M. ROOM 18-029, 1515 ARCH STREET, WITH REMOTE OPTION ON ZOOM ZACHARY FRANKEL, CHAIR CALL TO ORDER START TIME IN ZOOM RECORDING: 00:00:00 Mr. m. and announced the presence of a quorum. , Committee on Historic Designation Chair (Historian) X Thomas Holloman (City Council) X John P. Lech (Department of Licenses & Inspections) X Dan McCoubrey, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Architectural Committee Chair (Architect) X Stephanie Michel (Community Organization) X Mina Monavarian (Philadelphia City Planning Commission) X Ibriz Muhammad (Commerce Department) X Arrived 9:21am Kyle O’Connor (Department of Public Property) X Franz Rabauer X Robert Thomas, AIA (Architectural Historian) X Matthew Treat (Department of Planning and Development) X The meeting was held in person at 1515 Arch Street, with the option for applicants and the public to participate via Zoom video and audio-conferencing software. , Klehr Harrison Cory Kegerise, University of Pennsylvania David Traub, Save Our Sites G.
Oh Greg Barnaby Jake Blumgart, Inquirer Jerry Roller, JKRP Architects Katie Broh, MGA Kimberly Haas, Hidden City Matt Masterpasqua, Mass Architecture Studio LLC Mike Buckley Owen Felty Paul Steinke, Preservation Alliance Reed Slogoff, Pearl Properties Roy Aharonovich Sara Pochedly, Toner Architects Stephanie M. Pennypacker Suzanna Barucco PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION, 11 SEPTEMBER 2026 PHILADELPHIA’S PRINCIPAL PUBLIC STEWARD OF HISTORIC RESOURCES 3 ADOPTION OF MINUTES, 768TH STATED MEETING, 14 AUGUST 2026 START TIME IN ZOOM RECORDING: 00:03:50 DISCUSSION: • Mr. Frankel asked the Commissioners, staff, and members of the public if they had any suggested additions or corrections to the minutes of the preceding meeting of the Historical Commission, the 768th Stated Meeting, held 14 August 2026. No comments were offered. ACTION: Mr. Thomas moved to adopt the minutes of the 768th Stated Meeting of the Philadelphia Historical Commission, held 14 August 2026. Mr. McCoubrey seconded the motion, which was adopted by unanimous consent.
gov OVERVIEW: The applicant for 1910 Chestnut Street has requested to continue the application from the September 2026 meeting of the Historical Commission to the October 2026 meeting. START TIME OF DISCUSSION IN ZOOM RECORDING: 00:04:16 PUBLIC COMMENT: • None. ACTION: Ms. Washington moved to continue the review of the application for 1910 Chestnut Street to the 9 October 2026 meeting of the Historical Commission. Mr. Thomas seconded the motion, which was adopted by unanimous consent. ITEM: Request for continuance MOTION: Approve continuance MOVED BY: Washington SECONDED BY: Thomas VOTE Commissioner Yes No Abstain Recuse Absent Frankel, Chair X Washington, Vice Chair X Cooperman X Holloman (City Council) X Lech (L&I) X McCoubrey X Michel X Monavarian (PCPC) X Muhammad (Commerce) X O’Connor (DPP) X Rabauer X Thomas X Treat (DPD) X Total 11 2 PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION, 11 SEPTEMBER 2026 PHILADELPHIA’S PRINCIPAL PUBLIC STEWARD OF HISTORIC RESOURCES 5 REPORT OF THE ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE, 25 AUGUST 2026 CONSENT AGENDA START TIME OF DISCUSSION IN ZOOM RECORDING: 00:04:41 DISCUSSION: • Mr. Frankel asked the Commissioners, staff, and public for comments on the Consent Agenda.
• Ms. Monavarian requested to remove the application for 1706-10 Walnut Street from the Consent Agenda so that it could be discussed. PUBLIC COMMENT: • None. ACTION: Mr. McCoubrey moved to adopt the recommendations of the Architectural Committee for the applications for 4619-25 Longshore Avenue, and 2129 Chestnut Street and 15-19 S. 22nd Street. Ms. Monavarian seconded the motion, which was adopted by unanimous consent. ITEM: Consent Agenda MOTION: Adopt Architectural Committee recommendations for Consent Agenda items MOVED BY: McCoubrey SECONDED BY: Monavarian VOTE Commissioner Yes No Abstain Recuse Absent Frankel, Chair X Washington, Vice Chair X Cooperman X Holloman (City Council) X Lech (L&I) X McCoubrey X Michel X Monavarian (PCPC) X Muhammad (Commerce) X O’Connor (DPP) X Rabauer X Thomas X Treat (DPD) X Total 11 2 PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION, 11 SEPTEMBER 2026 PHILADELPHIA’S PRINCIPAL PUBLIC STEWARD OF HISTORIC RESOURCES 6 AGENDA ADDRESS: 4619-25 LONGSHORE AVE Proposal: Construct elevator addition Review Requested: Final Approval Owner: CDE Investments LLC Applicant: Andy Gray, Toner Architects History: 1908; Tacony Club; Clyde S.
gov OVERVIEW: This application proposes erecting an elevator tower at the rear of the building at 4619 Longshore Avenue, the former Tacony Club. The tower would engage the rear wall of the building through a small connector and communicate with the parking lot through a small vestibule. New openings would be created at four levels of the rear of the building, and the rear dormer would be extended to meet the tower. The Historical Commission recently completed a conceptual review of this project. During that review, discussion by the Architectural Committee and Historical Commission focused on the impact to historic window openings and the cornice. During those reviews, the applicants were encouraged to explore the feasibility of a connector, reducing the width of the point of connection with the rear wall. Some Commissioners expressed concern about the impact to the rear cornice but acknowledged that elevator access to the top floor may be necessary to make the redevelopment of the property financially viable and asked for additional information supporting that necessity.
The current proposal responds to the previous feedback by including a connector to avoid interfering with any of the historic window openings besides the rear dormer. SCOPE OF WORK: • Construct three-story elevator tower with connector and vestibule. STANDARDS FOR REVIEW: The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and Guidelines include: • Standard 9: New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction will not destroy historic materials, features, and spatial relationships that characterize the property. The new works shall be differentiated from the old and will be compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale and proportion, and massing to protect the integrity of the property and its environment. o Recommended: Constructing a new addition that results in the least possible loss of historic materials so that character-defining features are not obscured, damaged, or destroyed. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval, with the staff to review details, pursuant to Standard 9.
ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: The Architectural Committee voted to recommend approval, provided that the limestone areas are brick; the connector siding is brick except above the cornice; and any cornice material removed is retained; with the staff to review PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION, 11 SEPTEMBER 2026 PHILADELPHIA’S PRINCIPAL PUBLIC STEWARD OF HISTORIC RESOURCES 7 details, pursuant to Standard 9. ACTION: See Consent Agenda. gov OVERVIEW: This application proposes the construction of a three-story building with setback penthouse and roof deck at 1706-10 Walnut Street. Historically, this lot was three individual parcels with three-story attached buildings. The buildings were contributing resources to the Rittenhouse Fitler Historic District. In May 2020, the buildings were severely damaged in a fire associated with the civil unrest surrounding the murder of George Floyd and deemed Imminently Dangerous by the Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I).
After consulting with L&I and the Law Department, the Historical Commission’s staff approved the complete demolitions of the three buildings in December 2020, owing to L&I’s determination that the buildings posed an imminent threat to public safety. The following condition, authored by the Law Department, was attached to the demolition permits: Pursuant to this demolition permit, the current owner will demolish the entire structure on the property, including the facade. c of the Historical Commission’s Rules & Regulations, the current owner or any succeeding owner will make a reasonable effort to file an application for a building permit for a new building on the property within one (1) year from the date of completion of demolition of the structure, with the understanding that construction of a new building might not commence within such one-year period. This paragraph shall be applicable to the current or any succeeding owner of the property and shall not constitute any restriction on transfer of ownership of the property.
The current owner will make reasonable efforts to document the current appearance of the facade of the building on the property and will take reasonable steps to preserve any existing, historically significant construction elements in designing any new facade to be constructed. Neither the City nor the Historical Commission ordered or required the reconstruction of the lost historic buildings or their facades as a condition of the demolition; they do not have the authority to issue such an order. The Historical Commission and its advisory Architectural Committee did not review the demolition permit applications at public meetings and did not place conditions on the demolitions. The Historical Commission’s staff and Law Department required the documentation and salvage as part of the demolition permits to allow for the possibility of reconstruction, but they did not order reconstruction; they do not have that authority. During the current review process, the Historical Commission has the discretion to deny a proposal that does not propose reconstruction, but it does not have the authority to simply order reconstruction.
The Historical Commission must review within the scope of work proposed by the property owner. PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION, 11 SEPTEMBER 2026 PHILADELPHIA’S PRINCIPAL PUBLIC STEWARD OF HISTORIC RESOURCES 8 The proposed building is planned as two stories of retail space with a setback rooftop penthouse, deck, and elevator. The primary façade is proposed to have limestone masonry cladding, extensive window glazing, and dark bronze aluminum details. The front façade and cornice would align with the adjacent buildings. Based on the application materials, the proposed new construction would be compatible with this block of Walnut Street within the Rittenhouse Fitler Historic District and this block of Walnut Street. SCOPE OF WORK: • Construct a two-story building with mezzanine and roof deck. STANDARDS FOR REVIEW: The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and Guidelines include: • Standard 9: New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction will not destroy historic materials, features, and spatial relationships that characterize the property.
The new works shall be differentiated from the old and will be compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale and proportion, and massing to protect the integrity of the property and its environment. o The proposed new construction meets Standard 9 in terms of materials, features, size, scale and proportion, and massing and is compatible with the historic district. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval, with the staff to review details, pursuant to Standard 9. ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: The Architectural Committee voted to recommend approval, provided a bronze or limestone cornice is added to the front facade, with the staff to review details, pursuant to Standard 9. START TIME OF DISCUSSION IN ZOOM RECORDING: 00:07:20 PRESENTERS: • Ms. Mehley presented the application to the Historical Commission. • Architect Marissa Howard and attorney Stephanie Magagna represented the application. PUBLIC COMMENT: • David Traub of Save Our Sites spoke in support of the application. • Arielle Harris stated that the approval of the demolitions of the buildings required their reconstruction in kind. She stated that the reconstruction is required by City ordinance.
o Mr. Farnham corrected the record. He stated that the demolition approvals did not require reconstruction in kind. HISTORICAL COMMISSION FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: The Historical Commission found that: • The proposed design is compatible with the 1700 block of Walnut Street and the Rittenhouse Fitler Historic District. • The revised design, based on the Architectural Committee’s feedback, includes a bronze cornice on the front façade. The cornice aligns with the adjacent buildings. • The applicant will work with the City Planning Commission and the Department of Licenses and Inspections to determine if the front façade and entrances can be flush PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION, 11 SEPTEMBER 2026 PHILADELPHIA’S PRINCIPAL PUBLIC STEWARD OF HISTORIC RESOURCES 9 with the property line, rather than set back. Aligning the front façade with the property line better satisfies the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. The Historical Commission concluded that: • The revised application satisfies Standard 9 in terms of materials, features, size, scale and proportion, and massing and is compatible with the historic district. ACTION: Mr.
McCoubrey moved to approve the revised application, pursuant to Standard 9. Ms. Washington seconded the motion, which was adopted by unanimous consent. ITEM: 1706-10 Walnut St MOTION: Approval MOVED BY: McCoubrey SECONDED BY: Washington VOTE Commissioner Yes No Abstain Recuse Absent Frankel, Chair X Washington, Vice Chair X Cooperman X Holloman (City Council) X Lech (L&I) X McCoubrey X Michel X Monavarian (PCPC) X Muhammad (Commerce) X O’Connor (DPP) X Rabauer X Thomas X Treat (DPD) X Total 12 1 ADDRESS: 2129 CHESTNUT ST AND 15-19 S 22ND ST Proposal: Create new doorways; regrade paths; install cooling tower Review Requested: Final Approval Owner: College of Physicians Applicant: Catherine Broh, MGA Partners History: 2129 Chestnut St: 1883; Church of New Jerusalem; Theophilus P. , architect. gov OVERVIEW: This application proposes alterations to two adjacent historic buildings, both owned by the College of Physicians, to create an accessible path between the buildings. It proposes creating a new pedestrian doorway at each building and a path through the garden connecting the new doors. The new doorway in the College of Physicians building would replace a bay window.
The new doorway at the former church building would be cut in the side facade. Contemporary glass canopies would be added above both doors. PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION, 11 SEPTEMBER 2026 PHILADELPHIA’S PRINCIPAL PUBLIC STEWARD OF HISTORIC RESOURCES 10 The application also proposes adding a cooling tower along the rear or S. Van Pelt Street elevation of the College of Physicians building at 15-19 S. 22nd Street. The cooling tower would be screened within a louvered aluminum enclosure with room for an additional cooling tower to be installed in the future. The cooling tower would replace the many condensers that sit along the Ludlow Street elevation of the College of Physicians building. SCOPE OF WORK: • Create new doorways • Regrade paths • Install cooling tower STANDARDS FOR REVIEW: The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and Guidelines include: • Standard 2: The historic character of a property will be retained and preserved. The removal of distinctive materials or alteration of features, spaces and spatial relationships that characterize a property will be avoided.
o Recommended: Finding solutions to meet accessibility requirements that minimize the impact of any necessary alteration on the historic building, its site, and setting, such as compatible ramps, paths, and lifts. , ensuring that the new entrance or porch is clearly subordinate to historic primary entrances or porches) • Standard 9: New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction will not destroy historic materials, features, and spatial relationships that characterize the property. The new works shall be differentiated from the old and will be compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale and proportion, and massing to protect the integrity of the property and its environment. o Recommended: Installing a new mechanical system, if required, so that it results in the least alteration possible to the historic building and its character-defining features. o Recommended: Placing air conditioning compressors in a location on a secondary elevation of the historic building that is not highly visible. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approval, with the staff to review details, pursuant to Standards 2 and 9.
ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: The Architectural Committee voted to recommend approval, provided the canopies are detailed to expose more masonry and properly drain; and that the noise generated by the cooling tower is mitigated; with the staff to review details, pursuant to Standards 2 and 9. ACTION: See Consent Agenda. PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION, 11 SEPTEMBER 2026 PHILADELPHIA’S PRINCIPAL PUBLIC STEWARD OF HISTORIC RESOURCES 11 OLD BUSINESS ADDRESS: 1504 PINE ST Proposal: Stucco front facade; replace windows Review Requested: Final Approval Owner: 1504 Pine St LLC Applicant: Matt Masterpasqua, Mass Architecture Studio LLC History: 1851; Union Place, 18 rowhouses; Thomas U. gov OVERVIEW: This application proposes applying a stucco finish over the brownstone façade of 1504 Pine Street. The property is part of a row of 18 Italianate brownstone rowhouses designed by prominent architect Thomas U. Walter and built in 1851. Prior to the row’s designation in 1971, a rusticated stucco coating was applied over the first two floors of the building at 1504 Pine Street. The brownstone on the upper floors exhibits some delamination and damage.
Windows at the basement and fourth floor were replaced without Historical Commission approval in 2009 and a legalization application for that work was denied in 2010. The illegal windows remain in place. The applicants, new owners of the property, propose removing the older stucco and applying a thin layer of stucco over the entire façade, tooled with a simulated join pattern. They cite the stuccoed façade at 1514 Pine Street as a similar scope of work. The stucco work at 1514 and 1506 Pine Street pre-date the designation of this row. It is unclear exactly how thick the stucco coating would be. The proposed scope of work would likely result in removal of detail in the trim elements around the window openings in addition to the more elaborate ornament on the first and second floors, which is currently covered by the rusticated stucco. The application also proposes replacing the windows on the front elevation. Elevation drawings suggest that the proposed replacements replicate the historic windows, with a thicker central muntin, but no section drawings have yet been submitted. SCOPE OF WORK: • Rehabilitate front façade. • Apply stucco to front façade. • Replace windows.
STANDARDS FOR REVIEW: The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and Guidelines include: • Standard 5: Distinctive materials, features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a property will be preserved. • Standard 6: Deteriorated historic features will be repaired rather than replaced. Where the severity of deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature will match the old in design, color, texture and, where possible, materials. Replacement of missing features will be substantiated by documentary and physical evidence. • Masonry Guidelines: o Not recommended: PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION, 11 SEPTEMBER 2026 PHILADELPHIA’S PRINCIPAL PUBLIC STEWARD OF HISTORIC RESOURCES 12 Applying paint or other coatings (such as stucco) to masonry that has been historically unpainted or uncoated to create a new appearance. Removing a masonry feature that is unrepairable and not replacing it, or replacing it with a new feature that does not match.
Using substitute material for the replacement that does not convey the same appearance of the surviving components of the masonry feature. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Denial, pursuant to Standards 5 and 6 and the Masonry Guidelines. ARCHITECTURAL COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: The Architectural Committee voted to recommend denial, pursuant to Standards 5 and 6 and the Masonry Guidelines. START TIME OF DISCUSSION IN ZOOM RECORDING: 00:18:25 PRESENTERS: • Mr. Maust presented the application to the Historical Commission. • Architect Matt Masterpasqua represented the application. PUBLIC COMMENT: • None. HISTORICAL COMMISSION FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: The Historical Commission found that: • A latex stucco could be a suitable product to cover the lower two floors while preserving decorative features. The latex stucco can act as a consolidant to the damaged brownstone presently covered by stucco. • Houses in this row have a distinctive style of window including a wide central muntin with a decorative bead.
The Historical Commission concluded that: • Restoring the upper floors and replacing the existing stucco on the lower floors with a more sensitive stucco would satisfy Standards 5 and 6 and the Masonry guidelines. ACTION: Mr. McCoubrey moved to approve the application, with the staff to review details including the width and detailing of central window muntins, pursuant to Standards 5 and 6 and the Masonry Guidelines. Ms. Cooperman seconded the motion, which was adopted by unanimous consent. , Mr. McCoubrey moved to adjourn. Ms. Washington seconded the motion, which was adopted by unanimous consent. ITEM: Adjournment MOTION: Adjourn MOVED BY: McCoubrey SECONDED BY: Washington VOTE Commissioner Yes No Abstain Recuse Absent Frankel, Chair X Washington, Vice Chair X Cooperman X Holloman (City Council) X Lech (L&I) X McCoubrey X Michel X Monavarian (PCPC) X Muhammad (Commerce) X O’Connor (DPP) X Rabauer X Thomas X Treat (DPD) X Total 12 1 PHILADELPHIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION, 11 SEPTEMBER 2026 PHILADELPHIA’S PRINCIPAL PUBLIC STEWARD OF HISTORIC RESOURCES 14 PLEASE NOTE: • Minutes of the Philadelphia Historical Commission and its advisory committees are presented in action format. Additional information is available in the video recording for this meeting. The start time for each agenda item in the recording is noted. gov/historical. CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION §14-1004. Designation. (1) Criteria for Designation.
A building, complex of buildings, structure, site, object, or district may be designated for preservation if it: (a) Has significant character, interest, or value as part of the development, heritage, or cultural characteristics of the City, Commonwealth, or nation or is associated with the life of a person significant in the past; (b) Is associated with an event of importance to the history of the City, Commonwealth or Nation; (c) Reflects the environment in an era characterized by a distinctive architectural style; (d) Embodies distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style or engineering specimen; (e) Is the work of a designer, architect, landscape architect or designer, or professional engineer whose work has significantly influenced the historical, architectural, economic, social, or cultural development of the City, Commonwealth, or nation; (f) Contains elements of design, detail, materials, or craftsmanship that represent a significant innovation; (g) Is part of or related to a square, park, or other distinctive area that should be preserved according to a historic, cultural, or architectural motif; (h) Owing to its unique location or singular physical characteristic, represents an established and familiar visual feature of the neighborhood, community, or City; (i) Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in pre-history or history; or (j) Exemplifies the cultural, political, economic, social, or historical heritage of the community.