Many of you have checked out books or taken your kids for activities to the Walnut Street West Library at the corner of 40th and Walnut. This Saturday, the library is celebrating its 110th anniversary, and this is a perfect opportunity to visit on this special day – to thank the staff for all the work they’ve been doing and to celebrate with them.

A lot of fun activities are being planned throughout the day, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., for children, adults, and families, such as live music and singing performances, storytimes, chess coaching, salsa and zumba classes, cake, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream sampling, and more.

Library and city officials will also speak at the event. Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell will read a resolution from City Council, followed by remarks and cake at 2 p.m.

The party will take place rain or shine, with activities outside as weather permits. For more information and event and activities schedule, visit the Friends of Walnut Street West Library website.

The Walnut Street West Library serves the communities of University City and Spruce Hill and is one of the most used Free Library of Philadelphia branches.  Continue Reading

West Philly residents, especially those in Powelton, Mantua, Belmont, Mill Creek, and in the former Black Bottom neighborhoods are invited to a meeting this Tuesday (Apr. 19) to talk about neighborhood history and provide input for an online history map of West Philly. You can bring your old photos and personal stories to share. The meeting will be held at New Africa Center at 4243 Lancaster Avenue, beginning at 6 p.m.

The “Black Bottom” was a predominantly African American neighborhood, located between 40th and 32nd Streets and Powelton Avenue and Curie Boulevard. The neighborhood was mostly razed for urban renewal in the 1960s.

“Walnut 32,” the parking garage on Penn’s campus at 3201 Walnut, is one of the winners of this year’s Preservation Achievement Awards. Others include the Penn Museum (below) and the Hamilton Mansion at The Woodlands (far below). Photos provided by the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia.

Three West Philly buildings, including the Penn Museum, the Hamilton Mansion at The Woodlands and a parking garage, are among the winners of this year’s Preservation Achievement Awards.

Built in 1770 (and rebuilt since), the Hamilton Mansion is the centerpiece of The Woodlands’ grounds. The preservation award is for the restoration of the cryptoporticus, an underground passageway on the front of the building, and north terrace. Penn Museum’s award is for the renovation of the building’s west wing, which began in 2010.

Perhaps most intriguing is the award to the parking garage called “Walnut 32.” It’s safe to say that parking garages typically draw few fans of architecture. But there is something about Walnut 32 that is appealing. At least the architects tried in 1963 to make interesting what is a necessary evil and typically a blotch on the architectural landscape. Even the folks at Hidden City Philadelphia really like it, writing that “it may not be a beautiful building, but it does reveal its structure in a striking and elegant way.”  Continue Reading

36th and Lancaster

The city’s Historical Commission today added a strip of Lancaster Avenue commercial and residential buildings dating to the 1870s to the Registry of Historic Places.

The designation of the south side of the 3600 block of Lancaster Avenue requires Historical Commission approval of building or renovation plans.

An attorney for the property’s owner, AP Construction, vowed to appeal the decision.

The Powelton Village Civic Association began to pursue the designation last spring when it learned of AP Construction’s plans to demolish the block and reportedly sell it for student housing. With street-level storefronts and apartments on upper floors, the block anchors the main commercial strip in the neighborhood.

About 25 residents of Powelton Village were on hand at the meeting and nearly all raised their hands when asked if they agreed with the historic designation proposal.  Continue Reading

36th and Lancaster.

The Philadelphia Historical Commission will consider proposals on Friday to add the Second Empire style twins at 43rd and Osage and the south side of the 3600 block of Lancaster Avenue, both eyed by developers, to the Register of Historic Places.

The commission’s Committee on Historic Designation recommended both properties last month and now they go before the full commission. Placement on the Historic Register stipulates that the commission “must review all proposals that require a building permit and/or that would alter the appearance of the historic resource prior to the commencement of work,” according to the commission website.

Here’s more background on both properties.

The meeting begins at 9 a.m. at 1515 Arch Street, room 18-029. Click here for the full agenda.

Twins at 4300-4306 Osage Avenue.

The city Historical Commission’s Committee on Historic Designation recommended on Wednesday adding the Second Empire style twins at the 43rd and Osage and the south side of the 3600 block of Lancaster Avenue, both eyed by developers, to the Register of Historic Places.

Proposals for both properties now move to the Historical Commission for final approval scheduled for Oct. 9. Placement on the Historic Register stipulates that the commission “must review all proposals that require a building permit and/or that would alter the appearance of the historic resource prior to the commencement of work,” according to the commission website.  Continue Reading