MINUTES OF THE 2,464th STATED MEETING OF THE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 3 April 1980 F. Otto Haas, Chairman Present: F. Otto Haas, Chairman of the Commission Mrs. James C. Crumish, Jr. Edward Pinkowski Joseph W. Brown, Commissioner, Department of Public Property Val C. Mogensen, Executive Assistant Director of Finance Herbert W. Levy, A.I.A., Architectural Advisor to the Commission Barbara Liggett, Archaeological Consultant to the Commission Richard Tyler, Historian Patricia Siemiontkowski, Executive Assistant to the Chairman Also present: Ivan Shromer, Chairman of the Commercial Law Department, City of Philadelphia Philip S. Brady, Esq., Legal Counsel, Office of Housing and Community Development. Unless otherwise noted, all actions taken herein are the results of motions correctly made, seconded and carried. The Minutes of the Stated Meeting of the Philadelphia Historical Commission held on 6 March 1980 were approved and directed to be filed. The Report of the Architectural Committee for 19 March 1980, Herbert W. Levy, A.I.A., Chairman, Architectural Advisor to the Commission. Following a brief discussion of the significance of 48 South 3rd Street and the Committee's recommendation to award the building a "Certified Altered" plaque, the 19 March report was approved and directed to be filed with the official copy of the Minutes. The Report on Philadelphia Historical Commission Staff Activities for the month of March, Richard Tyler, Historian. Dr. Tyler's report was approved and directed to be filed with the official copy of the Minutes. OLD BUSINESS Certification of 505 North 21st Street, Richard Tyler, Historian. The Historian reported to the Commission on the receipt of a Letter from the owner of 505 North 21st Street refusing the certification of her property. At the recommendation of Mr. Tyler, the matter was referred to the Committee on Certification for its consideration. STATED MEETING 2 3 April 1980 NEW BUSINESS Procedures, Commissioner Joseph W. Brown, Department of Public Property. Mr. Brown brought to the attention of the Commission for discussion the matter of establishing a set of by-laws under which the Commission would operate. This would not only provide the Commission with procedural guidelines but also address the present ambiguities concerning the number of Commission members and the status of the Architectural Advisor and the Archaeological Consultant. Mr. Shomer of the City Solicitor's Office emphasized the need to resolve these questions in the proper manner and to provide for a more formal organization of the Commission's activity from a legal perspective. A
number of Commission members and the status of the Architectural Advisor and the Archaeological Consultant. Mr. Shomer of the City Solicitor's Office emphasized the need to resolve these questions in the proper manner and to provide for a more formal organization of the Commission's activity from a legal perspective. A motion to establish a committee to work with the City Solicitor's Office in the formulation of by-laws was presented for consideration. After a brief discussion, the motion was seconded and carried. It was agreed that the Chairman would appoint several of the Commission members to this committee. At the suggestion of Mr. Shomer, the Commission directed that a letter be sent to the attention of Mark Arwmistick, First Deputy City Solicitor, requesting the appointment of a Law Department staff member to work with the By-Laws Committee. Since Mr. Brody has expressed an interest in the Commission, his appointment to the committee will be suggested. Preservation Week Exhibition, Richard Tyler, Historian. With Preservation Week quickly approaching, Mr. Tyler related to the Commission the staff's interest in producing a preservation exhibit to be shown at the American Institute of Architects' Office during the week of May 11th. The show would consist of before and after photographs, old insurance surveys, architects' drawings and other documentary materials for approximately 15 buildings. When available, three-dimensional items would also be incorporated into the exhibit. Mr. Levy reported on the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service's (HCRS) interest in developing a preservation week exhibit as well and suggested that the two offices might work together jointly on a project. Mr. Levy expected to be hearing shortly from HCRS and agreed to put them in contact with the Commission staff. After considerable discussion of the proposal, a motion was made to allow the staff to examine the feasibility of preparing a preservation week exhibit and to pursue its development if staff time and resources permit. Mr. Shomer cautioned the staff concerning the acquisition of releases from owners to use their buildings in the exhibit and from restoration architects to show their drawings. The staff agreed to acquire all the requisite permissions before using any materials in the show. STATED MEETING 3 3 April 1980 NEW BUSINESS (Cont'd) H.C.R.S. Grant Opportunity. Richard Tyler, Historian, The Commission's Historian reported on the present status of the Philadelphia Historic Sites Survey and the proposed changes in the program. The original plan for this
requisite permissions before using any materials in the show. STATED MEETING 3 3 April 1980 NEW BUSINESS (Cont'd) H.C.R.S. Grant Opportunity. Richard Tyler, Historian, The Commission's Historian reported on the present status of the Philadelphia Historic Sites Survey and the proposed changes in the program. The original plan for this program called for a matching grant-in-aid of $45,000 to the City Planning Commission by the State Office of Historic Preservation for the coordination of the survey. The City matched this with staff services, office space, equipment use and the like. It also divided the City into ten sectors to be studied and surveyed by individual institutions or organizations selected by the States. To date, four contracts have been let; they are for the Northwest, Manayunk-Roxborough, South Philadelphia and Center City. The less than satisfactory performance by one contractor led to a cancellation of that contract and a reevaluation of the program. The decision was made to honor the three remaining contracts and to seek a single contractor to survey the rest of the City. This will reduce the responsibilities of the coordinator, Elizabeth M. Winton, and Very Rev. D. to assist the Historical Commission's staff with routine activities related to the federal-state historic preservation program. It also entails the transfer of the grant from the City Planning Commission to the Historical Commission. Funds are available from the State for this through 30 September 1980. After some discussion of this proposal, a motion was made to submit in the Commission's name an application for a grant-in-aid for $12,000 from the State Office of Historic Preservation. It was agreed that the 50% match provided by the City would be delivered in kind services and that the application for the grant would be made in coordination with Commissioner Brown's office. This motion was seconded and carried. Before the meeting adjourned, Mr. Levy attended an invitation to the Commission members to attend the sessions of the Architectural Committee held on the third Wednesday of each month. These meetings begin at 2:30 p.m. and are held in the Historical Commission offices. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Siemionkowski Executive Assistant to the Chairman