Committee on Financial Hardship — Mar 20, 2002

1 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCIAL HARDSHIP PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION Scott Wilds, Acting-Chair Commission Conference Room One Parkway, 1515 Arch Street, 13th Floor 20 March 2002 Present Scott Wilds, Acting-Chair, Deputy Director, Office of Housing and Community Development James Brown, IV Vincent Rivera, AIA Harris Steinberg, AIA Diane M. Hughes, Executive Secretary Laura M. Spina, Historic Preservation Planner Richard Tyler, Historic Preservation Officer Larry Copeland, Senior Attorney, Law Department Also MaryAnne Hunter, Fairhill Burial Ground Baird Brown, Fairhill Burial Ground Craig Klofach, UJMN Associates Richard Thom, Old City Civic Association Richard Tucker, Franklin Bridge Scott Wilds, Acting-Chair, recognized the presence of a quorum and called the meeting to order at 1:05 p.m. Mr. Wilds noted that 300-18 North 63rd has requested a continuance, owing to acquiring new legal counsel, and the applicant for 235 North 2nd Street failed to submit documentation to the Committee for consideration of financial hardship. He asked that all the participants identify themselves. 2901 Germantown Avenue, Fairhill Burial Ground Fairhill Burial Ground Corporation, Owner Craig Klofach, Architect DATE: 1703; Ornamental fence c. 1875 PROPOSAL: Replacement of cemetery fence The proposal involves replacing the damaged fence along Germantown Avenue with a new simplified fence as installed along Indiana Avenue and using any salvagable pieces to restore the fence along 9th and Cambria Streets. The herringbone brick sidewalk will be restored along 9th Street and a portion of Cambria Street, with concrete along the remainder. 2 Craig Klofach, the architect, and Baird Brown attended the meeting. Mr. Klofach said that in 1997-98 the Commission granted an approval for replacement fencing along Indiana Avenue, in a simplified design. The applicant now proposes to repair the remaining three sides of the fencing. The project will be done in phases. The first phase will replace the fencing along Germantown Avenue, which gets the most abuse, in the same manner as the Indiana Street side. The existing fence pieces along Germantown Avenue are in various stages of disrepair: some are missing completely, many are cracked, some have been filled with concrete, and all of the pieces have been painted with lead paint. The fencing salvaged from the Germantown Avenue side will be used along 9th and Cambria Streets. He said that the goal is to restore the 9th Street fencing completely, which has the least amount of damage, and most of the Cambria Street side, which is relatively intact. He also

paint. The fencing salvaged from the Germantown Avenue side will be used along 9th and Cambria Streets. He said that the goal is to restore the 9th Street fencing completely, which has the least amount of damage, and most of the Cambria Street side, which is relatively intact. He also commented that the casting of new posts and pickets for the Germantown Avenue fencing would cost at least $125,000.00. When questioned about the cost of the proposed scheme, the applicant responded that it would cost $411,000.00, but a total restoration of all three sides would cost $550,000.00. The applicant presented photographs of the entire area that encompasses the cemetery. Mr. Tyler pointed out that many sources of funding, such as the William Penn Foundation, usually do not give repeatedly to the same applicants. He also noted that the proposal is compatible with the historic design, and entails the salvage and relocation of historic material at the site, which reflect the Quaker simplicity. Mr. Klofach noted that this would be a multi-year project, as the cemetery raises the necessary funds. The applicant has raised $225,000.00 so far, much of which went to the new fencing along Indiana Street. Mr. Brown asked that there be consistency in filling in the pieces of the missing portions. The applicant noted that not enough panels remain for both 9th Street and Cambria Street, but there are enough reusable posts. Committee members, after reviewing the submitted documents, thought the proposal warranted hardship consideration. Mr. Harris made a motion to recommend the approval of the financial hardship application based on scheme #1, consolidating reusable fabric from the Germantown Avenue side, pursuant to 14-2007 (7)(k)(.7) of the Philadelphia Code and Section 9 of the Rules and Regulations. Mr. Brown seconded the motion, which carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 1:35 p.m. Respectfully submitted Diane M. Hughes Executive Secretary