September Advocacy Update

A Landmark Victory for the Tanner House

We are thrilled to celebrate the Friends of the Tanner House acquisition of the National Historic Landmark Henry Ossawa Tanner House at 2908 W. Diamond Street.

This secures one of Philadelphia’s most significant Black cultural landmarks for long-term nonprofit stewardship and creates an exciting opportunity for the property’s future reuse as a community-rooted arts and heritage hub.

The Tanner House was the home of renowned Philadelphia-born artist Henry Ossawa Tanner and his family. The Friends of the Tanner House have worked tirelessly to ensure that this important piece of Philadelphia’s Black history remains in community hands.

This represents a significant landmark in historic preservation and the culmination of years of effort. The Alliance has served as the fiscal sponsor of the Friends of the Tanner House since 2021.

Uncertain Future for the Academy of Natural Sciences 

The announced closure of the Academy of Natural Sciences’ museum has prompted major public outcry to keep the Academy open and accessible to the public. The growing Save the Academy campaign is urging Drexel University, the Academy’s Board, and city and state leaders to work together on a sustainable path forward for this Philadelphia institution.

While the Academy’s collections, research, education, and public programs are at the heart of this effort, the future of the building itself is also an important preservation question. The more than 150,000-square-foot building at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway has housed the museum since it was constructed in 1876, yet it currently lacks historic designation and is zoned for multifamily residential use. With its prominent location on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the property could face significant redevelopment pressure.

As our Executive Director, Paul Steinke, told the Philadelphia Business Journal, there is urgency to consider protecting the building and ensuring that it remains part of Philadelphia’s cultural landscape. “The city and the Parkway Council and the cultural community have to be on the same page that the building and the site must remain part of our Museum Mile in some form.”

The Preservation Alliance supports efforts to keep the Academy on the Parkway and preserve its role as a public cultural institution. We will continue to follow developments and advocate for a future that recognizes both the Academy’s extraordinary cultural value and the importance of its historic home.

The proposal to alter the historic Boyd Theater at 1910 Chestnut Street remains before the Philadelphia Historical Commission.

The application, originally proposed in May, would remove the theater’s historic marquee and vestibule walls. The Alliance has opposed the proposal, emphasizing that these surviving elements are among the most important features that continue to communicate the Boyd’s history and architectural character after earlier redevelopment.

The Commission has continued the matter, and the next hearing is now scheduled for October 9. We will continue to advocate for the preservation of the Boyd’s remaining historic fabric.

The Washington Square West Civic Association and Preservation Alliance are pleased to share Washington Square West Historic District: A Guide for Property Owners, a new resource designed to answer those questions and help property owners care for their historic buildings. The guide provides practical information about maintaining properties, planning improvements, and navigating Philadelphia’s historic preservation review process. Free printed copies are available while supplies last - email to secure your copy!

The guide comes at an important time for the Washington Square West Historic District. The legal challenge to the district continues, with Judge Hall scheduled to hear oral argument on October 1, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 275 of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In the meantime, the historic district remains in effect.