Your May  Preservation Newsletter
Alliance Partner Series: Learning About Preservation Easements
Thursday, May 16 
8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Location:  DLA Lighting at the Bourse
7:30 AM     Registration and continental breakfast 8:00 AM     Program
A joint presentation of the Preservation Alliance and the Building Industry Association

A preservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement between a property owner and the Preservation Alliance that ensures the long-term protection of an historic property.  Easements can yield significant tax benefits to the property owner and are a powerful tool for historic preservation.  Learn about how preservation easements work and how they can benefit property owners and the community.  Join us to learn about the program and the impact it may have from our panel of experts. A Q&A session will follow the panel discussion. CLE and AIA CEU credits available.
2019 Preservation Achievement Awards
Wednesday, June 5th
5:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Program 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Vie, 600 N. Broad Street
Each year the Preservation Alliance presents the Preservation Achievement Awards to a select group of individuals, organizations and businesses for projects from throughout the region which exemplify outstanding achievement in the field of historic preservation. Don't miss the largest celebration of historic preservation in our region!

Chester-Regent Historic District
Six Properties & One Historic District Newly Added to Philadelphia Register
 
On Friday, May 10, the Philadelphia Historical Commission formally designated six individual properties and one new historic district, adding them to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. Among them are the former  Institute for Colored Youth (915-25 Bainbridge St & 610 Percy St), a pioneering organization for African-American education and the precursor institution to Delaware County's Cheyney University. Luminaries who graced its halls include Octavius Catto, longtime principal Ebenzer Basset, and Fanny Jackson Coppin, the first African-American woman to oversee an institute of higher learning in the country. Thanks to the staff of the Historical Commission for preparing an expert nomination and recognizing such a deserving property.
 
The  Chester-Regent Historic District   also becomes the second new historic district added this year, and the eighth since district designations were revived in 2017. Situated in the heart of West Philadelphia's Spruce Hill neighborhood, the district comprises 41 homes principally built between the years 1889 and 1892 and designed by Philadelphia icon Willis G. Hale. It is a remarkably intact collection of well-designed rowhouses, twins, and one stately detached house. Kudos to nominators University City Historical Society and the district's proud tenants and homeowners for making this designation possible.
Elizabeth Fleisher Pavilion
Preservation Watch

A sampling of vulnerable historic properties for which the Alliance is now advocating

 



Dox Thrash House, 2340 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
L&I recently tagged this property "Imminently Dangerous," likely referring to a small portion of the house in the rear. But the rest of the building, once the home of a renowned African American artist, appears to be structurally sound. The house was recently sold at Sheriff's Sale to an out of town investor. A local firm that would stabilize and rehabilitate the property is now in negotiations to acquire it.
 
Elizabeth Fleisher Pavilion, Columbus Square Park 
A park renovation plan has targeted this 1960 former rec center for demolition. Designed by one of the first female registered architects in Pennsylvania, this building-in-the-round strongly resembles the former Visitors Center in Love Park that is now undergoing a sensitive rehabilitation. The Alliance has written to Parks & Rec and Councilman Squilla urging the preservation of this structure.

John Coltrane House, 1511 N. 33rd Street
We are working alongside the Fairmount Park Conservancy to undo a classic "tangled title" ownership dilemma that has caused the neglect of this National Historic Landmark, once the home of the jazz legend.
 
Levin Funeral Home, 1512 N. Broad Street
In March 2018 serious fire heavily damaged this 1930s Art Deco landmark, more recently in use as a church. The congregation is seeking a demolition permit for the property, which the Historical Commission recently denied. The Alliance has been assisting a private entity that is currently seeking to gain control of the property under Act 135, with the intent to stabilize and preserve the building.
Support Archaeological Due Diligence

May 23, 2019
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Cherry Street Pier
121 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd.


D oug Mooney, Principal Investigator at AECOM, will provide an overview of the Archaeological Due Diligence of the Vine Street Lot at 300 N. Christopher Columbus Blvd.
YFPA Shows Philly Parks Some Love

YFPA Steering Committee participated in Love Your Park Week 2019 this past weekend. They are shown here scraping and painting at Historic Rittenhouse Town! 

Upcoming Architecture Walking Tours
Saturday, May 18 at 10:00 AM  - UNDERGROUND PHILADELPHIA: SUBWAYS, RAILWAYS, AND STATIONS 

Sunday, May 19 at 2:00 PM -  RITTENHOUSE SQUARE EAST

Wednesday, May 22 at 12:00 PM -  NAVY YARD STROLL

Saturday, May 25 at 11:00 AM -  EMERGENCE OF A MODERN METROPOLIS

Saturday, May 25 at 11:00 AM -  TOUR OF THE KESWICK THEATRE & VILLAGE

Sunday, May 26 at 2:00 PM -  FRANK FURNESS: A TALK AND A TOUR
 More info & tickets...

Saturday, June 1 at 10:00 AM -  UP AND OVER THE BEN FRANKLIN BRIDGE

Saturday, June 1 at 4:00 PM -  CELEBRATING THE 300th ANNIVERSARY OF THE WILLIAM TRENT HOUSE  Soirée and tour supporting a 2019 Preservation Achievement Award Winner. Presented in partnership with Institute for Classical Art & Architecture, Philadelphia. Preservation Alliance Members receive ICAA/THA Member discount. 

Sunday, June 2 at 2:00 PM -  AROUND CITY HALL

TWO WAYS TO GIVE

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