THE MINUTES OF THE 430th STATED MEETING OF THE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 10 June 1998 City Council Caucus, Room 401, City Hall Wayne S. Spilove, Chair Present Wayne S. Spilove, Chair David Brownlee, Ph.D. Duane Bumb, Deputy Director, Department of Commerce Barbara Kaplan, Executive Director, City Planning Commission Carol Lawrence Shelly Merhige, Office of the City Council President David Perri, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Licenses and Inspections Michael Sklaroff, Esq. Robert Thomas Scott Wilds, Assistant Director for Housing, Office of Housing and Community Development Stephanie Wolf, Ph.D. Richard Tyler, Historic Preservation Officer Randal Baron, Assistant Historic Preservation Officer R. Scott Jacob, Executive Secretary Elizabeth Harvey, Historic Preservation Planner Kristin Fetzer, Historic Preservation Planner Mark Zecca, Esq., Deputy City Solicitor Also Lenore Millhollen, Center City Residents Association (CCRA) Judith Eden, CCRA Mary Anne Hunter, Fair Hill Burial Ground Committee Craig Klofach, Ueland, Junker and McCauley Architects Marvin J. Gerstein, Temple University George Schmidheiser, Temple University Carl K. Zucker, Esq. Martin Dorph, Temple University Patricia Wilson Aden, Preservation Alliance Kristl Wiernicki, Temple University Susan Feenan, George Yu Architects Eric Trainer, George Yu Architects Patrick O'Bannon, Kise, Straw and Kolodner Architects Thomas Anderson, Temple University Dan Peter Kopple, D. P. Kopple and Associates George Ingram, Temple University Guillaume Tinlot, Department of Commerce Valaida Walker, Temple University 2 Patricia Clifford, Temple University Edward Arendt, Perks Reutter Architects George Moore, Temple University Joanne Phillips, Esq., Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll Adam Chust, Temple University Francis Odyniec Donald Maginley, Preservation Alliance Gerald Wilkinson Gerhart Klein Allison Kelsey, Preservation Alliance Edward Cunningham Katherine Wiehagen, Preservation Alliance Harry Wolf Robert Cerillo Randy Coh, Preservation Alliance Wayne S. Spilove, Chair, recognized the presence of a quorum and called the 430th Stated Meeting of the Philadelphia Historical Commission to order at 10:00 A.M. Mr. Spilove introduced David Perri, a Deputy Commissioner, Department of Licenses and Inspections, as the new designee for Commissioner Egan. MINUTES of the 429th Stated of the Philadelphia Historical Commission. Upon a motion made by Mr. Wilds and duly seconded, the Commission unanimously approved the Minutes of the 429th Stated Meeting of the Philadelphia Historical Commission held on 13 May 1998, Wayne S. Spilove, Chair. REPORT of the Architectural Committee, 26 May 1998, Robert Thomas, Chair. Mr. Thomas read the Committee’s recommendations before discussion of each proposal. 800 Spruce Street, Pennsylvania Hospital Pennsylvania Hospital, Owner J. David Grace, Applicant DATE: c. 1870 - Gate house PROPOSAL: Door
on 13 May 1998, Wayne S. Spilove, Chair. REPORT of the Architectural Committee, 26 May 1998, Robert Thomas, Chair. Mr. Thomas read the Committee’s recommendations before discussion of each proposal. 800 Spruce Street, Pennsylvania Hospital Pennsylvania Hospital, Owner J. David Grace, Applicant DATE: c. 1870 - Gate house PROPOSAL: Door in 8th Street gatehouse 3 Architectural Committee Recommendation: Approval. Mr. Sklaroff recused himself owing to his professional association with Pennsylvania Hospital. Mr. Thomas explained that this proposal entails replacing an existing paneled door on the east gatehouse of the hospital with a glazed door to match other doors on that building. The hospital plans to use the gatehouse as a valet office. A sheet of plywood currently covers a glass panel in the top half of the door. The hospital does not want to restore this door because the new use of the gatehouse requires a dutch door. Mr. Thomas explained that new use warrants the placement and thickness of the shelf on the bottom leaf of the dutch door. The narrow shelf will jut outward to provide a surface for patrons using the valet service to drop off car keys. Mr. Brownlee made a motion to accept the Committee's recommendation. Mr. Wilds seconded the motion which carried with nine votes. Mr. Sklaroff recused himself. 1320-1322 Arch Street Peter Antenucci, Owner L. Dietrich Adonis, Applicant DATE: 1904 PROPOSAL: Mural Architectural Committee Recommendation: Approval of a mural on the stuccoed portion of the wall. Mr. Thomas explained that the applicant requests permission to paint a mural on the party wall of the former Elks Lodge. The wall faces a parking lot. The theme of the mural will honor the Horticultural Society. Mr. Thomas stated that Committee members requested that the applicant limit the mural to the stuccoed portion of the wall in order to retain the "ghost" of the former neighboring building that exists above the stucco line. Mr. Brownlee made a motion to accept the Committee’s recommendation. Mr. Wilds seconded the motion which carried unanimously. 2901 Germantown Avenue, Fair Hill Cemetery Fair Hill Burial Ground Corporation, Owner Craig Klofach, Architect/Applicant DATE: c. 1875 - Fence PROPOSAL: Fence renovation Architectural Committee Recommendation: Approval. 4 Mr. Thomas explained that this proposal involves rehabilitating portions of the fence around this historic cemetery. Because the management cannot afford to remake the stolen historic portions, they propose to consolidate the surviving historic sections on three
DATE: c. 1875 - Fence PROPOSAL: Fence renovation Architectural Committee Recommendation: Approval. 4 Mr. Thomas explained that this proposal involves rehabilitating portions of the fence around this historic cemetery. Because the management cannot afford to remake the stolen historic portions, they propose to consolidate the surviving historic sections on three sides, and build a new, simplified but sympathetic fence on the fourth side of the block. Ms. Wolf made a motion to accept the Committee's recommendation. Mr. Bumb seconded the motion which carried unanimously. 1423 Diamond Street Jonathan Weiss, Owner/Applicant DATE: c. 1885 PROPOSAL: Windows in turret Architectural Committee Recommendation: Approval. Mr. Thomas described the owner’s proposal to install flat windows in the corner turret rather than exceed his budget to purchase curved windows. Although the turret windows do not currently exist, the designation photo shows flat windows. Mr. Sklaroff made a motion to accept the Committee's recommendation. Mr. Wilds seconded the motion which carried unanimously. 225 South 3rd Street, Old St. Paul's Church Episcopal Community Services, Owner J. William Cornell, Contractor/Applicant DATE: 1746 PROPOSAL: Handicap accessible door Architectural Committee Recommendation: Approval of the single door, centered, with raised trim panels. Mr. Thomas explained that this proposal calls for converting a pair of double doors on the side of the church to a single door to provide handicap accessibility. A wall partially hides this entrance from the street. The existing doors date from 1987. Mr. Thomas stated that Committee members asked the applicant to install raised trim panels on the centered door. Mr. Thomas made a motion to accept the Committee's recommendation, with staff to review and approve details. Mr. 5 Wilds seconded the motion which carried with eight votes. 161 North 3rd Street Linda Hwang, Owner/Applicant DATE: c. 1840 PROPOSAL: Painted wall sign and rail Architectural Committee Recommendation: Approval of a painted sign on the side of the building, a ramp with a simple pipe-style or rectangular rail without inner balusters, and a board sign to replace the existing sign at the first-floor cornice, with staff to review and approve details. Mr. Thomas explained that the applicant seeks approval to paint a sign on the side facade and to install a railing on a handicap ramp. He stated that Committee members asked the applicant to install a simple pipe-style or square section rail without inner balusters. Mr. Baron stated that the owner repainted the side wall without the Historical
to paint a sign on the side facade and to install a railing on a handicap ramp. He stated that Committee members asked the applicant to install a simple pipe-style or square section rail without inner balusters. Mr. Baron stated that the owner repainted the side wall without the Historical Commission's approval. Commission members asked that the applicant return to the Commission to legalize that work. Mr. Sklaroff made a motion to accept the Committee's recommendation. Mr. Wilds seconded the motion which carried unanimously. 858 South Front Street Albert and Judy Plasket, Owners Lawrence Gilbert, Architect/Applicant DATE: c. 1850 PROPOSAL: Rear dormer Architectural Committee Recommendation: Approval. Mr. Thomas stated that the Committee and Commission reviewed an earlier proposal for this property, which was denied. The applicant has returned with a new proposal that reflects the Commission's recommendations. This proposal entails installing a dormer in the rear roof to provide access to a new rear deck. Mr. Wilds made a motion to accept the Committee's recommendation. Mr. Brownlee seconded the motion which carried unanimously. 220 West Rittenhouse Square Street 6 220 West Rittenhouse Square Association, Owner Terry Graboyes and Suzanne Myers, Applicants DATE: 1958 PROPOSAL: New aluminum windows throughout building Architectural Committee Recommendation: Approval, with staff to approve details, stipulating that all future window replacements on this building match the pattern of this submission. Mr. Thomas described the proposal to replace all of the remaining original windows in this eighteen-story building. A previous renovation replaced about one third of the windows with aluminum with much wider sight lines. The applicant designed the proposed windows to resemble the existing, original windows in color and basic design, but the sight lines fall in between the originals and the older replacements. Mr. Wilds made a motion to accept the Committee's recommendation. Ms. Merhige seconded the motion which carried with nine votes. Mr. Sklaroff abstained. 1700-1708 Spruce Street, Tenth Street Presbyterian Church Tenth Presbyterian Church, Owner Matthew White, Applicant DATE: 1859 PROPOSAL: Rooftop HVAC and vents Architectural Committee Recommendation: Approval, with staff to review and approve the color of the units and vents. Mr. Thomas explained that this proposal calls for the installation of HVAC units and ducts on the roof of the church and ancillary buildings. He stated that Committee members did not object to the proposal, but requested that staff approve the color of the units and vents. Mr. Sklaroff made a motion
explained that this proposal calls for the installation of HVAC units and ducts on the roof of the church and ancillary buildings. He stated that Committee members did not object to the proposal, but requested that staff approve the color of the units and vents. Mr. Sklaroff made a motion to accept the Committee's recommendation. Mr. Bumb seconded the motion which carried unanimously. 315 South 16th Street Stephen Mione, Owner/Applicant DATE: c. 1840 PROPOSAL: Door replacement Architectural Committee Recommendation: Approval of a new door with six raised panels, with staff to approve details. 7 Mr. Thomas explained that the applicant would like to replace his front door. The existing, perhaps original, door has two lower panels and an upper pane of glass covered with an ironwork grill dating from a late nineteenth century alteration. Mr. Thomas stated that the Committee recommended approval of the proposed door owing to lack of definitive documentation. Mr. Brownlee objected to removing a possibly original front door. Mr. Bumb made a motion to accept the Committee's recommendation. Ms. Merhige seconded the motion which carried with nine votes. Mr. Brownlee dissented. 220 West Rittenhouse Square Street 220 West Rittenhouse Square Association, Owner Edward Arendt, Architect/Applicant DATE: 1958 PROPOSAL: Cut louver into wall Architectural Committee Recommendation: Approval. Mr. Thomas described the proposal to cut a vent in the secondary west facade. This will allow the library to have its own HVAC system, as requested by the building's condominium association. Mr. Sklaroff made a motion to accept the Committee's recommendation. Mr. Wilds seconded the motion which carried unanimously. Temple University 1820-1830 Park Mall 1938-1948 Park Mall, Park Avenue M. E. Church/Thomas Hall Temple University, Owner George Schmidheiser, Applicant DATE: 1872 - Rowhouses; 1886 - Thomas Hall PROPOSAL: Demolition of seven buildings Architectural Committee Recommendation: Approve the demolition proposal in the public interest, conditioned upon HABS photographic recordation, certification by the Chief Financial Officer of Temple University that Temple has the funds to build the new structure, and the issuance of a building permit for the new construction. Mr. Levy seconded the motion which carried 8 with four votes. Mr. McCoubrey dissented. Ms. Pentz recused herself. Mr. Sklaroff recused himself from the discussion and vote owing to his law firm’s association with the University. Mr. Thomas read the report of the Architectural Committee regarding the proposed demolition of Thomas Hall and six Rowhouses in the 1800 block of Park
Mr. McCoubrey dissented. Ms. Pentz recused herself. Mr. Sklaroff recused himself from the discussion and vote owing to his law firm’s association with the University. Mr. Thomas read the report of the Architectural Committee regarding the proposed demolition of Thomas Hall and six Rowhouses in the 1800 block of Park Mall. Ms. Kaplan requested more information regarding the history of Thomas Hall. Mr. Brownlee explained that Hazelhurst and Huckel designed the earlier part of the building in 1886 for the Park Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church, and cited it as an important example of Gothic Revival architecture. He added that the church constitutes an integral part of the Park Avenue Historic District, in that the intent of that district was to preserve the mixture of residential and religious structures that developed in that section of the city. Martin Dorph, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Temple University, explained that the University now seeks permission to demolish Thomas Hall and the rowhouses at 1820-1830 Park Mall owing to financial hardship considerations, not in the public interest as recorded in the Architectural Committee report: however, the University preserves its right to seek demolition in the public interest. Mr. Tyler recommended the Commission send the issue to the Financial Hardship Committee and to schedule a special meeting of the Historical Commission. Donald Maginley, President of the Preservation Alliance, stated that the Alliance has worked with Temple University in the interest of preserving the Baptist Temple. He stated that the Preservation Alliance supports the demolition of Thomas Hall if it will help facilitate the rehabilitation and reuse of the Baptist Temple. Patricia Wilson Aden of the Preservation Alliance asked the Commission to approve demolition only under financial hardship considerations, and not in the public interest. She also asked for a firm commitment by Temple to seek the preservation of the Baptist Temple. Gerhart Klein, Gerald Wilkinson, Francis Odyniec, Edward Cunningham and Robert Cirillo urged the Commission not to approve the demolition of Thomas Hall, and asked Temple University to examine new uses for the historic church. Mr. Wilkinson informed the Commission of several aspects of the building’s history, including its importance as the long-time home of WRTI, one of the nation’s first University/student-run radio stations. Mr. Odyniec suggested that Thomas Hall could house a communications museum. Mr. Cunningham asked Temple to follow the model of 9 universities like Oxford and Cambridge and find
aspects of the building’s history, including its importance as the long-time home of WRTI, one of the nation’s first University/student-run radio stations. Mr. Odyniec suggested that Thomas Hall could house a communications museum. Mr. Cunningham asked Temple to follow the model of 9 universities like Oxford and Cambridge and find new uses for old buildings. Mr. Brownlee made a motion to refer the matter to the Financial Hardship Committee, and to schedule a special meeting of the Historical Commission. Mr. Bumb seconded the motion which carried with nine votes. Mr. Sklaroff recused himself. 140 South Broad Street, Union League, rear building Union League, Owner Dan Peter Kopple, Architect/Applicant DATE: 1910 - Rear addition PROPOSAL: Cut down window into door Architectural Committee Recommendation: Approval. Mr. Thomas explained that this proposal entails converting a large ground-floor window into a door to provide a necessary second means of egress. The new door will follow the panel pattern of a door further east on this facade. Mr. Wilds made a motion to accept the Committee's recommendation. Mr. Bumb seconded the motion which carried with nine votes. Mr. Sklaroff abstained. 1829 Pine Street Michael Carosella, Owner/Contractor/Applicant DATE: c. 1850 PROPOSAL: Brick veneer on first floor facade Architectural Committee Recommendation: Approval. Mr. Thomas described the proposal to reinforce the first floor facade with a four-inch thick brick veneer. He explained that removing such a large amount of damaged facing material on the first floor to restore the facade may cause structural weakness and jeopardize the rest of the newly restored facade. The specially made bricks will match the rest of the restored facade. Ms. Wolf made a motion to accept the Committee's recommendation. Mr. Sklaroff seconded the motion which carried unanimously. 10 The Report of the Historical Commission Staff May 1998, Richard Tyler Mr. Tyler stated that the offices of the Commission staff will move on 15 June 1998 to One Parkway, 13th Floor, 1515 Arch Street. He acknowledged the staff for their hard work in preparing for the move, and thanked Laura Spina in particular for her efforts as move coordinator. Mr. Spilove suggested the Commission form a special Committee and appoint a Chair at the July Commission Meeting to deal with the issue of improving the system of notifying property owners of their building’s historically designated status. Old Business University Avenue Bridge Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Owner Michael Cuddy, Applicant DATE: 1927-1929 PROPOSAL: Non-functional
Commission form a special Committee and appoint a Chair at the July Commission Meeting to deal with the issue of improving the system of notifying property owners of their building’s historically designated status. Old Business University Avenue Bridge Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Owner Michael Cuddy, Applicant DATE: 1927-1929 PROPOSAL: Non-functional pin plates Architectural Committee Recommendation: Approval. The Committee reviewed details of the non-functional pin plates it recommended the applicant install at the April Committee meeting to evoke the appearance of the historic configuration. Commission members did not object to the proposal. Ms. Wolf made a motion to accept the Committee’s recommendation. Ms. Merhige seconded the motion which carried unanimously. Mr. Wilds moved to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Lawrence seconded the motion which carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 11:50 A.M. Respectfully submitted, R. Scott Jacob Executive Secretary