MINUTES OF THE 225th STATED MEETING OF THE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 6 July 1978 E. Otto Haas, Chairman Present: James S. Blain, Vice Chairman of the Commission Mrs. James G. Crumlish, Jr. The Hon. John B. Kelly, Jr., Councilman-at-large Edward Finkowski John Taskin Herbert Levy, A.I.A., Architectural Advisor to the Commission Commissioner Robert Silver, Department of Public Property Wil Hagemann, Executive Assistant Director of Finance David Rosenblum, Esq., Assistant City Solicitor, Law Department Also: Daniel McIlvenna, Managing Director's Office Tom Hine, Reporter, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER Jack Smythe, Reporter, THE EVENING BULLETIN Deberah Berney and representatives of Kensington Action NOW to read a statement to the Commission concerning the Midway Theater. Unless otherwise noted, all actions taken herein are the results of motions correctly made, seconded and carried. THE MINUTES of the Stated Meeting, 4 May 1978, stands, as approved by telephone. REPORTS The Purpose of the Architectural Committee, 17 May 1978, Herbert W. Levy, A.I.A., Architectural Advisor to the Commission. His report of 17 May 1978 requesting to be filed with the official copy is his judgment. Mr. Hagemann, although requesting the Committee's condemnation of the proposal to grant and period in the neighborhood of 1900 North 2nd Street, voted to accept the report of 17 May. The Report of the Architectural Committee for 21 June 1978 was reviewed by the Commission: [HANDWRITTEN NOTES: Top left corner: "2" (page number) Top right area: faint marking that appears to be "F" with an underline] STATED MEETING 2 6 July 1978 REPORTS (Cont'd) The Historian brought to the attention of the Commission members the matter relating to the proposed demolition of the south and west walls of 225-27 Spruce Street and their reconstruction. At the Architectural Committee meeting, Mr. Tyler suggested that the extreme demolition of the building required by its structurally unsound condition in effect constituted a demolition of the historic structure, that the new work would consequently fall outside the category of reconstruction, not restoration, and thus outside the Commission's jurisdiction. The Committee did not accept this view and recommended that the required demolition be permitted and that the Commission exercise jurisdiction over the new work. After some discussion, a motion was made to request that the Architectural Committee resubey the matter and make a recommendation to the Historical Commission con- cerning the establishment of policy relating to the substantial reconstruction of a historically certified structure. This motion was seconded
exercise jurisdiction over the new work. After some discussion, a motion was made to request that the Architectural Committee resubey the matter and make a recommendation to the Historical Commission con- cerning the establishment of policy relating to the substantial reconstruction of a historically certified structure. This motion was seconded and carried. With the exception of the matter relating to 225-27 Spruce Street, the Report of the Architectural Committee for 21 June 1978 was approved and directed to be filed with the official copy of the Minutes. RECOMMENDATIONS by the Staff for the Certification of Buildings. Richard Tyler, Historian. The following list of buildings was presented to the Philadelphia Historical Commission to be considered for certification: Christ Church Steeple, Fifth and Arch Streets Memorial Hall, Fairmount Park St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church, Fourth and New Streets INA Building, 1600 Arch Street Strawberry Mansion Bridge, P Armount Park Furness Library, Thirty-Fourth and Walnut Streets Racequet Club, 215 South Sixteenth Street Royal Theater, 1524-26 South Street STATED MEETING 3 5 July 1978 REPORTS (Cont'd) After some discussion of the merits of certification of several of the structures, a motion was made to accept the certification of Christ Church Cemetery, Methodist Hall, St. Augustine's Church and the Furness Library. The remainder of the list of structures, the INA Building, Strawberry Mansion Bridge, the Racquet Club and the Royal Theatre, will be referred to the Architectural Committee for a determination on certification. The motion was seconded and carried. Counsellor Silver suggested that the name of the person or group requesting certification be listed on the agenda with the name and location of the property being nominated. It was agreed that this should be done. REPORT on Historical Commission Staff Activities. Richard Tyler, Historian. Mr. Tyler's reports on staff activities for the months of May and June were approved and directed to be filed with the official copy of the Minutes. HD BUSINESS Midway Theater. As a result of the Philadelphia Historical Commission meeting of 4 May 1978, the owner of the Midway Theater was notified of the Historical Commission's intent to nominate the Theater as being historically and/or architecturally significant. Messrs. Mediated and Breuer, owners of the Midway Theater, responded by declining nomination of the building. In view of previous with previous policy, Mr. Dilworth suggested that the matter of certification of the building be referred to the Architectural Committee for a determination as
as being historically and/or architecturally significant. Messrs. Mediated and Breuer, owners of the Midway Theater, responded by declining nomination of the building. In view of previous with previous policy, Mr. Dilworth suggested that the matter of certification of the building be referred to the Architectural Committee for a determination as to whether or not the Theater should be certified over the objection of the owner. A motion was made to this effect. It was seconded and carried. Deborah Kasinsey, a representative of HAI, summarized Commission to read a statement in support of the certi- fication of the Midway Theater to the Commission members. STATED MEETING 6 July 1978 OLD BUSINESS (Cont'd) Mrs. Klein allowed Mrs. Kearney to read the statement and requested that she supply the Commission with a copy for file. Mr. Levy suggested that the staff request of the Pre- servation Committee of the American Institute of Architects, particularly planners, a copy of the minutes of that Committee relating to the Midway Theater. NEW BUSINESS A Question of Nomenclature. The Commission's Historian asked that the Commission members consider giving a name to a list of historically certified buildings. Mr. Tyler pointed out that both the State and Federal preservation offices have adopted specific titles for their lists of historical sites and suggested that Philadelphia do the same. After some discussion, it was agreed to leave the choosing of a name to the discretion of the staff. Building Permits, 1880-1905. The Commission's Historian reported to the members on a proposal made at an A.I.A. Preservation Committee meeting for the indexing and indexing of building permits issued between 1880 and 1905 and presently stored in the Records Storage Center at 601 South Broad Street. These records contain significant information on building construction in Philadelphia and are an important research resource. A Temple University Ph. D. candidate has agreed to narrow and index the permits on a volunteer basis. Mr. Levy and Mr. Tyler suggested at that meeting that the Historical Commission might be willing to undertake the cost of completing it. Initially the estimate to use the Sarph process of copying which employs importer paper and is a test process costing. It was recommended that a more permanent, although more costly, method be used. The Xerox process offered the use of its machine at cost. It has been estimated that $800.00 would be needed to cover the cost of this
copying which employs importer paper and is a test process costing. It was recommended that a more permanent, although more costly, method be used. The Xerox process offered the use of its machine at cost. It has been estimated that $800.00 would be needed to cover the cost of this undertaking. STATED MEETING 5 6 July 1978 NEW BUSINESS (Cont'd) Mr. Tyler noted that the project was, indeed, a worthwhile one and that the Commission greatly using money in the Batten Fund to cover the cost of photocopying these records. Mr. Kelly asked whether microfilming of the records had been considered as an alternative. Mr. Tyler replied that it had been considered but rejected since microfilm would be more difficult to use and index. Mr. Tyler reported that the proposal had been discussed with Allen Weinberg, City Archivist, and David Simmons and Bruce Gatewood of the Department of Licenses and Inspections. They agreed to allow the release of the records for copying and their temporary storage at the Athenaeum until the project is completed. Following a discussion of the merits of this proposal, Commissioner Silver suggested the appointment of a committee to study the matter further. The Vice Chairman appointed Herbert Levy and Val Hageman to the committee. Mr. Tyler, Mr. Levy and Mr. Hageman agreed to inspect the records and to confer with Mr. Weinberg and Mr. Sebastiani, Commissiber of Licenses and Inspections, on the desirability of proceeding with this project and to agree on an appropriate repository for the records and the index. Mr. Tyler will arrange such a meeting. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:50 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Slingerland Executive Assistant to the Chairman /pgs