The Philadelphia Historical Commission did not add any new properties to the local register at its meeting on April 11. However, it did review new construction in historic properties or districts, alterations to historic properties, and a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.

A frequent topic that comes before the Historical Commission is the proposal of modifications to previously designated properties. On Friday it approved the construction of a new three-story building on a parking lot that currently occupies 15-17 and 19-25 South 2nd Street. The owner, a relatively new non-profit called the Tun Legacy Foundation, plans to recreate Tun Tavern, the 17th century watering hole that is said to be the birthplace of the United States Marine Corps, the United States Navy, the Pennsylvania Freemasons, and certain Colonial fraternal organizations. The site is about 250 yards away from the actual site of the original Tun Tavern, built in 1686, which now lies under I-95 near Penn’s Landing. The group purchased the two parcels in April 2024 and aims to operate the tavern and donate the profits to charitable causes.

A drawing of the original Tun Tavern and a rendering of the new one. | Images: Tun Legacy Foundation

Another proposed construction project was granted at 500 North Christopher Columbus Boulevard next to the historically designated Philadelphia Warehousing & Cold Storage Company building, which dates to 1891. The approval will allow the construction of a six-story rooftop addition and the cutting of openings to add windows to the lower levels.

The Historical Commission also frequently reviews and comments on proposed modifications to historically designated properties which need to satisfy the guidelines set by the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

Two properties with issues regarding window replacements were reviewed. The first was for the 1849 Gothic Revival house at 3819 THE Oak Road in East Falls that is formally known as Ivy Cottage. The proposal outlined plans to replace 52 windows on all sides, but concerns were raised that the window treatments were not in keeping with the original design of the house. The request was denied.

Another denial was given to the property at 234-35 S. 8th Street. It was built in 1810 by architect Robert Mills, who would go on to design the Washington Monuments in both Baltimore, Maryland and Washington D.C. The current owners replaced windows without Historical Commission review in February and were now asking for retroactive legalization. The Historical Commission denied the request, deeming the replacement windows as not in keeping with Standard 6 of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and Guidelines, which requires deteriorated historic features to be repaired rather than replaced or, where the deterioration requires replacement, the new feature will match the old in design, color, texture, and, where possible, materials.

First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Philadelphia at 1330-32 Point Breeze Avenue. | Photo: Michael Bixler

The final item on the meeting’s agenda was to comment on a nomination of a Philadelphia property to the National Register of Historic Places. These nominations are overseen by the applicable state agency, in this case, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, which must solicit comments from the appropriate local government, which in turn must also offer a forum for public comment. The Historical Commission speaks on behalf of the City of Philadelphia in historic preservation matters and provides an opportunity for the public to weigh in.  

The nomination was for the First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Philadelphia at 1330-32 Point Breeze Avenue. Founded in 1934, it was the first financial institution in Pennsylvania established under the Federal Home Loan Bank System, which freed up credit in the housing market during the Great Depression. It made homeownership more affordable in that financially difficult period and went on to help fuel the post-World War II housing boom, especially in rapidly growing areas like Northeast Philadelphia and nearby suburban communities. The building is not currently listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. The Historical Commission offered favorable comments in support of the nomination.