1 REPORT OF THE ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION Robert Thomas, Chair Commission Offices, One Parkway, 13th Floor, 1515 Arch Street 28 March 2000 Present________________________________________________________________________ Robert Thomas, AIA, Chair Penelope Batcheler Herbert W. Levy, FAIA Daniel McCoubrey, AIA Suzanne Pentz Randal Baron, Assistant Historic Preservation Officer Diane M. Hughes, Executive Secretary Laura M. Spina, Historic Preservation Planner Richard Tyler, Historic Preservation Officer Also Daniel Bontempo, Granary Associates John J. Lee, Girard College Dave Lamontagne, Granary Associates Nan R. Gutterman, Vitetta Group Richard Koelle, Vitetta Group Kelly A. Lemon, Vitetta Group Jirair Youssepian, Vitetta Group Bob Powers, Powers & Company Paul Lefkoe, Keystone Jennifer Parker, Voith & Mactavish Architects Frederick LaValley, Owner 315 South 12th Street William Becker, Loews Philadelphia Hotel Jim McClain, Tri-State Fire Protection George Guzzie, VLBJR Architects Charles Evers, Atkin, Olshin, Lawson-Bell Architects Cynthia Tedeschi, Obermayer, Rebmann et. al. Reginald DeCarlo, Owner 2106 Shunk Street Mary DeNadai, John Miller Architects Tim Sheen Peter Johnson Judith Eden, Center City Residents Association Ed Franz Herbert Levy, Acting-chair called the meeting to order at 1:35 p.m. 2 1900-98 Ridge Avenue, aka 3101 South College Avenue, Girard College Girard College, Owner Robert O’Connor, Applicant DATE: 1833-1847 PROPOSAL: Widen gate The proposal involves widening a gate in the stone wall surrounding Girard College. The options for the gate as originally proposed were 1. A gate on the west side which the neighbors opposed, 2. A gate on the north side. Stephen Girard’s will, however, prescribed but two openings, one on the south with an iron gate and one on the north with a wooden gate. This precludes a western entrance or a second entrance on the north side. Nan Gutterman, Richard Koelle, John J. Lee, David Lamontagne, Jirair Youssepian, and Kelly Lemon submitted a revised plan for this proposal. The new submission includes, 1. During the construction of a new elementary school complex, widen the existing north gate to 32 feet and clean cut the pier; 2. Demolish gatehouse of c. 1920; 3. Erect a temporary chain link gate for a period not to exceed 24 months, and 4. New wood gate with design to come to The Historical Commission for approval. This proposal does not meet the Secretary of Interior Standards. The Committee voted to recommend approval of stone removal and of the chain- link gate for a period not to exceed 24 months, and to approve in concept the wooden gate.
design to come to The Historical Commission for approval. This proposal does not meet the Secretary of Interior Standards. The Committee voted to recommend approval of stone removal and of the chain- link gate for a period not to exceed 24 months, and to approve in concept the wooden gate. 3700 Spruce Street, University of Pennsylvania University of Pennsylvania, Owner Richard Russell, Applicant DATE: c. 1895 PROPOSAL: Landscape, trash disposal and doorways This proposal calls for renovations to the Quadrangle and involves three types of work: landscaping and raising of the grade for drainage, three trash disposal areas, and the installation of new courtyard doors based on historic designs. The University is in the processing of restructuring its dormitory system. The Quadrangle will have three college houses, each with its own door and new doors to the courtyard. There are 30 different types of historic doors. To identify the three houses, only four designs of the historic doors will be used. Three original doors remain and these doors will be restored. Three large areaways will be created for trash handling nodes. In addition, some areaways will be changed and some removed to accommodate mechanical louvers of anodized bronze. The balustrade will be restored on the monumental stairs with a black metal safety rail. The new paving will help alleviate drainage problems. Its design will be similar to the existing one and will include bluestone thresholds at entrances with raised granite curbs. The various college houses will have the following: 1. College house A will have a bluestone court with a small step-down amphitheater. The large elm tree will be retained; 3 2. College house B will have crisscrossed paths for circulation and an oval elipse in lower B; 3. College house C will have paths with flush lawns. The Committee voted to recommend approval with staff to review details. 12 South 12th Street, Loews Hotel at PSFS Loews Hotel, Owner Robert Powers, Applicant DATE: 1930-32 PROPOSAL: Signage This proposal involves signage for the restaurant, garage and hotel entrances along both 12th and Market Streets. Some of the individual metal letters have exposed red or white neon lighting. Some items in this proposal have been approved, with others approved in concept only. Robert Powers, William Becker and Ed Franz gave a presentation which included the following items: 1. Replace glass in existing backlit sign box next to the Market street entrance;
have exposed red or white neon lighting. Some items in this proposal have been approved, with others approved in concept only. Robert Powers, William Becker and Ed Franz gave a presentation which included the following items: 1. Replace glass in existing backlit sign box next to the Market street entrance; 2. Open channel letters and white neon on the previously approved canopy; 3. New restaurant signage with stainless steel letters with red halo neon illumination; 4. 12 South 12th Street sign to remain; 5. 12th Street plaque with black granite surface to remain; 6. A new interpretive plaque at the 12th Street entrance; 7. Alteration of wrap-around sign from Philadelphia Saving Fund Society to Loews Philadelphia Hotel and holes to be patched, and 8. Parking sign with stainless steel letters. The Committee voted to recommend approval. 44 West Coulter Street, Germantown Friends School Germantown Friends School, Owner Nicholas Dubrowolski, Applicant DATE: c. 1870 PROPOSAL: Rehabilitation/demolition rear bay This proposal involves renovations to this house which will become faculty housing. The applicant proposes to remove a late 19th century bay addition at the rear of the house and replace it with windows and stonework. The building’s previous owner had the rear addition supporting the bay removed without a permit and the bay now rests on temporary wood supports. The public has some view of the bay across a field from streets half a block away. The cost issue is the primary reason for removing the bay. Jennifer Parker, architect for the project explained the proposal: 1. Remove rear second floor bay whose structural integrity had been seriously compromised by the demolition of the first floor bay; 2. Replace bay with three windows to eliminate as much patching as possible; 3. Restore slate mansard, and 4. Restore dormer and cornice. 4 The Committee voted to recommend approval with staff to review details. 1512 Spruce Street, The Drake Forest City Residential, Owner George Guzzie, Applicant DATE: 1928 PROPOSAL: Renovate marquee This proposal involves modifying an existing marquee at the front entrance by removing a cloth skirt and installing metal letters to the sides. Mr. Guzzie discussed his proposal, which included: 1. Stainless steel letters on the marquee; 2. Removal of the canvas; 3. Letters mounted to thin grid on top of marquee; 4. Metal ceiling with down lights, and 5. Re-roofing. The Committee suggested mounting the letters directly to the canopy instead of
Mr. Guzzie discussed his proposal, which included: 1. Stainless steel letters on the marquee; 2. Removal of the canvas; 3. Letters mounted to thin grid on top of marquee; 4. Metal ceiling with down lights, and 5. Re-roofing. The Committee suggested mounting the letters directly to the canopy instead of the thin grid. The applicant agreed to this. The Committee voted to recommend approval with letters mounted directly on the canopy. 264 South Van Pelt Street Caroline Macmoran, Owner Charles Capoldi, Architect DATE: 1880 PROPOSAL: 4th story addition with roof deck This proposal involves adding a fourth floor addition and deck set back from the front. The addition will have visibility because the building already rises higher than the adjoining properties. Mr. Capoldi, architect for the project, noted that this building has been substantially modified. The Committee noted that the issue of decks is very controversial, and does not want to set a precedent by approving a deck at the front of a building. Judith Eden spoke on behalf of the Center City Residents Association to express its approval of the addition and opposition to the roof deck. The Committee discussed this submission at length and determined that the addition should have a setback of ten feet from the façade. The addition will have brick colored stucco walls and railings at its windows. The Committee voted to recommend approval of addition and denial of deck as submitted. 505 Addison Court Christopher Carey, Owner/Applicant DATE: c.1965 PROPOSAL: Rooftop addition 5 This proposal revisits the roof top addition discussed in greater detail last month. Mr. Carey has now followed the Committee’s advice to not exceed the height of the side parapet walls. Mr. Carey presented his revised proposal with a slanted roof enclosure, following the lines of the side wall as recommended by Committee and Commission. The Committee voted to recommend approval. 2345 St Albans Place Raymond Johnson, Owner/Applicant DATE: 1868 PROPOSAL: Legalize renovations: windows, door, cornice and mansard This proposal involves the contractor, Francis Kilson, who applied to the Historical Commission for a building permit on June 15, 1998 to renovate this row house. The permit allowed for no work on the exterior, Mr. Kilson promised to return to seek approval for the exterior based on the Committee’s comments as acceptable alterations. Mr. Kilson did not return for a second permit and installed new aluminum windows, a new door and frame,
this row house. The permit allowed for no work on the exterior, Mr. Kilson promised to return to seek approval for the exterior based on the Committee’s comments as acceptable alterations. Mr. Kilson did not return for a second permit and installed new aluminum windows, a new door and frame, a new cornice without the dentils, and a new brown asphalt shingle roof in place of the slate mansard. The Historical Commission asked for a violation for the work. Mr. Kilson sold the house to the current applicant, Raymond Johnson, who has now applied to legalize the work. Mr. Johnson, the owner presented documentation, which showed that he purchased the house in October of 1998 in good faith. He also showed a copy of the violation issued in May 1998. Mr. Thomas stated the work does not meet Standards. The Committee agreed to recommend tabling this matter for a period not to exceed six months to enable Mr. Johnson to meet with staff to review his settlement documents and to devise a solution to this situation. 2106 Shunk Street Reginald DeCarlo, Owner/Applicant DATE: 1914 PROPOSAL: Re-roof in substitute material The proposal involves replacement of a slate roof in bad condition with asphalt shingles. Mr. DeCarlo, the owner, explained his urgent need for replacement, owing to water penetration into his house. He said that the existing slate is beyond repair and proposed to replace it with asphalt shingles. He showed pictures of the existing condition. After looking at these photographs, The Committee noted that the flashing and fasteners may have failed, but the slate appeared in good condition. The Committee asked the applicant to consider the possibility of repairing the slate roof reusing the existing slate which did not seem to be in poor condition. This would prove less costly for the owner and would last longer. Jody Della Barba, president of Girard Estate Area Residents, was unable to attend the meeting, but faxed a letter asking that the roof be in compliance with the Commission’s guidelines. The Committee recommended repairing the highly visible two north facing slopes with the existing slate and replacing the slate on the two secondary south facing slopes with asphalt shingles that match in color if necessary. 6 The Committee recommended approval of repairing the existing slate on north slopes and replacing the slate on the south slopes with asphalt shingles that match in color. 3142
slate and replacing the slate on the two secondary south facing slopes with asphalt shingles that match in color if necessary. 6 The Committee recommended approval of repairing the existing slate on north slopes and replacing the slate on the south slopes with asphalt shingles that match in color. 3142 Market Street, Centennial National Bank Drexel University, Owner John Cluver, Voith & Mactavish Architects, Applicant DATE: 1876 PROPOSAL: Sign Mr. Baron described this proposal, which revisits the signage for the new Paul Peck Alumni Center in the restored Centennial National Bank by Frank Furness. The new proposal calls for installing individual bronze letters in the original sign band. The Committee voted to recommend approval of the proposal as submitted with shop drawing details to be reviewed by staff. The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted Diane M. Hughes