest rowhouses of North Philadelphia. The rowhouses, many faced with stone, were built larger than those on the surround- ing streets. some of Philadelphia's most well-known Victorian architects designed rowhouses on Diamond Street including
extra wide street, this grand avenue leading to Fairmount ?ark was an ideal location for the finest rowhouses of North Philadelphia. The rowhouses, many faced with stone, were built larger than those on the surround- ing streets. some of Philadelphia's most well-known Victorian architects designed rowhouses on Diamond Street including Angus Wade, Willis Hale and Frank Furness. Diamond Street was also seen as an excellent location for cl1urches, ~eing on the Main east west street in a ?rosperous rAsidential neighborhood. Some of the finest Victorian churches in the city including the George W. South Memorial Church of the Advocate and the Jones Tabernacle AMS Church are located on Diamond Street. The churches and houses of Diaraond Street represent: 1. fine examples of their styles, 2. the work of important Philad~lp~ia architects and 3. t~e history of a neighborhood which grew owing to the expansion of the post bellum economy and the growth of public transportation in North Philadelphia. The Committee reco~raended the designation of tl1e Diamond Street Ilistoric ~istrict by a vote of 4 - 0 with 1 abstention. !1r. ~yers abstained because he arrived at the end of tha discussion to consider niarnond Street. ~he Committee re~uested _ that the minutes note the reasons for choosing Diamond Street as the city's first locally designated historic district. These reasons include: 1) The architectural and historical significance of the street which l1ad up until now not been documented at either the local or national register level. 3 - 2) The desire to use preservation and the 25i tax credit as a planning tool in a low and moderate income area. ( 3) The initiative of neighborhood grouDS attemoting to preserve buildings without credting displacement. Caroline Golab noted that Diamond Street makes a good focus for preservation efforts because it is a small focused area surrounded by buildings that are relatively intact as opposed to other parts of the city that are more thoroughly blighted, possibly precluding a successful preservation effort. The boundaries of the Diamond Street District are care- fully drawn based on the physical and historical character of the district. The district is confined to Diamond Street because the houses facirig that street are larger and grander than those on the surrounding parallel streets. The boundaries on both the east arid west are formed by large areas of newer construction. Samuel Yellin Metalworks - 5520 Arch Street 1915: Mellor and
The district is confined to Diamond Street because the houses facirig that street are larger and grander than those on the surrounding parallel streets. The boundaries on both the east arid west are formed by large areas of newer construction. Samuel Yellin Metalworks - 5520 Arch Street 1915: Mellor and Meigs, Architects The Samuel Yellin r~etalworks possesses significance as the building where Samuel Yellin, America's most talented architectural iron worker, ~racticed his craft and as one of the only industrial buildings designed by Mellor and Meigs, a nationally recognized Philadelphia architectural firm. Samuel Yellin, trained in Poland, emigrated to ~merica in 1906 and within five years established himself in the business of creating pieces of arc~itectural ironwork. Over the course of his career, Yellin, rnknowned for his creative historically ~ased designs and ~eticulous craftsmanshi9 created many of the masterpieces of ironworl< in the United States. ilis work includes pieces for Iiarvard, Princeton, Yale and Pittsburgh Universities, important churches such as the Cathedral of St. John the Devine in New York and Grace Cathedral in San Francisco and banks, ~usinesscs and private mansions across the country. It was natural that Yellin chose '.!ellor and Meigs to design his metal wor~shop as tl1is firm was a leading proponent of the Arts and Crafts movement in the area and in fact often used Yellin ironwork in their houses. The build- ing they designed, one of tl1eir only industrial buildings, is loosely derived from Snanish medieval design and provides ample opportunity to sho~ off Yellin's ironwork on its balconies, gates, doors and window grills. The Committee reco~mcnded the designation of the Samuel Yellin ~etalworks by a vote of 5 - o. I - 'l'he ~1ar~:et Street :l,"ltional Bank - 1-21 .l. Juni~)er :;trc'Jt aka 1 2. Penn S4uare 19 30: ~itterand Shay, Architects The 'Jne East Penn Square Building, formerly the ttarket 3trcet ,Jational Bank, ~assesses architectuz-al significance as one of the few very fine examples of the Art Deco style in the City of Philadel~J1ia, as one of the superior works of the im~ortant Philadelphia architectural firm Ritter and Shay, and for its contextual role as part of the grand ensemble of buildings surrounding City Hall. The Market Street national Bank was founded in 1887 on the principle that a bank was needed on Market Street near both the public buildings and the train stations. The bank achieved such success that in 1929,
contextual role as part of the grand ensemble of buildings surrounding City Hall. The Market Street national Bank was founded in 1887 on the principle that a bank was needed on Market Street near both the public buildings and the train stations. The bank achieved such success that in 1929, in the midst of the depression, they built a large and ornate office building on one of the choicest pieces of real estate in the city. The bank com- missioned the well-known firm of Ritter and Shay to design their new buildings. This firm is responsible for a number of important twentieth century buildings in the city includ- ing the Packard Building, the Drake Hotel and the Customs House, several of these also being fine examples of the Art Deco style. The ~arket Street ~ational Bank, an extrava- ganza of colored terracotta, represents an excellent example of the Art Deco style with its vertical twenty-two story massing, zoning inspired setbacks and ~ayan detail. Perhaps most importantly of all, the bank along with the other buildings surrounding Penn Square create a grand walled-in area enveloping City Hall like a setting around a diamond, forming one of the greatest public spaces in America. 'rhe Committee recommended the designation of the '.~arket Street 3ational Sank at 1-21 ~. Juniper Street by a vote of 6 - 0. City l!all i\nnex 1927: 2hillip Johnson, Arc~itect City ~all Annex at 23-29 N. Juniper Street, built in 1927, possesses architectural significance ao a fine example of Classical Revival Civic arc~itecture, as one of the finer works of Phillip Johnso:1, "arc~,itect for the Philadelphia City Department of Public llealth for thirty years,anA most imcort- antly as a defining element in the group of fine old buildings surrounding Penn Square. Tl1e building has historical siqni- ficance for its role in housing important ~epartments of city government for nearly sixty yqars. When the city gov~rn- ment began to outgrow its quarters in City Hall, a new huil<linq - - 5 - wa3 erected to house city ~gencies sucl1 as tl1e DcpartQcnt of Public Health, Pu~lic Welfare, City Transit, Voter Registration and the Doard of Review ~nd Revision of City Taxes. Phillip Johnson, who served as the cltief-in-house architect in city government for thirty years, was chosen to design the new building. Johnson, one of the countries most prolific architects designed over 275 buildings in his long career including Conwell
Registration and the Doard of Review ~nd Revision of City Taxes. Phillip Johnson, who served as the cltief-in-house architect in city government for thirty years, was chosen to design the new building. Johnson, one of the countries most prolific architects designed over 275 buildings in his long career including Conwell Hall at Temple University, the Philadelphia Convention Center and numerous civic buildings such as police stations, hospitals and recreation centers. City Hall Annex, probably Johnsons finest work, is a refined example of Classical Revival Civic architecture based on the principles of the Beaux Arts movement, including the use of light colored stone as a building material, the division of the building into base, shaft and capitol and the classical detailing of an arcade, pediments, the correct use of the classical orders and•the coffered ceiling of the front lobby. The staff and the Committee agreed that the most import- ant significance of the building rests in its role in defin- ing Penn Square. The Annex along with other already designated buildings, including the Masonic Temple and Wannamakers, make up the sides of a square that mirrors the intricate detail of City Hall while bowing to that building in scale. The Committee recommended the designation of the City Hall Annex at 23-29 N. Juniper Street by a vote of 6 - O. The Townhouse Apartments - 301 S. 19th Street 1924: Sallinger and Perrot, Architects/Sngineers The Townhouse Apartments at 301 S. 19th Street is a sixteen story luxury apartment building within the Rittenhouse tlational Register Historic District. The nomination form claims several areas of architectural significance for the building. Designed by the Ballinger Company, one of the city's oldest architectural firms, the Townhouse Apartments represents one of tl1e few residential commissions of this firm renowned for their industrial buildings an<l engineering expertise. Tl1e form claims that the Townhouse Apartments were technically advanced in the area of fire proofing with terracotta tiles emhedded in the walls. Lastly, the Townhouse Apartments are ~art of tl1c architectural ense~ble of the Rittenhouse neighborhood, an area of elaborate town- houses mixed with early twcnticty century luxury a~artment houses around the square. The Committee opined th~t the evidence did not su~port t~e claim of architectural signifi- cance in two of thes~ areas. r1r. Myers stated tl1at although - G - this may be one of Dallingcr's few apartment commissions, the company was not known for particularly fine residential
houses around the square. The Committee opined th~t the evidence did not su~port t~e claim of architectural signifi- cance in two of thes~ areas. r1r. Myers stated tl1at although - G - this may be one of Dallingcr's few apartment commissions, the company was not known for particularly fine residential design. Additionally, he stated thai terracotta embedded in the walls was a common practice in 1924 and does not constitute advanced ·engineering technology. In terms of the building's contribution to the Rittenhouse District, several of the Committee members expressed a desire to go to see the building for themselves. The Committee by con- census recommended tabling the Townhouse Apartments until after a site visit. 1329 N. 23rd Street c. 1870 The rowhouse at 1329 a. 23rd Street stands within a row of speculative houses developed•to accomodate the tremendous expansion of the city's population concurrent with the growth of industry. These houses probably were tenanted of members of the working class. This house is a modest example of a s econdE mpire rowhouse with its slate covered mansard and segmental arched dormer. The building has retained more of its integrity than others in its row. Committee members expressed the opinion that the build- ing did not possess enough significance to be designated individually and recommended against its designation by a vote of 5 to 1. The Committee suggested that in any case a letter should be sent to the owner encouraging her to continue to maintain her house and thanking her for her interest in preserving the building. John Coltrane House c. 1895 The rowhouse at 1511 ~- 33rd Street is significant as the house of the renowned jazz composor and performer, John William Coltrane, between 1952 and his death in 1967. Mr. Coltrane created a revolution in the jazz world during the 1960s with a style of sax0 phone playing that at first shocked his audience and then went on to influence nearly every jazz musician since that time. John Coltrane, born in Hamlet, 3orth Carolina, received musical training in Philadelphia at the Ornstein School of :"\:Mic and the Grano ff Studios. After playing in a Navy band during World War II, Coltrane returned to Philadelphia and played in various jazz clubs with Eddie Vinson, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonius :.1onk and the lliles Davis Quintet. Ile developed a radical new style of jazz saxophone playing creating such musical inventions as •1ueddle
ff Studios. After playing in a Navy band during World War II, Coltrane returned to Philadelphia and played in various jazz clubs with Eddie Vinson, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonius :.1onk and the lliles Davis Quintet. Ile developed a radical new style of jazz saxophone playing creating such musical inventions as •1ueddle ooint harmony'', changing progressions over a sustai~ed bas; note, • - 7 - multiprogression: changing chords on every heat or second baat of a bar, the use oi the minor third or fourth as a basic chord progression, and ''modal mJsic'', improvisi11g on a single scale as opposed to chord progression. Although Mr. Coltrane died in 1967 at the age of 42 from a liver ailment, he remains one of the most recorded musicians of all time with thirty-seven albums which continue to influence the jazz and rock music worlds. John Coltrane bought the house at 1511 N •. 33rd Street in 1952 to house himself his mother, his cousin and eventually his wife, Coltrane always considered this his real home. It is presently owned by his cousin who keeps the, house in much the same condition as when he lived there. The Committee recommended the designation of this house by a vote of 6 - o. There being no further business, the Committee adjourned at 5:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Randal Baron Executive secretary