Post Bros. co-founder Mike Pestronk during presentation of the proposed addition to the Garden Court Plaza at 47th and Pine at last night’s Garden Court zoning committee meeting.

A crowd of about 70 people gathered to hear about a proposed 243-unit addition to the Garden Court Plaza complex on the 4700 block of Pine Street voted overwhelmingly against the plan.

Proposed building rendering (view from Pine Street).

Post Bros., the current owners of Garden Court Plaza, want to erect an adjacent building that would bring the total number of residential units of the complex at the corner of 47th and Pine to 389. The plan requires the city to issue variances for both building height and density. Current zoning for the site allows for a building with a maximum height of 38 feet. The proposal would double the density maximum for the site, currently set at 170 units.  Continue Reading

Tour festively decorated Laurel Hill, Woodford, and Historic Strawberry Mansion on this exclusive tour lit softly by candlelight, evoking the past in a unique and lovely way. Friendly and knowledgeable guides share the rich and interesting history of Fairmount Park and the life of the residents who called each of these magnificent buildings home. The tour concludes with assorted hors d’oeuvres and desserts at Historic Strawberry Mansion. Transportation to each house is included on a private trolley car. Pick up is at Lloyd Hall (1 Boathouse Row, Philadelphia, PA 19130) at 5:30 pm.

Buy tickets here: http://www.historicstrawberrymansion.org/holiday-candlelight-tour/

Tour festively decorated Laurel Hill, Woodford, and Historic Strawberry Mansion on this exclusive tour lit softly by candlelight, evoking the past in a unique and lovely way. Friendly and knowledgeable guides share the rich and interesting history of Fairmount Park and the life of the residents who called each of these magnificent buildings home. The tour concludes with assorted hors d’oeuvres and desserts at Historic Strawberry Mansion. Transportation to each house is included on a private trolley car. Pick up is at Lloyd Hall (1 Boathouse Row, Philadelphia, PA 19130) at 5:30 pm.

Buy tickets here: http://www.historicstrawberrymansion.org/holiday-candlelight-tour/

Two more historic homes are being demolished this week and at least one is to make way for student housing.

• Demolition continued this week on two Victorian semi-detached homes – at 620 and 622 S. 42nd. Located a stone’s throw from the University of the Sciences campus, the adjoined structures were built in the 1870s. The parcel’s zoning is RM-1, meaning a multi-unit structure will likely be built there with no zoning oversight.

• An Italianate mansion was demolished at 41st and Sansom to make way for student housing. The demolition recently drew citywide attention from Inga Saffron in The Philadelphia Inquirer. The building that will replace it will be built “by right,” meaning no zoning oversight is required.  Continue Reading

Here’s an opportunity to learn about future development of two properties in Powelton Village – Hawthorne Hall and the United Bank building. People’s Emergency Center (PEC) will present updates on the potential uses of these two properties at tonight’s community meeting, and neighbors are invited to participate in the visioning process.

The meeting will be held at the United Bank building (3750 Lancaster Ave.), beginning at 7 p.m.

Hawthorne Hall (3849 Lancaster Ave) was built in 1895 and serves as a landmark for the Powelton Village/Mantua neighborhoods. Now vacant property is listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. It was bought by the People’s Emergency Center (PEC) in 2012 for $385,000.

The Philadelphia Historical Commission voted Friday to designate the west side of the 400 block of S. 42nd Street (420-434 S. 42nd) a historic district, a significant victory for local preservationists who want to protect historic buildings from the rapid development sweeping many of the city’s neighborhoods.

Named the “420 Row,” the cluster of Victorian row homes is the first historic district to be named since 2010, according to the Historical Commission. Designation means that the Historic Commission must approve any demolition or significant changes to the buildings. The designation comes as plans to convert one of the residences, a former fraternity house, into apartments are before the Spruce Hill Community Association zoning committee.

Block captain Justin McDaniel spearheaded the effort. Here is the designation application. Here is a list of other historic districts in the city, which include Parkside in West Philadelphia.

Increased development and a reluctance to grant historic status to large parts of West Philadelphia has prompted preservationists, including many members of local zoning committees, to seek designation on a “block by block” basis. Other designation applications are likely to follow.  Continue Reading