MINUTES OF THE 150th STATED MEETING OF THE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 6 February 1975 Dr. F. Otto Haas, Chairman Present: Charles E. Tyson, Vice Chairman The Hon. John B. Kelly, Jr., Councilman-at-Large Edmund Pinkoski Joseph F. Hickey, Deputy Director of Finance Henry J. Magaziner, A.I.A., Architectural Advisor to the Commission Paul Barbinesca, Assistant City Solicitor Richard Tyler, Historian Patricia Siemiontowski, Executive Assistant to the Chairman Unless otherwise noted, all action taken herein is the result of motions correctly made, seconded and carried. Quorum: Edward Kelly, Chief Engineer of the Girard Estate; Dr. Gayle Lawrence, President of Girard College; and Kent Roberts to request permission to demolish the Girard College, Middle School. THE MINUTES of the Stated Meeting, 5 December 1974, were approved and directed to be filed. REPORTS The Report of the Architectural Committee for 17 December 1974 was approved. The Report of the Architectural Committee for 20 January 1975 was approved as amended by Mr. Magaziner. Both reports will be filed with the official copy of the Minutes. Recommendations for the Certification of Buildings, Richard Tyler, Historian, The following list of buildings was reviewed by the Commission for certification and accepted. Unless an objection is made by the owner, the buildings will be placed on the Commission's list for preservation. St. Mary's Church, 3916 Locust Walk 1821 Church Lane 1300 Locust Street, Historical Society of Pennsylvania Old City Area F. (Mr. Magaziner abstained from voting on this proposal.) The following buildings, located within Area F were reviewed and approved for certification at the request of the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority. 116-18, 122-24, 140 Chestnut Street 115-17, 123-25 Walnut Street 129-45, 147, 149, 151 South Hancock Street 103, 110 Spruce Street 107-09, 111, 245-53 South Second Street [HANDWRITTEN NOTES: Top left corner: handwritten "2" and additional marks/notations that are unclear] STATED MEETING 2 6 February 1975 REPORTS ( Cont'd) Spring Garden Civic Association Proposal. Continuing with the block by block certification of the area, the following buildings were reviewed and approved for certification. 2105-31 Brandywine Street 2102-28 Brandywine Street The Commission agreed not to certify the buildings situate at 1200-02 Locust Street, as requested by the owner. The building, beside having been substantially altered, are free standing and cut of context with the remainder of the block. The Commission, however, will be pleased to offer the owner, upon request, assistance in planning the restoration of these buildings. Commission Activities, Report on,
Street, as requested by the owner. The building, beside having been substantially altered, are free standing and cut of context with the remainder of the block. The Commission, however, will be pleased to offer the owner, upon request, assistance in planning the restoration of these buildings. Commission Activities, Report on, Richard Tyler, Historian. Dr. Tyler's report for the months of December and January was approved and directed to be filed with the official copy of the Minutes. OLD BUSINESS There were no matters to be discussed under Old Business. NEW BUSINESS Request for Demolition - Girard College, Middle School, Richard Kelly, Chief Executive, Girard Estate. Mr. Kelly wished to the Commission members to hear the College's desire to demolish the Middle School building. The College Administration is particularly concerned since the building existent and has been the object of extensive vandalism by the students. In 1963 a cracked roof truss was discovered from the first to the third floors in the building, constructed in the 1890's, which was shored up temporarily. Mr. Kelly also noted that the building is expensive to maintain and repair and that since the College has no use for it permission for its demolition is being requested. Mr. Tyson suggested exploring the possibility of a third party use for the building and was told that under the will of Stephen Girard Third the College and facilities were to be reserved for the continued use of the boys, although, a specific situation might be reviewed by the College's Board of Directors. Mr. Beganier suggested the possibility of securing the building under to insure its preservation and also is inaccessible to the students. Dr. Lawrence, President of the College, felt that securing the building would keep the boys out and would still ensure a hazardous condition. After some further discussion, the visitors were thanked for presenting their request to the Commission and were excused. STAFF MEETING 3 6 February 1975 NEW BUSINESS (Cont'd) In Executive Session, the Commission directed the staff to develop alternatives use of the building. The Commission's legal counsel was asked to study the Girard Will and report to the staff on his findings concerning the possibility of a third party use. If no objection to the building's preservation can be found, the demolition permit application will be approved. Attendance at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Architectural Historians - April 24 and April
Will and report to the staff on his findings concerning the possibility of a third party use. If no objection to the building's preservation can be found, the demolition permit application will be approved. Attendance at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Architectural Historians - April 24 and April 25, Boston Massachusetts, Richard Tyler, Historian. Mr. Tyler asked the Board for permission to allow Miss Siemiontowski to attend the Society's meeting in April. The Commission members voted in support of this request. Plaque for Petersburg Historic Districts Commission (as model), Henry J. Magaziner, A.I.A., Architectural Advisor to the Commission. At the request of Mr. Magaziner, the Commission members agreed to sanction a model of the Commission's plaque to the Petersburg Historic Districts Commission for their use in planning the design of a plaque to be used in that city. The cost of the plaque will be paid by the Commission from the Harry A. Batten Memorial Fund. Archeology and Delaware Expressway right-of-way, Richard Tyler, Historian. At the request of John Cotter, the Philadelphia Historical Commission was asked to endorse a proposed calling for the salvage of artifacts along the route of the Delaware Expressway. The project, under the direction of John Cotter, would be staffed by archeological students and volunteers. Mr. Tyler recommended approving the request in principle with the requirement that the scope of the study be outlined with both himself and Barbara Liggett, the Commission's Consulting Archeologist to get a sharper definition of the project and to see that adequate supervision is given the students and volunteers. The Commission would also require that a copy of the report of the findings be filed in the Commission office. Since work on the expressway cannot be stopped, the project must be a weekend one. A concern relating to liability coverage for the students was raised and should be taken into consideration. It was agreed that Mr. Tyler and Miss Liggett would draft a paper according to the Board's suggestions to submit to Mr. Cotter. The Commission's endorsement of this project will provide a legal justification for the project so that there can be no challenge. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:45 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Siemiontowski Executive Assistant to the Chairman