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Minutes

Architectural Committee — Feb 4, 1974

Philadelphia Historical CommissionFeb 4, 1974
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People mentioned

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  • Erling H. Pedersen
  • Henry J. Magasiner
  • Leonard Stoller
  • Lewis Kromer
  • Margaret B. Tinkcom
  • Mr. and Mrs. Fayer
  • Patricia Simontkowski
  • Patricia Slemionowski
  • Philip Mastrin
  • Satinsky

Properties mentioned

  • 210 Spruce Street
  • Eastern State Penitentiary
  • Irvin Building, Fourth and Walnut Streets
  • Musical Fund Hall
  • St. James Hotel
  • St. Mary Magdalene Church, 718 Montrose Street

Organizations mentioned

Architectural Committee · Feb 4 1974 · §0

MINUTES OF THE ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE OF THE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 4 February 1974 Present: Mr. Henry J. Magasiner, A.I.A., Architectural Advisor to the Commission Mr. Erling H. Pedersen, A.I.A., Old Philadelphia Development Corporation Mr. Lewis Kromer, A.I.A., Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority Dr. Margaret B. Tinkcom, Historian Patricia Simontkowski, Executive Assistant to the Chairman Guests: Mr. Philip Mastrin, Architect and his associate, Mr. Satinsky, and the owner of the St. James Hotel, Mr. Leonard Stoller, attended the meeting of the Architectural Committee to discuss proposed alterations to the building's mansard roof. SUBMISSIONS St. James Hotel, Philip Mastrin, Architect. Mr. Mastrin explained to the Committee the problem created by the deteriorated condition of the mansard (slate and metal) making it impossible to repair the existing fabric. His plan to strip the building, at this level, of all fabric except for the structural elements and cover it with a urethane spray sealer, was rejected by the Committee. The dome portion of the building, since it cannot be replaced with slate, will be sprayed with urethane and painted a silver grey to resemble slate. The original components of the dormer and cornice must be replaced, either in fiber- glass or sheet metal, to match the original. A resubmission is requested. PROBLEMS 210 Spruce Street. A letter from Mr. and Mrs. Fayer, residents of Phillip Street, opposing the installation of a parking alot, on Phillip Street, at the rear of 210 Spruce Street. Since the work, begun two weeks ago, was illegal (no building permits were acquired), a stop work order was placed on the job. The owner has been asked to submit to the Committee a plan of what he proposes to do on this site for review. It was agreed that no action would be taken until such a plan has been presented. PLAQUES St. Mary Magdalene Church, 718 Montrose Street. Approved. SPECIAL REVIEW Irvin Building. Mr. Magasiner reported to the Committee the National Park Service's desire to raze this building at the corner of Fourth and Walnut Streets to allow for additional open space in the Independence Mall Area. The building, now vacant and open, is scheduled for demolition in the near future. The American Institute of Architects has taken a stand against allowing the building's demolition and Mr. Magasiner asked if ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE 2 4 February 1974 SPECIAL REVIEW (Cont'd) the Committee might not recommend that the Philadelphia Historical Commission take the

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Architectural Committee · Feb 4 1974 · §1

and open, is scheduled for demolition in the near future. The American Institute of Architects has taken a stand against allowing the building's demolition and Mr. Magasiner asked if ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE 2 4 February 1974 SPECIAL REVIEW (Cont'd) the Committee might not recommend that the Philadelphia Historical Commission take the same position. After much discussion, the matter was referred to the Commission without recommendation. Eastern State Penitentiary. After much discussion regarding proposed uses for the Eastern State Penitentiary, the Committee agreed that it would be feasible to save the main Fairmount Avenue entrance of the complex only and create within the one block area a community park. Other uses, as suggested by members of the American Institute of Architects' Preservation Committee (reuse as a prison, center for a Penology Institute, commercial development, public housing, etc.) were considered too fraught to be unpracticable. Musical Fund Hall. A report was made to the Committee on the American Institute of Architects' refusal to endorse the proposed use of Musical Fund Hall as a three-theatre complex. It was the opinion of the Committee that rather than lose an interested developer, it is much better to support this latest and possibly most viable proposal with the requirement, of course, that the exterior of the building be fully and accurately restored. A prior proposal to have the State acquire the building as the original Philadelphia concert hall was discarded since the State has already committed itself to a Penn's landing site. Mr. Magesciner called the next meeting of the Committee for February 19, 1974. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Slemionowski Executive Assistant to the Chairman [HANDWRITTEN NOTES: Top left corner: Small handwritten notation that appears to read "n." or similar mark, partially illegible due to image quality.]

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