MINUTES OF THE 179th STATED MEETING OF THE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 26 September 1973 Dr. F. Otto Haas, Chairman Present: Dr. F. Otto Haas, Chairman Mrs. James C. Crumlish, Jr. William J. Costello, Commissioner, Department of Public Property Henry J. Magaziner, A.I.A., Architectural Advisor to the Commission Barbara Liggett, Archaeological Consultant to the Commission Mrs. Joseph Segal, Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian Patricia Siemionkowski, Executive Assistant to the Chairman Also: John Hunt, Esq., Attorney for the Neighborhood Preservation Coalition. Giovanni Petri, Architect for the Philadelphia Water Department. Unless otherwise noted, all action taken herein is the result of motions correctly made, seconded and carried. THE MINUTES of the Stated Meeting, 2 August 1973, were approved and directed to be filed. REPORTS The Report of the Architectural Committee for 12 September 1973 was reviewed by the Board and amended as follows: The Commission took exception to the Architectural Committee's recommendation that the Board allow the demolition of two feet of the main structure at the rear of 423 and 425 South Second Street to provide for a pedestrian walkway. Since the Commission has never allowed alteration to an original roofline, the members were reluctant to approve the Committee's recommendation and agreed to ask the developer for an alternate design in which the rooflines of both structures could be preserved. Mr. Magaziner did not agree with the Board's ruling in this matter. Mr. Magaziner reported visiting the property at 6012 Ridge Avenue to determine if the building might merit a Commission plaque as requested in the September 12th Minutes. It was Mr. Magaziner's opinion that the structure could be given a plaque although it was not totally in its original condition. It was his feeling that the Commission's plaque might provide a needed incentive for this particular area. Recommendations by the Staff for the Certification of Buildings, Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian. This report was tabled for the Commission's next meeting. MINUTES 2 26 September 1973 OLD BUSINESS Interstate 95 Ramps, John Hunt, Attorney for the Neighborhood Preservation Coalition. Mr. Hunt appeared before the Historical Commission as representative for the Neighborhood Preservation Coalition, a group composed of civic associations in the Society Hill, Washington Square West, Southwark, and Pennsport area whose objective it is to save the quality of life in these areas. It is the Coalition's view that a large volume of traffic moving through these neighborhoods would
the Neighborhood Preservation Coalition, a group composed of civic associations in the Society Hill, Washington Square West, Southwark, and Pennsport area whose objective it is to save the quality of life in these areas. It is the Coalition's view that a large volume of traffic moving through these neighborhoods would change the life style of the area and destroy its historical character and for this reason a law suit was filed against the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation objecting to that Department's plan for access ramps heading to and from the Delaware Expressway in this immediate area. As a result of this suit, an alternate plan was drawn up by PennDOT and submitted to the Coalition for review. The Philadelphia Historical Commission was asked to review this compromise plan which carries all of the traffic directly from the highway onto Delaware Avenue rather than onto the four local streets as previously proposed, i.e. to Lombard, South, Bainbridge, and Kenilworth Streets. The Historical Commission was asked to support the Coalition in their final decision, either to approve or on further study to reject the alternate plan. This the Commission agreed to do. Canoa Ball Farm, Giovanni Petri, Architect for the Water Department. Mr. Petri presented to the Board the proposed exchange of land between the Water Department and the Army Corps of Engineers. It was the Commission's opinion that Mr. Petri should study the possibility of moving the new location of the Canoa Ball House either closer to the hospital or as far as is practical in the c/hour direction so that it will be away from the overhead power line. Haviland Fencing, Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian. This matter was tabled until the November 1 meeting. 56-66 North Third Street, Request for Demolition, Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian. The Commission voted not to take a stand on this matter until the November 1st meeting. NEW BUSINESS Replacement for Dr. Tinkcom, Dr. F. Otto Haas, Chairman. This subject was tabled until the November 1st meeting of the Commission. Barbara Liggett's Request concerning Head House East artifacts, Barbara Liggett, Archaeologist. The Board granted Miss Liggett permission to take a number of artifacts recovered from the Head House East dig to Rutgers University to have her laboratory students process them. Once this is done, the artifacts will be returned to Philadelphia. MINUTES 3 26 September 1973 NEW BUSINESS (Cont'd) Carpenters' Company Symposium. Dr. Margaret
Miss Liggett permission to take a number of artifacts recovered from the Head House East dig to Rutgers University to have her laboratory students process them. Once this is done, the artifacts will be returned to Philadelphia. MINUTES 3 26 September 1973 NEW BUSINESS (Cont'd) Carpenters' Company Symposium. Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian. The Board agreed to send a letter to the Carpenters' Company endorsing their planned symposium. Sale of Commission's Artifact, Patricia Siemiotrowski, Executive Assistant to the Chairman. Miss Siemiotrowski reported to the Board on offer from a party interested in purchasing the large artifact given to the Commission by Richard Sertin of Gascoylen, Ltd. N. Sertin agreed to the sale and subsequent depositing of the funds received into the Harry A. Batten Fund for financing of the Commission's research projects. Mr. Costello, however, asked that Mr. Bellinger first to ask if he would like to have the artifact for public use before it is sold. Miss Siemiotrowski will check with both the City Representative's Office and the Civic Center Museum concerning their interest and support to the Commission at its next meeting. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Siemiotrowski Executive Assistant to the Chairman PAS/dll