Calvary United Methodist Church in West Philadelphia. | Photo: Michael Bixler

The Philadelphia Historical Commission added four properties to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places and reviewed other matters relating to historic properties at its meeting on December 13.

A nomination was approved for Calvary United Methodist Church at 4740 Baltimore Avenue in West Philadelphia. Constructed between 1905 and 1907, the church building is an example of late 19th century ecclesiastical English Gothic style architecture, with large stained-glass windows and tracery by Tiffany Studios, crenellation, limestone trim and detailing, and Tudor arches. The church is an established, familiar visual feature of the Cedar Park neighborhood, situated prominently the five-points intersection of Baltimore Avenue and 48th Street. In 2022, Calvary United was one of nine recipients to receive the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Trustees Emeritus Award for Historic Site Stewardship.

The former Woolworth’s in Center City. | Photo: Michael Bixler

The Historical Commission voted in favor to designate the old Woolworth’s store at 1330-36 Chestnut Street. The International Style building was constructed in 1949 and was part of the company’s attempt to develop large flagship stores in several downtowns in the United States and Canada. With its horizontality, minimalist aesthetic with Art Deco/Streamline Moderne references, and white facade, the building stands out from others in the area, making it a distinctive feature of Center City and this block in particular.

Oak Lane Trust Company Bank in Oak Lane. | Photo: Julia Hayman, Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia

The former Oak Lane Trust Company Bank at 6701-19 N. Broad Street was also placed on the local register. Architect Ralph B. Bencker designed it in 1923 in the “Chaste Deco” version of the Zig-Zag subtype of the Art Deco style, which was popular in the Philadelphia region. On Chaste Deco buildings, exterior decorative ornaments were in the same materials as the rest of the building surface, typically limestone, granite, or concrete, giving each facade a uniform appearance. Bencker went on to design many other Art Deco buildings in the city, including the Rittenhouse Plaza and the Wellington Apartments on Rittenhouse Square, the Ayer building on Washington Square, and many Horn & Hardart automats.

The Edwin T. Chase House in Germantown. | Photo: Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia

The house at 449 Locust Avenue in Germantown was built for prominent Philadelphia lawyer Edwin T. Chase in 1861 by John Riddell, one of the most prolific residential architects in mid-19th century Philadelphia. The three-story stone Italianate-style house is typical of Riddell’s own type of domestic pattern book architecture that defined that era. The designation was modified to remove a rear section of the long lot to allow the recent owner to develop it.

St. Peter’s Church in Society Hill. | Photo: Michael Bixler

St. Peter’s Church at 301-15 Lombard Street was given approval to construct a new one-and two-story building on a surface parking lot for a classroom, office, and a combination gymnasium-assembly facility. Historically, a public school and several rowhouses had stood on the site, but were demolished several decades ago. In 1999, the lot was listed as contributing to the Society Hill Historic District, owing to its potential for having archaeological potential. The Historical Commission had approved an earlier construction proposal contingent upon an archaeological survey, which had been scrapped, although the investigation was conducted and yielded no significant resources.

St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Point Breeze. | Photo: Michael Bixler

A former church property at 1900 S. 16th Street received final approval for a conversion to multi-family residential and event space use. The complex, originally St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, was built during the late 19th and early 20th century. It was designed by Baily & Truscott and was designated historic in 1986. The Point Breeze landmark was home to the congregation of True Gospel Tabernacle Church since the 1990s.

An amendment to the Victorian Roxborough Historic District was requested. The district was designated for its architecture and community heritage with a period of significance of 1830 to 1930. The applicant requested the removal of the properties at 360-66 and 369 Lyceum Avenue. The former is classified as contributing to the historic district and contains a 1855 Italianate-style villa and three rowhouses facing Conarroe Street that were built in 2000 and not listed in the district inventory. The property at 368 Lyceum Avenue contains three non-contributing buildings constructed around 2013.

The Historical Commission voted to revise the district boundaries to exclude the three rowhouses, 353-55 and 368 ½ Conarroe Street, that are located within the 360-66 Lyceum Avenue site.

A continuance to the Historical Commission’s January 2025 meeting was granted for a proposal to create the Northwest Philadelphia Apartments Thematic Historic District.