April Advocacy Update

Washington Square West Historic District Case Reopened

In late March, the Court of Common Pleas granted the Preservation Alliance's motion to intervene in the Washington Square West Historic District appeal. As a result, the court vacated its prior decision to reverse the district designation and reopened its review of the original appeal. The Preservation Alliance has also been formally recognized as a party to the case.

We will shortly submit our brief in support of the Philadelphia Historical Commission’s designation. In the meantime, the Washington Square West Historic District remains in effect.

We appreciate the opportunity for a more complete and thorough review of the case and remain confident that the Historical Commission made the correct decision in designating the historic district.

Support PA’s Historic Preservation Tax Credit

Momentum is building to strengthen Pennsylvania’s Historic Preservation Tax Credit, but we need your help. House Bill 1572 would raise the per-project cap to $1.5 million, unlocking more investment in historic buildings and supporting projects that create jobs, revitalize communities, and produce much-needed housing.

This bill passed the state House of Representatives last June, and as budget negotiations are underway in Harrisburg, now is the time to ensure it remains a priority. We’ve made it easy by supplying pre-drafted emails to contact your state legislators and urge them to support HB 1572 and prioritize its inclusion in any forthcoming tax package.

Your outreach makes a real difference!

Over the past several months, the Preservation Alliance has been actively engaged in discussions with Councilmember Squilla on proposed changes to Philadelphia’s historic preservation ordinance, Bill No. 251030.

We appreciate the opportunity to participate in these conversations and the commitment to revise the bill, but we still have significant concerns. Most notably, the latest proposal does not fully address our key concern of ensuring that buildings are adequately protected once they are nominated for historic designation. While it would prohibit demolition during the nomination review period, it does not prevent other inappropriate alterations that could compromise historic integrity before the Historical Commission completes its review.

More broadly, the legislation would introduce new barriers to designation, reduce transparency, and weaken key aspects of the review process.

Public hearings are expected in the coming weeks, and decisions made will have lasting impacts on how Philadelphia manages growth and protects its historic places.

We will be sharing additional ways to get involved soon!

Preservation and Housing: A Timely Conversation

A recent article in Shelterforce highlights the complex relationship between housing and preservation and the need for policies that support both. This is an important reminder that preservation can and should proactively shape more equitable and sustainable housing solutions.

We were glad to see our recent study cited in the piece, which underscores the importance of Philadelphia’s older, naturally affordable housing stock and the risks it faces without proactive preservation strategies. This conversation is critical as the city continues to grapple with housing affordability and neighborhood change. 

We’re pleased to serve as fiscal sponsor for the MLK Center at Old Main project, supporting community-led efforts to preserve and reactivate this important historic building in Delaware County.

Old Main, on the campus of Crozer Theological Seminary, was where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spent three formative years studying how to combine his faith with the fight for social and economic justice.

Building on that legacy, the vision for the MLK Center at Old Main is a multipurpose space that includes auxiliary health services, space for nonprofit organizations and community events, and a U.S. Civil Rights museum, study center, and library.