·~ .. f'HILAl)ELPHlA HlS'l'uklCAL COMMISSION COMM I 'l''l'l!:I!: ON H lS'l'Okl C IJl!:SIGNATION 15 May 1987 David Brownlee. Chairman The Twenty-eighth meeting of the Committee on Historic Designation began at 1: 00 p. m. on ~'riday, 15 May 1987, in the Planning Commission Room, 14th Floor, City Hall Annex. Present: David Brownlee, Chairman of the Committee on Historic Designation David Baldinger. Deputy Director, Philadelphia City Planning Commission Caroline Golab Hyman Myers Richard Tyler, Historic Preservation Officer Philadelphia Historical Commission Patricia A. Siemiontkowski, Assistant Historic Preservation Officer, Philadelphia Historical Commission Randal Baron, Preservation Planner, Philadelphia Historical Commission NEW BUSINESS The Committee reviewed nominations of the following historical and architectural resources. Rittenhouse/Fitler Residential District The Rittenhouse/Fitler Residential District exemplifies a cohesive and essentially intact Victorian and twentieth century neighborhood reflecting the architectural and social history of Philadelphia. The district reflects three major historical and architectural trends. Along Pine, Spruce and Delancey Streets, the mid 19th century red brick Greek Revival and Italianate speculative rowhouses, the stereotype of the Quaker City, extend from east of Broad westward. Originating at the western edge of the district stand the smaller rowhouses of the workers who· labored in the river related industries and in the homes of the wealthier residents of Rittenhouse. The principal acclaim of Rittenhouse rests on the elegant, architect designed mansions and townhouses and the apartment buildings of the upper classes throughout the district. These inr-lude the landmarks of a century of Philadelphia's most important designers - Thomas U. • Walter, John Notman, John MacArthur. Frank Furness. George Hewitt, 'l'.P. Chandler, Cope and Stewardson, Wilson Eyre and George Howe among others. Other buildings have housed some of Philadelphia's most important social, cultural, ecclesiast.ical and educational institutions. Hittenhouse Square itself has provided a focus for much of this development and remains one of the most important and attractive urban spaces in Philadelphia. It is the extraordinary concentration of landmarks, institutions and unaltered streetscapes spanning the past century and a half and continuing until the present that makes the Rittenhouse/Fitler Residential District unique and significant. The Committee voted 5 - 0 to recommend the Rittenhouse/Fitler Residential District for Designation. Janet Klein who could not attend the meeting cast her vote by telephone. The Committee voted separately ,-,n each aspect. of t.he designation including the approval of the name, the boundaries as seen on the attached map, the text (,f the Nomination form and the inclusion
Residential District for Designation. Janet Klein who could not attend the meeting cast her vote by telephone. The Committee voted separately ,-,n each aspect. of t.he designation including the approval of the name, the boundaries as seen on the attached map, the text (,f the Nomination form and the inclusion of a paragraph in the.: St<,tement. of Significance to discuss the contribution of m,,dern buildings in the street.scape. In each case the Committee vc,ted unanimously in favor of each of these items. Hertz Lot bounded by Vine, Callowhill, Front Streets and Delaware Avenue Popularly known as the Hertz Lot, the parcel bounded by Vine Street, Delaware Avenue. Cal lowhi 11 Street. and Front Street. possesses significance as the site ,:,f the West shipyard, the Penny Pot House and landing. and a variety of commercial, waterfront and maritime activities beginning in the 1670s. Research, in deeds, maps, other primary source materials and the secondary literature, including reports on analogous archaeological studies in Philadelphia and other cities, indicates a high probability of the survival of archaeological evidence on the development of the port of Philadelphia from the seventeenth through the late nineteenth centuries. Dating from 1676, the West shipyard has particular significance, for rather little is known about seventeenth century shipbuilding. . Moreover, except for the Hertz l.ot .. virtually all remains of the seventeenth and eighteenth century po1·t were destroyed by the construction of 1-95 and the improvements to Delaware Avenue. The site meets criteria a. d. j and 6specially i for entry on the Philadelphia Register of Hi stc",ri,: F'laces. . . . .. . l 'l'he Committee recommended the ,:lesignation of the site by a vote of h ~ U. Janet Klein who could not attend the meeting cast her vote by telephone. kB:s.1 kRspectfully submitted. h:.-::tr1da 1 baron t'r~s~rvatic,n Plann8r