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Bill No. 251030, legislation that would significantly alter Philadelphia’s historic preservation ordinance, has been scheduled for a hearing before City Council’s Rules Committee on Wednesday, June 3, at 2 PM.
The Preservation Alliance remains opposed to this bill. While the legislation has been revised since its introduction in November 2025, it still includes substantial changes that would weaken the City’s ability to protect historic buildings, neighborhoods, and cultural landscapes.
The bill introduces new procedural hurdles that could delay or discourage the designation of historic properties. Notably, once a property is nominated, owners would be able to alter or remove character-defining features before the review process is complete.
The bill also imposes a three-year restriction on reconsidering nominations, limiting the City’s ability to respond to evolving conditions or new information. The legislation also requires approval of certain permits if an applicant demonstrates “material commitments” to development, standards that are not clearly defined, difficult to evaluate, and not subject to meaningful public transparency.
Taken together, these provisions would fundamentally weaken the City’s preservation framework. Philadelphia’s ordinance has long served as a critical planning tool, guiding responsible development, ensuring transparency, and providing avenues for community input.
The June 3 Rules Committee hearing will determine whether the bill advances to the full City Council for a vote.
We need your help!
Contact Your Councilmember
Contact your Councilmember and members of the Rules Committee (CMs Cindy Bass, Jamie Gauthier, Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Curtis Jones, Brian J. O’Neill, Mark Squilla, and Isaiah Thomas) to express your opposition to Bill No. 251030. Ask them to oppose advancing the bill and to support further review and public input.
Sign Up to Testify on June 3
Members of the public are able to testify in person at the Rules Committee hearing. To register, email sean.mcmonagle@phila.gov and whitney.brown@phila.gov with your name and organization (if applicable), and state that you would like to testify in opposition to Bill No. 251030.
We believe there is a path to prevent this bill from moving forward this session, but only with strong and immediate engagement from the preservation community and concerned residents across Philadelphia.
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