February Advocacy Update

Federal Judge Orders Restoration of President’s House Exhibits

In a significant development, a federal judge has ordered that the interpretive exhibits at the President’s House site at Independence National Historical Park be restored, ruling that their removal violated legal protections governing the site. This decision marks an important step toward ensuring that the site continues to present a full and truthful account of our nation’s founding. The federal government has appealed this ruling, meaning the case will move to a higher court and the ultimate outcome remains uncertain.

The ruling follows the January 22 removal of the exhibits by the National Park Service. The panels, which had been on display for more than fifteen years, told the story of the nine people enslaved by George Washington during his presidency in Philadelphia. They were the result of years of research, advocacy, and community engagement.

In response to the removal, the City of Philadelphia filed a federal lawsuit challenging the decision. The Preservation Alliance also issued a statement expressing outrage and reaffirming our belief that public history must reflect the complete story, including the lives and labor of those enslaved at the site.

The Preservation Alliance will continue working closely with the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition and the President’s House Slavery Memorial Alliance to support the restoration of the exhibits and defend the importance of truthful public history.

Heart-Showering at the Germantown YWCA

On February 14, the Young Friends of the Preservation Alliance (YFPA) celebrated Valentine’s Day at their annual Heart-Showering event at the historic Germantown YWCA at 5820 Germantown Avenue. Each year, YFPA selects a site that deserves broader public attention and fills it with handmade paper hearts.

This year’s Heart-Showering drew neighbors and preservation supporters to celebrate the legacy and ongoing significance of the Germantown YWCA. For more than a century, the YWCA was a vital community anchor, supporting working women in the early 20th century, nurturing youth programs, and advancing racial equity and social services throughout Germantown. Even after decades of vacancy and physical decline, the building’s symbolic value endures.

Participants decorated the site with hearts carrying messages of hope, remembrance, and optimism for the building’s future. The Heart-Showering was a reminder that historic places matter not only for their architecture, but for the stories they hold and the role they continue to play in community identity.

Proposed amendments to Philadelphia’s Historic Preservation Ordinance, introduced in City Council last fall by Councilmember Squilla (Bill No. 251030), remain under active discussion. As introduced, the bill contained several provisions that raised serious concerns within the preservation community, including changes to how historic designations are initiated and how building permits are handled while properties are under consideration for designation.

Since its introduction, the Preservation Alliance has been participating in a series of meetings convened by Councilmember Squilla to discuss potential revisions. These conversations have been constructive, and we have been told to expect new legislative language that may address some of the most problematic elements of the original bill.

At this moment, the situation remains fluid. No revised bill has yet been formally introduced, and the timing, content, and direction of any amendments remain uncertain. As with many legislative efforts, changes may occur quickly and with little public notice.

We will continue to engage directly in these discussions and advocate for an ordinance that strengthens, rather than weakens, Philadelphia’s ability to protect its historic resources. We will keep our supporters informed as this evolving situation becomes clearer.

School District Facilities Plan Released

The School District of Philadelphia released its long-awaited Facilities Master Plan at the end of January, outlining school closures, consolidations, and capital investments across the city. We recognize that many of the twenty schools identified for closure are historic buildings that have anchored their neighborhoods for generations. Closing a school is always painful for students, families, educators, and surrounding communities. As we emphasized in testimony sent to City Council last week and in the report we released last August, these buildings are not disposable and hold deep architectural and civic significance that should not be lost in the process.

We are encouraged that the current recommendations avoid large-scale demolition. However, historic significance does not yet appear to be fully integrated into the District’s closure and conveyance framework. Preservation cannot be an afterthought once a building is declared surplus.

When schools are sold or conveyed, the Preservation Alliance is advocating that clear preservation requirements should be attached to the disposition process, through easements, deed restrictions, or defined reuse criteria, to ensure that community anchors remain intact. Communities should be meaningfully involved in reuse discussions from the outset, especially when buildings have long served as neighborhood centers.

We also strongly support modernization and investment in safe, healthy learning environments. No student or educator should endure unsafe conditions. But modernization, mothballing, and interim stabilization must respect and retain historic fabric so that buildings remain viable for adaptive reuse and long-term stewardship. Philadelphia can protect its students while also protecting the architectural legacy that defines so many of our neighborhoods.

Set during the year of the nation’s 250th anniversary, For Love to Thrive is a cultural heritage resource fair celebrating African American heritage sites and initiatives across the Greater Philadelphia region. Presented by the Friends of the Tanner House and the Free Library of Philadelphia, the event will be held at Parkway Central Library on Saturday, February 21, 12-4 PM, and is open to all.

We're proud to partner with the Center City Business Association for Meet the Developers on Tuesday, March 3 at 8:00 AM at Rivers Casino.

This panel offers discussion with leading developers, architects, and civic leaders on Center City's growth, changing boundaries, and the future of construction in Philadelphia. Moderated by our own Executive Director, Paul Steinke, the conversation will include time for Q&A and networking.