THE MINUTES OF THE 285th STATED MEETING OF THE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1 November 1984 F. Otto Haas, Chairman Present: F. Otto Haas, Chairman of the Commission Janet S. Klein, Vice Chairman of the Commission Edward Pinkowski Dudley Sykes, Commissioner, Department of Public Property Kenneth Cooper, Esq., Deputy City Solicitor, Law Department Richard Tyler, Historian Patricia Siemiontkowski, Architectural Historian Randal Baron, Executive Secretary Also: MaryLou MacFarland, Executive Director, Philadelphia Preservation Coalition Unless otherwise noted, all actions taken herein are the results of motions correctly made, seconded and carried. THE MINUTES of the 284th Stated Meeting of the Philadelphia Historical Commission held on 4 October 1984 were reviewed, approved and directed to be filed. THE REPORT of the Architectural Committee for 17 October 1984, Herbert W. Levy, A.I.A., Chairman, Architectural Advisor to the Commission. In Mr. Levy's absence, Ms. Siemiontkowski presented the Report of the Architectural Committee for 17 October to the Commission for consideration and asked that a correction be made on page 5 of the report. The first sentence of the third paragraph of the minute concerning Germantown Academy should be changed to read, "Some members of the Committee asked...the possibility of turning the gables of the new link buildings so that the ridge will parallel the street." Mr. Pinkowski moved to accept the Report of the Architectural Committee for 17 October, as amended, and subject to the removal of the item relating to 234 Arch Street. This motion was seconded and carried. The Commission members next discussed the Architectural Committee's recommendation to decertify 234 Arch Street and remove it from the Commission's list of historic buildings. It was the opinion of the Committee that the removal of the original front wall, owing to its structural deficiency, would seriously compromise the historic integrity of the structure. Mr. Pinkowski suggested that the Commission not decertify the building since it is the architect's intention to rebuild the front wall as it was originally designed. Following some discussion, a motion to approve the architect's proposed reconstruction of the front wall was made, seconded and carried. It was agreed that the certification status of 234 Arch Street should be retained pending the completion of the project. If at that time it is determined that the new wall does not accurately duplicate the original, the issue of decertification can be addressed. STATED MEETING 2 1 November 1984 THE REPORT on Philadelphia Historical Commission Staff
of 234 Arch Street should be retained pending the completion of the project. If at that time it is determined that the new wall does not accurately duplicate the original, the issue of decertification can be addressed. STATED MEETING 2 1 November 1984 THE REPORT on Philadelphia Historical Commission Staff Activities for the month of October, 1984, Richard Tyler, Historian. The Historian presented his report orally to the Commission members and agreed to mail copies to everyone at a later date. Bill No. 319, the revised Preservation Ordinance, was distributed to each of the Commission members along with a fact sheet summarizing its contents and presenting a proposed operating budget. Following a brief discussion of the bill and the proposed budget, the Commission agreed that a meeting of the Ordinance Committee be called to review the revised bill and to recommend to the Commission a course of action. The Historian agreed to arrange a meeting of the committee as soon as possible. Mr. Tyler reported on the status of several projects and on other activities of the Commission's staff. These projects included the Lit Brothers Depart- ment store, the Frankford Arsenal, the Provident Bank at 6th and Spring Garden Streets and the staff's participation in the environmental review process. A motion to accept the Historian's Report on Staff Activities for the month of October was made, seconded and carried. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Siemiontkowski Architectural Historian