MINUTES OF THE 266th STATED MEETING OF THE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 6 October 1982 F. Otto Haas, Chairman Present: F. Otto Haas, Chairman Janet S. Klein, Vice Chairman Edward Pinkowski Commissioner Joseph W. Brown, Department of Public Property John C. Mogensen, Executive Assistant Director of Finance Herbert W. Levy, A.I.A., Architectural Advisor to the Commission Frank Thomas, Esq., Deputy City Solicitor, Law Department Richard Tyler, Historian Patricia Simitkowski, Architectural Historian Jefferson M. Moak, Executive Secretary Various persons and representatives of organizations concerned with the properties 1631-1633 Locust Street and 1635-1637 Locust Street, a.k.a., 235 South 17th Street. Unless otherwise noted, all actions taken herein are the results of motions correctly made, seconded and carried. THE MINUTES of the 265th Stated Meeting of the Philadelphia Historical Commission, 2 September 1982, were reviewed, approved and directed to be filed. THE REPORT of the Committee on Certification for 14 September 1982, Edward Pinkowski, Chairman. Mr. Pinkowski presented for the Commission's consideration the first item in the Report of the Committee on Certification. As requested by the Historical Commission at its 2 September 1982 Stated Meeting, the Committee on Certification reevaluated the certification of the buildings 1631-1633 Locust Street and 1635-1637 Locust Street, a.k.a. 235 South 17th Street, owing to the objection of the property owners to the certification of their buildings. The Committee met on 14 September 1982 and voted to recommend to the Commission that it reaffirm the certification of these buildings. Following a brief discussion, Mr. Pinkowski moved to confirm the certification of 1631-1633 Locust Street and 1635-1637 Locust Street as recommended by the Committee. This motion was seconded and carried unanimously. The remainder of the Report of the Committee on Certification was tabled until the next scheduled meeting of the Commission. [HANDWRITTEN NOTES: There is a handwritten mark or check in the left margin on the last full page, appearing as a simple line or checkmark near the bottom section of the document. No other handwritten content is visible.] STATED MEETING 2 6 October 1982 THE REPORT of the Architectural Committee for 15 September 1982, Herbert W. Levy, A.I.A., Chairman, Architectural Advisor to the Commission. Mr. Levy reviewed briefly for the Commission members the recommendations of his Committee regarding 1631-1633 Locust Street and 1635-1637 Locust Street, a.k.a., 235 South 17th Street. As reported in the minutes of 15 September 1982, the Architectural Committee voted to recommend that the Historical Commission
Architectural Advisor to the Commission. Mr. Levy reviewed briefly for the Commission members the recommendations of his Committee regarding 1631-1633 Locust Street and 1635-1637 Locust Street, a.k.a., 235 South 17th Street. As reported in the minutes of 15 September 1982, the Architectural Committee voted to recommend that the Historical Commission withhold permission to demolish 1631-1633 Locust Street and 1635-1637 Locust Street for up to six months. They further recommended that the Commission agree to meet with the developer and the community at any time before the expiration of that six month period, ending 8 April 1983, to reconsider its actions. A resolution signed by John B. Morton, Senior Warden of St. Mark's Church, in opposition to the demolition of the Locust Street buildings was presented to the Commission, accepted and directed to become a part of the official minutes of the meeting. Before acting on the Architectural Committee's recommendation, the Historical Commission was advised by its legal counsel, Frank Thomas, to table 1635-1637 Locust Street owing to a recently discovered flaw in the demolition permit application. According to Mr. Thomas, the owner of record for 1635-1637 Locust Street, i.e., Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (PAID), has not formally authorized application for a demolition permit. Counsel advised the Commission to refer the defective application back to the Department of Licenses and Inspections for its consideration. David Mazey, attorney for the developer, Richard Dilsheimer, strongly protested Counsel's recommendation to the Commission. Following a brief discussion of the issue, Mr. Pinkowski moved to accept the Report of the Architectural Committee except for the action recommended by the Committee on 1635-1637 Locust Street. This motion was seconded and carried. Mr. Hogensan further moved for the return to the Department of Licenses and Inspections of the demolition permit application for 1635-1637 Locust Street so that it may be placed in proper order. This motion was also seconded and carried unanimously. THE REPORT on Philadelphia Historical Commission Staff Activities for the month of September, 1982, Richard Tyler, Historian. The Historian's Report was reviewed, approved and directed to be filed with the official copy of the Minutes. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:30p.m. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Siamontkowski Architectural Historian