THE MINUTES OF THE 284th STATED MEETING OF THE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 4 October 1984 F. Otto Haas, Chairman Present: Janet S. Klein, Vice Chairman of the Commission Edward Pinkowski William Thompson Allen J. Beckman, Esq. Harold J. Comfort, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Public Property Herbert W. Levy, A.I.A., Architectural Advisor to the Commission Kenneth Cooper, Esq., Deputy City Solicitor, Law Department Richard Tyler, Historian Patricia Siemiontkowski, Architectural Historian Randal Baron, Executive Secretary Also: Frank Mallas of FRIDAY Architects and Jay Scholl of Rouse and Associates regarding the Jacob Reed's Sons Building at 1424-1426 Chestnut Street. Unless otherwise noted, all actions taken herein are the results of motions correctly made, seconded and carried. THE MINUTES of the 283rd Stated Meeting of the Philadelphia Historical Commission held on 6 September 1984 were reviewed, approved and directed to be filed. THE REPORT of the Architectural Committee for 26 September 1984, Herbert W. Levy, A.I.A., Chairman, Architectural Advisor to the Commission, Mr. Levy asked that the date at the bottom of page 2 of the report be changed from 4 August to 4 October. Subject to this correction and subject to the removal from the report of the entry relating to thn Jacob Reed's Sons Building at 1424- 1426 Chestnut Street, Mr. Levy recommended to the Commission the approval of the Report of the Architectural Committee for 26 September 1984. The Commission members accepted and approved the report, as recommended by Mr. Levy, and directed that it be filed with the official copy of the Minutes. The Commission next reviewed the one item deleted from the 26 September 1984 report, i.e., the Jacob Reed's Sons Building at 1424-1426 Chestnut Street. Mr. Levy outlined briefly for the Commission members the Arch- itectural Committee's consideration of plans calling for alterations to the ground floor storefront and the interior of the Jacob Reed's Sons Building. The proposal, prepared by FRIDAY Architects for Rouse and Associates, entails the introduction of two new swinging entrance doors within the existing storefront to allow separate access to the ground floor retail space and the upper story offices. This project will include also the construction of an interior elevator lobby and the relocation of the revolving doors. STATED MEETING 2 4 October 1984 Mr. Levy reiterated the Architectural Committee's concern over the proximity of the new relocated revolving doors to the two new swing doors. It was the opinion of the
include also the construction of an interior elevator lobby and the relocation of the revolving doors. STATED MEETING 2 4 October 1984 Mr. Levy reiterated the Architectural Committee's concern over the proximity of the new relocated revolving doors to the two new swing doors. It was the opinion of the Committee members that, functionally, such an arrangement might present a problem by creating congestion in the retail/office entrance area. The Committee asked that the architects study carefully the re- location of the revolving doors and consider, as an alternative, retaining the doors in place as they presently exist. As recommended by the Committee, FRIDAY architects studied further the door placements and prepared a more detailed and accurate plan of the entrance area. Frank Mallas of FRIDAY Architects and Jay Scholl of Rouse and Associates related to the Historical Commission members their need to introduce separate retail and office entrances and to install new revolving doors. These new revolving doors are to be placed forward of the existing location. Mr. Mallas explained to the Historical Commission that keeping the re- volving doors in their present position would not be feasible. Since the old doors will need to be replaced, the new slightly larger doors will not fit within the existing drum area. In addition, moving the doors will permit a view of the stained glass on the interior of the store. And, finally, the combination of the old doors with the new interior plan would not be compatible. Following some discussion, a motion to approve the plans, as submitted by the architect, was presented by Mr. Beckman. This was seconded and carried. Mr. Pinkowski opposed. REPORTS on Philadelphia Historical Commission Staff Activities for the month of September, Richard Tyler, Historian. The Historian's report was reviewed, approved and directed to be filed. Mr. Tyler introduced to the Commission members, Forrest Snyder, a student intern who is spending this semester working in the Commission office four days a week. Forrest came to the Commission through the Great Lakes College Association program. NEW BUSINESS Preservation Law Reporter. The Historian advised the memers that the Commission's renewal of its subscription to the Preservation Law Reporter is currently due. A motion to approve the expenditure of $155.00 from the Harry A. Batten Fund to renew the subscription to the Reporter was made, seconded and carried. A question was raised by a Commission member as to whether
Commission's renewal of its subscription to the Preservation Law Reporter is currently due. A motion to approve the expenditure of $155.00 from the Harry A. Batten Fund to renew the subscription to the Reporter was made, seconded and carried. A question was raised by a Commission member as to whether the Commission should subscribe to other preservation magazines or periodicals. The staff expressed interest in receiving the American Association for Preservation Technology (APT) Journal and the Old House Journal. Mr. Levy offered to enter a subscription to APT for the Commission. In addition, STATED MEETING 3 4 October 1984 at the request of the staff, Mr. Levy will donate his next out-dated issue of Sweet's Catalog to the Commission library. Janet Klein offered to subscribe to the Old House Journal for the Commission and Allen Beckman offered to order back issues of the Old House Journal which are lacking in the Commission library. The Commission staff expressed its sincere thanks to Mrs. Klein, Mr. Levy and Mr. Beckman for their extremely generous offer. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Siemiontkowski Architectural Historian