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Updates from Young Friends of the Preservation Alliance
| | Our newsletters provide quarterly updates about YFPA events and initiatives. For more up-to-date notifications, please follow YFPA on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. | | Saucer Gets a New Mission | |
Beginning in 2015, YFPA helped lead the effort to save the iconic Love Park Welcome Center when it was threatened with demolition. We researched its history, launched the #SaveTheSaucer campaign, helped start a public petition, and organized a photo exhibit to build awareness and public support.
That advocacy has paid off! The Love Park Welcome Center was added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in October 2025, and the beloved mid-century modern landmark is now getting a new lease on life.
A permanent tenant is planned for next year, with the Saucer set to reopen as a coffee shop. In the meantime, Broad Street Brewing is bringing a beer garden to LOVE Park.
YFPA celebrated this progress with a happy hour at the Saucer in August. We're excited to see this unique piece of Philadelphia's architectural history preserved, activated, and once again serving as a gathering place.
| | Help Save the Hare and Cute Coal Pocket / PHS Popup Garden | |
A proposal to replace the PHS Pop-Up Garden Manayunk with a six-story apartment building could mean losing one of the neighborhood's reminders of its industrial past.
Built after the elevation of the rail line in 1929, the Hare & Cute Coal Pocket is one of the few surviving coal pockets along the corridor. More recently, the structure has found new life as home to the popular PHS Pop-Up Garden.
Although the property sits within the Main Street Manayunk Historic District, the coal pocket is not designated as a contributing resource and can be demolished without review by the Philadelphia Historical Commission.
While many residents are disappointed to lose the garden, YFPA believes the potential loss of this rare piece of Philadelphia's industrial heritage deserves equal attention. Earlier this summer, YFPA joined Urban Sketchers Philadelphia at the PHS Pop-Up Garden to sketch and commemorate the historic site. Afterward, we gathered to share our sketches over snacks and drinks.
We encourage you to sign the community petition and help demonstrate public support for this important site. The proposal requires zoning variances, and the Zoning Board of Adjustment is expected to hear the case in January.
| | Tour + Happy Hour at A Man Full of Trouble Tavern | | |
When: Thursday, September 17, 6:30 pm
Where: 127 Spruce Street
Join YFPA for a happy hour at A Man Full of Trouble Tavern, including a complimentary guided tour of the upstairs museum.
Learn about the building's remarkable history and its role in Revolutionary-era Philadelphia before heading downstairs to the Succession Fermentory taproom to mingle with fellow preservation enthusiasts over drinks.
THIS EVENT IS AT CAPACITY!
Want to join us? Email YFPA to be added to the waitlist.
| Architectural Postcards: A YFPA PowerPoint Night | |
When: Monday, September 28, 6 - 8 pm
Where: 1617 John F Kennedy Blvd, 11th floor
Join us for a casual PowerPoint night celebrating the architecture, history, and culture we encountered on our recent travels.
Share images of your favorite buildings, streetscapes, historic sites, cultural traditions, design discoveries, and other memorable moments from a trip. Or simply come along for the ride and see where everyone else has been!
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Save the Date: In With the Old
When: Thursday, November 5, 6 PM
Where: TBA
Our annual YFPA fundraiser is coming up! Venue to be announced soon. Keep an eye on YFPA social media for the venue announcement and opportunities to win FREE TICKETS!
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Church of the Advocate Volunteer Day
This spring, YFPA volunteers spent the day giving some tender loving care to the Church of the Advocate in North Philadelphia.
Led by Tyler A. Ray, Chair of the Advocate Preservation Committee and YFPA Steering Committee member, volunteers helped clean and prepare the historic landmark as it works toward reopening after being closed to the public since 2024.
The day included sweeping and dusting interior spaces, removing debris and weeds, and helping create a chapel for future Sunday services. Volunteers also learned more about the church's history and ongoing preservation efforts during a special highlights tour.
Thank you to everyone who rolled up their sleeves and joined us!
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YFPA was excited to partner with Philadelphia Emerging Architects for their annual BIG Event, bringing together professionals, emerging designers, and students from across Philadelphia's AEC community.
Along with ASID PA East, SEAOP Young Members Group, PA-DE ASLA, and the Philadelphia Chapter of NOMA, we spent the evening at North Bowl enjoying bowling, arcade games, pool, food, drinks, and plenty of opportunities to make new connections.
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Annual Steering Committee Retreat
At its June retreat, the Steering Committee welcomed five new members: Ashley Losco, Ashley Porrini, Danny Cruz, Jacqueline Griffiths, and Evelyn Ferrall!
The committee also elected Alyssa Pizzi and Patrick Bayer as Co-Chairs.
We are grateful to outgoing Steering Committee members Keighly Baron, Ha Leem Ro, and Kevin Block for their service and contributions to YFPA.
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Join our WhatsApp Group
Want to stay in the loop between newsletters? Join the YFPA WhatsApp group to connect with fellow preservationists and get updates about upcoming events, advocacy efforts, and other YFPA initiatives.
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