Historical Commission — May 4, 1972

MINUTES OF THE 166th STATED MEETING OF THE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 4 May 1972 Present: Charles R. Tyson, Chairman of the Commission Edward Pinkowski Robert Silver, Deputy Commissioner of Public Property Henry J. Magaziner, Architectural Advisor to the Commission Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian Mrs. Charles J. Maurer, Executive Assistant to the Chairman Mrs. Joseph Segal, Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority Ira Winarsky, Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority Patricia Siemiatkowski, Secretary Guests: R. Demon Childs, Executive Director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission Mr. Theodore Bartley and Mr. Ralph Reynolds of BARTLEY, LONG, MIRANDA & REYNOLDS and Mr. Bruce McFadden and his assistant, Mr. Stroll, to present to the Historical Commission the Pennsylvania Hospital's request to demolish 501-03-05 Spruce Street. Unless otherwise noted, all actions taken herein are the result of motions correctly made, seconded and carried. THE MINUTES for the Stated Meeting 6 April 1972 were approved, as corrected, and directed to be filed. The following corrections were made: The minute concerning the Civil War Memorial in Germantown's Market Square was amended to read "Historic District Committee of the Germantown Historical Society" in place of "Germantown Historical Society." This same change was made again in a further reference to the "Germantown Historical Society." A letter will be sent to Judge Harold Saylor of the Germantown Historical Society informing him of this amendment. The minute concerning the Kosciusko House at 301 Pine Street was amended to read "Mr. Pinkowski reported that the United States Senate has approved a bill providing $529,000 for the restoration and furnishing of this historic structure. The House, however, has not yet acted." REPORTS The Report of the Architectural Committee for 18 April 1972 was approved and directed to be filed with the official copy of the Minutes. [HANDWRITTEN NOTES: Top right corner: handwritten notation reading "BRK" and "6/1" (appears to be initials and a date or reference number)] MINUTES 2 4 May 1972 REPORTS (Cont'd) Staff Recommendations for Certifying Buildings. The following buildings were certified by the Historical Commission as being worthy of preservation: 533 W. Tioga Street - St. Veronica's Church 655-57 North Ninth Street - Calvary Baptist Church of Philadelphia 1830 Rittenhouse Square 330 South Twenty-first Street 345 South Eighteenth Street 229 North Camac Street Certification of the buildings on Parker Avenue was tabled by the Commission until a further study of present plans for the area and the buildings has been made. The Commission's Activities, Dr.

Church of Philadelphia 1830 Rittenhouse Square 330 South Twenty-first Street 345 South Eighteenth Street 229 North Camac Street Certification of the buildings on Parker Avenue was tabled by the Commission until a further study of present plans for the area and the buildings has been made. The Commission's Activities, Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian (prepared and presented to the Commission by Patricia A. Sismiontkowski, Secretary). The report on Commission activities for April was approved and directed to be filed with the official copy of the Minutes. OLD BUSINESS 706-14 Spruce Street (Pennsylvania Hospital properties). The Messrs. Bartley, Reynolds, McFadden, and Stroll attended the Historical Commission meeting to present the Pennsylvania Hospital's plans for the proposed expansion of their medical facilities. The most urgent need, as explained by Mr. Bartley, is to extend an existing building located on the north side of Spruce Street between Eighth and Ninth Streets. The extension to the existing structure would call for the demolition of three historically certified buildings at 801-03-05 Spruce Street. The Commission was asked to consider the urgency in this matter and allow the houses at 801-03-05 to be demolished. Mr. Magazine suggested that an agreement might be made with the hospital to allow the demolition of the three buildings in the 800 block of Spruce Street if those at 706-14 Spruce Street are preserved. Mr. McFadden stated that no compromise could be made at this time but that the hospital has asked the firm of BARTLEY, IONA, WITUNDA & REYNOLDS to study the buildings at 706-14 Spruce Street in an effort to discover whether it is economically feasible for these structures to be preserved and used. The guests were thanked for coming to the Historical Commission to explain their proposals and were excused. In executive session, the Historical Commission board members expressed their pleasure in having the hospital's cooperation and their hope that some way can be found to make it possible to preserve the Spruce Street MINUTES 3 4 May 1972 OLD BUSINESS (Cont'd) buildings in the 700 block. A motion was made to compcss a letter, with Redevelopment Authority and counsel approval, to be sent to the firm of BARTLEY, LONG, MIRANDA & REYNOLDS approving the demolition of 801-03-05 Spruce Street on the assumption that every conceivable effort will be made to protect and preserve 706-14 Spruce Street. This motion was seconded and unanimously carried. NEW BUSINESS Several pieces

and counsel approval, to be sent to the firm of BARTLEY, LONG, MIRANDA & REYNOLDS approving the demolition of 801-03-05 Spruce Street on the assumption that every conceivable effort will be made to protect and preserve 706-14 Spruce Street. This motion was seconded and unanimously carried. NEW BUSINESS Several pieces of correspondence between the owner of 2131 Delancey Street, Mr. Arnold Rosenberg, Esq., and the Historical Commission's Chairman dealing with the recent certification of all the houses in the 2100 block of Delancey Street were read to the Board. It was the opinion of Mr. Rosenberg that his rights as a property owner had been infringed upon by the certification of his house and that steps will be taken to have this action reversed. The Commission members decided to take the matter under advisement. A letter notifying Mr. Rosenberg of the Commission's decision will be sent. There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 4:45 P. M. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Siemicntkowski Secretary [HANDWRITTEN NOTES: There is a small arrow/chevron mark (< symbol) in the left margin next to the first paragraph of the NEW BUSINESS section.]