MINUTES OF THE 276th STATED MEETING OF THE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 5 January 1984 F. Otto Haas, Chairman Present: F. Otto Haas, Chairman Janet S. Klein, Vice Chairman Allen J. Beckman, Esq. Edward Pinkowski Paul Deegan, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Public Property Herbert W. Levy, A.I.A., Architectural Advisor to the Commission Kenneth Cooper, Deputy City Solicitor, Law Department Richard Tyler, Historian Patricia Siemiontkowski, Architectural Historian Jefferson M. Moak, Executive Secretary Unless otherwise noted, all actions taken herein are the results of motions correctly made, seconded and carried. THE MINUTES of the 275th Stated Meeting of the Philadelphia Historical Commission, 3 November 1983, were reviewed and amended. At the request of Mr. Mogensen, Ms. Siemiontkowski asked that the minute regarding the proposed new preservation ordinance be amended as follows: Paragraph 2 was amended to read,"Mr. Mogensen pointed out that neither the committee nor the Commission has received or reviewed any recent drafts from the Law Department or staff since the March meetings. He asked for an explanation. The Historian pointed out that a draft remained in the City Solicitor's Office until the recent request from the Mayor's Office for its immediate resubmission to the Cabinet." Paragraph 4 was amended to read " Mr. Mogensen observed that consideration of the proposed new ordinance, which included authorization for the creation of historic districts, had been taken from the committee and the Commission and placed elsewhere. He suggested that in view of these developments the Chairman disband the committee. The Chairman suggested that the polished draft be returned to the committee for review before any formal submission to City Council is made. The Chairman asked the Historian to make the necessary arrangements as soon as a final draft is complete. " Subject to these amendments, the Minutes for 3 November 1983 were approved and directed to be filed. STATED MEETING 2 5 January 1984 THE REPORT of the Architectural Committee for 16 November 1983, Herbert W. Levy, A.I.A., Chairman, Architectural Advisor to the Commission. The Report for 16 November was reviewed, approved and directed to be filed with the official copy of the Minutes. THE REPORT of the Architectural Committee for 21 December 1983, Herbert W. Levy, A.I.A., Chairman, Architectural Advisor to the Commission. The Report for 21 December was reviewed and corrected. Mr. Levy asked that the minute relating to 736 and 738 Pine Street be amended (page 2, paragraph 3) to read
THE REPORT of the Architectural Committee for 21 December 1983, Herbert W. Levy, A.I.A., Chairman, Architectural Advisor to the Commission. The Report for 21 December was reviewed and corrected. Mr. Levy asked that the minute relating to 736 and 738 Pine Street be amended (page 2, paragraph 3) to read as follows: "Following a closer examination of the drawings, the Committee agreed that the existing, simple wood rail on the 8th Street elevation could remain in place." Subsequent to this amendment, Ms. Siemiontkowski reported on her discussion with the staff of the Bureau for Historic Preservation (BHP) and the National Park Service (NPS) con- cerning the proposed rehabilitation of the facades of 736 and 738 Pine Street. The Architectural Committee asked that Ms. Siemiontkowski contact the BHP and the NPS for an informal opinion on this project. Both the state and Federal preservation offices agreed that each of the two houses should be treated separately and individually. It was the opinion of both offices that the later changes to 738 Pine Street had acquired significance and that they should be preserved. They further agreed that restoring the facade of 738 Pine Street to its original appearance to create a uniform pair of buildings along the Pine Street streetscape, while retaining the later 20th century appearance along 8th Street, could very well jeopardize tax certification. Following some discussion, Mr. Levy recommended that the Commission approve, in concept, the plans submitted by Mander/ Merighi for the rehabilitation of 736 and 738 Pine Street as recorded in the Committee report. Ms. Siemiontkowski further reported that the Friends Hospital Board of Managers, as requested by the Architectural Committee, reconsidered their decision to demolish the Twin Cottage on the grounds of Friends Hospital. The Board determined, at a recent meeting, that it had no plan for any reuse of the building and that, if a reuse could be found, rehabilitation costs would be excessive. STATED MEETING 3 5 January 1984 Following some discussion, the Historical Commission voted to permit demolition of the Twin Cottage to proceed without delay. Mr. Pinkowski abstained. THE REPORT of the Committee on Certification for 11 July 1983, Edward Pinkowski, Chairman. The Commission acted upon the remainder of the 11 July 1983 Report. Each of the following buildings was reviewed and approved for certification: 1227 Locust Street: Schuylkill House, Hook & Ladder Company 1229 Locust Street: Seybert Estate 2125-2127 Locust Street:
Committee on Certification for 11 July 1983, Edward Pinkowski, Chairman. The Commission acted upon the remainder of the 11 July 1983 Report. Each of the following buildings was reviewed and approved for certification: 1227 Locust Street: Schuylkill House, Hook & Ladder Company 1229 Locust Street: Seybert Estate 2125-2127 Locust Street: Alexander W. Biddle Residence 2129-2131 Locust Street: Quincy Gillmore Residence 2137 Locust Street: Brown-Keen Development House 2139 Locust Street: " " " " 2141 Locust Street: " " " " 2143 Locust Street: " " " " 2136 Locust Street: The Frank Samuel Residence 917-931 N. 63rd Street 6150-6160 Oxford Street -----------The Monte Vista 614½-6157 Nassau Street --- THE REPORT of the Committee on Certification for 8 December 1983, Edward Pinkowski, Chairman. The Commission reviewed and approved for certification each of the following buildings: 2428 Poplar Street 2430 Poplar Street 2432 Poplar Street 2434 Poplar Street 2436 Poplar Street 2438 Poplar Street #1 East River Drive: Boat House Row, Plaisted Hall #15 East River Drive: Boat House Row, Sedgeley Club The Commission reviewed and approved for re-certification the building at 2131 Delancey Street and for de-certification (removal from the list) the building at 1921 Green Street. The Commission further reviewed and ratified the certification each of the following buildings: #2 East River Drive: Boat House Row, Fairmount Rowing Association #3 East River Drive: Boat House Row, Quaker City Barge Club (now part of #2) STATED MEETING 4 5 January 1984 #4 East River Drive: Boat House Row, Pennsylvania Barge Club (presently Schuylkill Navy Headquarters) #5 East River Drive: Boat House Row, Crescent Boat Club #6 East River Drive: Boat House Row, Bachelors Barge Club #7 East River Drive: Boat House Row, University Barge Club #8 East River Drive: Boat House Row, Philadelphia Barge Club (now part of #7) #9 East River Drive: Boat House Row, Malta Boat Club #10 East River Drive: Boat House Row, Vesper Boat Club #11 East River Drive: Boat House Row, College Boat Club of the University of Pennsylvania #12 East River Drive: Boat House Row, West Philadelphia Row- ing Club (now the Penn Athletic Club Rowing Association) #13 East River Drive: Boat House Row, Undine Barge Club #14 East River Drive: Boat House Row, Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society (now the Philadelphia Girls' Rowing Club) The Commission members commented on the attractive lighting design on the river side of Boat House Row and requested
Rowing Association) #13 East River Drive: Boat House Row, Undine Barge Club #14 East River Drive: Boat House Row, Philadelphia Skating Club and Humane Society (now the Philadelphia Girls' Rowing Club) The Commission members commented on the attractive lighting design on the river side of Boat House Row and requested that Hyman Myers be asked to submit for the Commission's files a copy of the lighting pattern for each of the structures. The remainder of the Report of the Committee on Certification for 8 December 1983 was tabled. The Reports on Philadelphia Historical Commission Staff Activities for November 1983 and for December, 1983, Richard Tyler, Historian. The Historian's reports for November and December were reviewed, approved and directed to be filed with the official copy of the Minutes. OLD BUSINESS Survey Report on Rittenhouse Square and West Center City. At the direction of the Commission, Janet Klein, Vice Chairman, and Jefferson Moak, Executive Secretary, conducted a survey and prepared a priority listing for certification of buildings in the Rittenhouse Square and West Center City areas. This report was distributed among the Commission members and accepted. A copy is attached. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Siemiontkowski Architectural Historian