MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE OF THE PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 10 October 1985 David Hollenberg, Chairman Present: David Hollenberg, Chairman Theodore T. Bartley, Jr., F.A.I.A., Preservation Committee American Institute of Architects, Philadelphia Chapter Penelope T. Batcheler, Historical Architect for Independence National Historical Park David DeLong, University of Pennsylvania, Preservation Program Herbert W. Levy, A.I.A. Patricia Siemiontkowski, Architectural Historian Randal Baron, Executive Secretary Terry Koob, Clerk Steno II Also: John File, Contractor, to request permission to demolish carriage sheds on the grounds of Greene Street Friends Meeting. Don Newby, Wagon Works Historical Assocs., Harlan Crider and Ken Bergfeld, Architects, to present a courtesy submission for the rehabilitation of 801 N. 27th Street. Paul Calvert, Architect, to present alteration plans for 2009 Spring Garden Street. Bill Becker, Architect, and Scot Fisher and Ward Sprout of the Undine Barge Club to present renovation plans for the boathouse at 4414 Ridge Avenue. Walter Stait, Stait Outdoor Advertising Company, to present pro- posal to erect a billboard sign atop 411-419 Vine Street. Mel Heifetz and Jerry Feinstein, owners, to request permission to rehabilitate 513-515 S. 4th Street. Mary Lou McFarland, Preservation Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, and others. DEMOLITION Greene Street Friends Meeting, John File, Contractor. Mr. File presented to the Architectural Committee a request for permission to demolish the carriage sheds on the rear grounds of the Greene Street Friends Meeting. Mr. File stated that the carriage sheds were in extremely deteriorated condition and were infested with mold. An estimate of $40,000 was received in 1981 for restoration of the sheds. Stabilization and restoration were not undertaken at that time owing to the Friends' inability to afford such an expenditure. The Committee agreed to recommend an approval of demolition provided the school submits HABS quality photographs to the Historical Commission for its records. ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE 2 10 October 1985 COURTESY SUBMISSION 801 N. 27th Street, Harlan Crider and Ken Bergfeld, Architects. Messrs. Crider and Bergfeld presented this courtesy submission for the rehabilitation and reuse of the Frank C. Scherer Wagon Works, a three-story, brick and sandstone factory with an adjacent two-story office wing. The building, designed by architect William H. Decker, was constructed in 1887 with a later addition c. 1929. The Committee recommended changes in terms of fenestration which appeared awkard because of the five-bay treatment in a three-bay building. The Committee thanked Messrs. Crider and Bergfeld for their presentation and
wing. The building, designed by architect William H. Decker, was constructed in 1887 with a later addition c. 1929. The Committee recommended changes in terms of fenestration which appeared awkard because of the five-bay treatment in a three-bay building. The Committee thanked Messrs. Crider and Bergfeld for their presentation and suggested that they follow the design details as shown on old photographs for their restoration ideas. Since this is a courtesy submission, no action is required on the part of the Commission. SUBMISSIONS FOR ALTERATIONS 2009 Spring Garden Street, Paul Calvert, Architect. At the Architectural Committee Meeting of 12 September 1985, Ms. Siemiontkowski presented Mr. Calvert's plans for interior work and alterations to the rear of 2009 Spring Garden Street. The Committee recommended that elevation drawings be submitted for review as well. At today's meeting Mr. Calvert presented elevation drawings for roof decks on the rear of 2009 Spring Garden Street. One window would be enlarged for conversion to a door for entry to the deck. All changes would be in the rear. The Committee recommended that no changes be made to the front facade below the roof line. The Committee also recommended that regular asphalt shingles not be used on the front vertical plain of the mansard. Instead, mansard should be recovered with mineral filler shingles such as Supra-Dur to give the appearance of the slate which is being removed. Although the Committee did not ask for the fish scale pattern of the shingles to be replicated in full, they did ask that at least one course of fish scale shingles be inserted in several courses to approximate the patterned slate. The Committee agreed to recommend an approval of this project upon the submission of revised drawings. 213 Chestnut Street, John Bushnell, Architect. Ms. Siemiontkowski presented plans for Mr. Bushnell for the rehabilitation of this five-story, 1840s, brick, commercial loft building at 213 Chestnut Street. This building on the corner of Chestnut and Strawberry Streets suffered serious alterations to its nineteenth century storefront. The current proposal calls for the reconstruction of the shopfront based upon photographs of the original design. The Committee reviewed the plans and recommended that a change be made in the door panels on the ground floor shopfront. The doors should contain one panel not three as shown on the drawings. Ms. Batcheler recommended that the photographs be studied closely to pick up all moulding details
design. The Committee reviewed the plans and recommended that a change be made in the door panels on the ground floor shopfront. The doors should contain one panel not three as shown on the drawings. Ms. Batcheler recommended that the photographs be studied closely to pick up all moulding details for the facade. ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE 3 10 October 1985 The Committee agreed to recommend the approval of this project upon the submission of revised drawings incorporating the recommended changes. 4414 Ridge Avenue, Bill Becker, Architect, and Scot Fisher and Ward Sprout of the Undine Barge Club. Messrs. Becker, Fisher and Sprout presented plans for renovations to this boathouse which currently houses the meeting rooms and dining facilities of the Undine Barge Club. The original structure was built c. 1878 with several later additions. A portion of the structure has suffered serious termite damage. The current proposal is for the demolition and reconstruction of the termite damaged section of the building. Roof lines which are uneven owing to the several additions to the original structure will be adjusted. The proposal also calls for the creation of a new entrance door on the east elevation and the relocation of a door on the west elevation. The Committee agreed to recommend an approval of this project. 411-419 Vine Street, Stait Outdoor Advertising, Applicant. Mr. Stait presented a request to construct a second outdoor advertising sign on the back face of an existing sign atop the roof of 411-419 Vine Street. Mr. Stait presented photographs showing the existing billboard on the roof of 411-419 Vine Street which is viewed by traffic on interstate 95. The proposed sign would be a free standing billboard directly behind the existing sign which will be viewed only by traffic on the Vine Street Expressway. The Committee agreed to recommend an approval of the sign construction owing to the fact that it will not be highly visible except from the Vine Street Expressway. 231 N. 10th Street, Michael Mareno, Contractor. Ms. Siemiontkowski presented a request for Mr. Mareno to remove the front facade of 231 N. 10th Street and reconstruct with new materials and a new design. Ms. Siemiontkowski presented photographs of the 200 block of North 10th Street which showed the row to be intact. This block is a rare example of the nineteenth century integrity of Chinatown. The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that approval for the
reconstruct with new materials and a new design. Ms. Siemiontkowski presented photographs of the 200 block of North 10th Street which showed the row to be intact. This block is a rare example of the nineteenth century integrity of Chinatown. The Committee unanimously agreed to recommend that approval for the removal of the front facade be denied and suggested that restoration, rather than demolition, be undertaken. 41 N. 2nd Street, Lou Orkofsky, Applicant: Ms. Siemiontkowski presented for Mr. Orkofsky a proposal for the reconstruction of the ground floor shopfront at 41 N. 2nd Street modeled on that at 43 N. 2nd Street. 41 N. 2nd Street was originally constructed as a three-story house with a shopfront. The shopfront was altered c. 1865 and a fourth story was added to the structure. The Committee reviewed the proposed plans and requested that the owner hire an architect to research the building and to prepare detailed elevation drawings for submission to the Committee for review. ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE 4 10 October 1985 1114 Pine Street, John Forney, Applicant. Ms. Siemiontkowski presented Mr. Forney's request for approval of a garden wall which was constructed without a building permit at the rear of 1114 Pine Street (at Waverly Street). The Committee reviewed photographs of the finished wall. Messrs. Bartley and Levy agreed to inspect the wall and call the staff with recommended changes, if any. Although the Committee did not in particular like the design of the wall, they agreed to recommend its approval. 513-515 S. 4th Street, Irv Shapiro, Architect, Mel Heifetz and Jerry Feinstein, owners. Messrs. Heifetz and Feinstein presented their proposal for the rehabilitation of these two twentieth century buildings in the Queen Village area. 513 S. 4th Street suffered serious alteration several years ago when the two top floors and the front facade were removed and replaced with a two-story front. The current proposal calls for the installation of a new shopfront which will tie together the two buildings. The cornice line on 513 will repeat the design on the adjacent building. The Committee recommended an approval of Mr. Shapiro's proposal for 513-515 S. 4th Street and asked that photographs be supplied to the Historical Commission for its files. It was pointed out that if this project becomes a Tax Act Project, any changes recommended by the State must be resubmitted to this Committee for review and approval. PLAQUES 1017 Clinton Street.
513-515 S. 4th Street and asked that photographs be supplied to the Historical Commission for its files. It was pointed out that if this project becomes a Tax Act Project, any changes recommended by the State must be resubmitted to this Committee for review and approval. PLAQUES 1017 Clinton Street. Mr. Bartley reported that he made an on-site inspection of this property. Mr. Bartley recommended that a plaque not be given to the owners of 1017 Clinton Street because of an existing exterior storm window on the front dormer. 321-323 S. 11th Street. The Committee reviewed photographs of the property at 321-323 S. 11th Street and recommended that a plaque not be given at this time. The Committee further recommended that the owners come to the Historical Commission office for consultation on appropriate changes. The shutters, in particular, were inappropriate. 1928 Wallace Street. The Committee reviewed photographs of this property at 1928 Wallace Street and recommended that Mr. Bartley inspect this structure. Mr. Bartley will report his recommendations at a later meeting. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:39 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Terry Koob, Clerk Steno II