THE MINUTES OF THE 295TH STATED MEETING OF THE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 30 October 1985 F. Otto Haas, Chairman Present: F. Otto Haas, Chairman David Hollenberg Joan Ferreira Caroline Colab Jason Nathan William Thompson Dudley Sykes, Commissioner, Department of Public Property Eileen Weinstein, Director of Policy and Planning, Office of Housing David Wismer, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Licenses and Inspections Kenneth Cooper, Esq., Deputy City Solicitor, Law Department Richard Tyler, Historian Randal Baron, Executive Secretary Terry Koob, Clerk Steno II Also: Mary Lou McFarland, Preservation Coalition of Greater Philadelphia Gersil M. Kay, Restore Philadelphia William Blades, Philadelphia Historic Preservation Corporation Robert DeSileta, American Institute of Architects, Preservation Committee, Philadelphia Chapter And others Unless otherwise noted, all actions taken herein are the results of motions correctly made, seconded and carried. THE MINUTES of the 294th Stated Meeting of the Philadelphia Historical Commission held on 25 September 1985, F. Otto Haas, Chairman, were reviewed and unanimously approved. THE REPORT of the Architectural Committee Meeting held on 10 October 1985, David Hollenberg, Chairman. Mr. Hollenberg reported that subsequent to the meeting on 10 October, revised drawings were received for 2009 Spring Garden Street and 213 Chestnut Street. A final approval is now recommended for these two projects. Mr. Hollenberg also reported that the photographs documenting the carriage sheds at the Greene Street Friends Meeting were received. Mr. Hollenberg stated that the serious structural problems evident on close inspection of the sheds are not clearly visible in the photographs. A request was made by Mr. Hollenberg to table the decision on this demolition request pending receipt by the Historical Commission of a verification from a contractor for an estimate on an alternative to demolition. STATED MEETING 2 30 October 1985 The Commission agreed to table the decision on the Greene Street Friends Meeting demolition request. The remainder of the Report of the Architectural Committee Meeting of 10 October 1985 was unanimously approved including the submissions for 2009 Spring Garden Street and 213 Chestnut Street. Mr. Hollenberg also reported that revised drawings for 309 N. 3rd Street requested by the Architectural Committee at its meeting of 12 September 1985 were received. A final approval is now recommended. The Commission unanimously agreed to approve this renovation at 309 N. 3rd Street. THE HISTORIAN'S Report on Staff Activities for 15 September - 15 October 1985 was reviewed and approved for filing. Mr. Tyler informed the Commission that
of 12 September 1985 were received. A final approval is now recommended. The Commission unanimously agreed to approve this renovation at 309 N. 3rd Street. THE HISTORIAN'S Report on Staff Activities for 15 September - 15 October 1985 was reviewed and approved for filing. Mr. Tyler informed the Commission that $150.10 was reimbursed to the Harry Batten Memorial Fund. This fund supplied $349.90 towards the Historian's attendance at the annual National Trust Meeting in Seattle in October. Mr. Tyler reported that this meeting proved to be extremely informative. OLD BUSINESS Certified Local Government The Historian stated that résumés have not as yet been received from some members of the Commission. Mr. Tyler emphasized that expeditious submission of these résumés is required in order that Philadelphia qualify as a Certified Local Government. Lit Brothers Building Mr. Nathan announced that the Melon Bank signed a twenty-five year lease for five hundred square feet of space in the Lit Brothers Building. He also stated that this is the largest lease in Philadelphia in a decade. At the request of Mr. Nathan, the Chairman officially thanked Mr. Tyler and the staff, the staff of the Department of Licenses and Inspections and the Managing Director's Office for their efforts in the preservation of the Lit Brothers Building. NEW BUSINESS Mr. Tyler announced that representatives from the preservation community were in attendance at today's meeting to familiarize the "new" Commission on the work of their particular organizations in the Philadelphia area. These presentations were as follows: Gersil M. Kay, Restore Philadelphia. Ms. Kay described Restore Philadelphia as a non-profit, technical, educational organization that concentrates its efforts on commercial restorations. Communication is encouraged between architects, engineers, contractors, craftsmen, bankers, investors and developers. Restore Philadelphia fosters the STATED MEETING 3 30 October 1985 belief that communication is a tool for getting the job done faster, cheaper and better. Excellence is recognized through an annual award sponsored by this organization. Ms. Kay also stated that educational programs are in process, such as video taping of mastercraftsmen illustrating the proper implementation of modern systems into old structures with the least amount of damage to fabric. Restore Phila- delphia also hopes to initiate in the near future a program with the public school system for teaching disadvantaged young people the skills needed in technical repairs. William Blades, Philadelphia Historic Preservation Corporation. Mr. Blades explained that the Philadelphia Historic Preservation Corporation is
amount of damage to fabric. Restore Phila- delphia also hopes to initiate in the near future a program with the public school system for teaching disadvantaged young people the skills needed in technical repairs. William Blades, Philadelphia Historic Preservation Corporation. Mr. Blades explained that the Philadelphia Historic Preservation Corporation is a quasi-public corporation that was founded in 1979 as a non-profit corporation as a part of the old Philadelphia Develop- ment Corporation. Philadelphia Historic Preservation Corporation subsequently separated from that organization and has since developed a highly successful facade easement program in Philadelphia. They expect to have received a half billion dollars worth of easements by the end of this year. Other programs underway include restoration of the Old Mill House at the Fairmount Waterworks and the implementation of a revolving fund program which initially provided financial assistance for buildings in Old City. Philadelphia Historic Preservation Corporation hopes to include the Parkside neighborhood in this program in the near future. Mr. Blades also reported that Philadelphia Historic Preservation Corporation has recently received funding to initiate a new program for preserving the architectural and engineering significance of historic religious buildings that they hope will become a national program. Robert DiSilets, American Institute of Architects, Preservation Committee, Philadelphia Chapter. Mr. DiSilets described the Committee as an organ- ization concerned with the education of architects on preservation issues. The Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects publishes a newsletter and holds monthly meetings where preservation solutions and issues are topics. Mary Lou McFarland, Preservation Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. Ms. McFarland stated that the Preservation Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is a non-profit organization comprised of agencies and individuals dedicated to maintaining the historic heritage of Philadelphia. Major goals of the Preservation Coalition of Greater Philadelphia are to coordinate the efforts of other preservation organizations as well as individuals who are concerned about demolition and to unite the preservation community. Ms. McFarland stated that Preservation Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is made up of 300 members, individuals and organizations, and a working Board of Directors that totals twenty-six plus a seven member Board of Advisors. Lobbying and education are major activities of this group. The Preservation Coalition of Greater Philadelphia works closely with the Philadelphia Historical Commission in seeking alternatives to demolition and has performed economic feasi- bility studies in this endeavor. The Preservation Coalition of Greater Philadelphia recently co-sponsored a Restoration Fair where twenty-two
Lobbying and education are major activities of this group. The Preservation Coalition of Greater Philadelphia works closely with the Philadelphia Historical Commission in seeking alternatives to demolition and has performed economic feasi- bility studies in this endeavor. The Preservation Coalition of Greater Philadelphia recently co-sponsored a Restoration Fair where twenty-two crafts people demonstrated proper restoration techniques. STATED MEETING 4 30 October 1985 Mr. Tyler commented that although the preservation community has long been fragmented, the Preservation Coalition of Greater Philadelphia has had the most success thus far in coordinating the combined efforts of preservationists in the Philadelphia area. The Chairman thanked Ms. Kay, Messrs. Blades and DeSilels and Ms. McFarland for their informative presentations. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 11:25 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Terry Koob Clerk Steno II