July Advocacy Update

Before and after of 124 E. Indiana Avenue. Impact Services used state historic tax credits to rehabilitate the Hoyle Harrison & Kaye Textile Mill into 48 units of affordable housing now known as A & Indiana.

Last Thursday, the PA General Assembly passed the fiscal year 2024 - 2025 budget. The tax code included language to raise the annual cap of the historic tax credit program to $20 million! This impressive quadrupling of available funding will allow more rehabilitation projects to be completed across the Commonwealth.

We would like to thank Senator Nikil Saval, Senator Frank Farry, Rep. Steve Samuelson, Rep. Jim Prokopiak, and many others in the House and Senate leadership for helping us achieve this feat.

The PA Historic Tax Credit Coalition, led by the Preservation Alliance and Preservation Pennsylvania, is committed to strengthening this important economic development tool and continues to push for greater improvements to the program.

Thank you to those who contacted their state legislators to raise awareness of the need to strengthen this program!

At the July Historical Commission meeting, the Southeast Spruce Hill Historic District was approved for designation three decades after first being proposed! Spruce Hill is said to have the largest collection of Victorian-era residential architecture of any American city. Yet, most of it was not on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places and was, therefore, subject to demolition or inappropriate alteration.

Congratulations to the Spruce Hill Community Association, which sponsored the nomination and managed the community engagement process for the past three years. The association plans to submit several additional nominations for the remaining sections of the neighborhood not included in the southeast quadrant.

The Southeast Spruce Hill Historic District, with its incredible Victorian residential architecture on tree-lined streets, is now Philadelphia’s 42nd historic district.

Washington Square West Historic District Continued

The Washington Square West Historic District was also on the agenda of July’s Historical Commission meeting, but it was continued to September following property owners' requests. In late May, the Committee on Historic Designation unanimously recommended approval of the Washington Square West Historic District.

If you support adding this historic district to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, please email the Historical Commission to express your support! We also encourage you to attend the next Historical Commission meeting on September 13 to be held virtually.

Leasing Opportunity on North Broad

A North Philadelphia landmark is looking for a new tenant! Built for streetcar magnate Charles Ellis in the 1890s by architect William Decker, the property retains remarkable historic integrity both outside and within. The interior maintains original ornate woodwork, stained glass, fireplaces, mantelpieces, tilework, and more.

The owners hope to lease the building, which was listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 2018, as offices or similar to an organization that will appreciate its historic character and stewards it appropriately.

Interested? Email info@ellismansion.org

Only a few days remain to provide public input to Montgomery County on the future of the Airy Street Prison in Norristown! After withdrawing the demolition permit, the county wants to collect innovative concepts for the site from the community. 

Participating in the survey lets the county know that there is support for preserving this gothic structure. The survey is open until July 25.