4024-34 Apalogen Road in East Falls. | Photo: Michael Bixler
The Philadelphia Historical Commission added two properties to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places at its meeting on November 14. It also rejected the nomination of a culturally and architecturally significant midcentury modern house, a decision that clears the way for the building’s demolition.
Tulipwood, a mid-century modern home at 4024-34 Apalogen Road in East Falls, was designed in 1954 by Elizabeth Fleisher, the first woman architect licensed in Philadelphia, and her husband, landscape architect Horace Fleisher, for their home. At its meeting on October 15, the Historical Commission’s Committee on Historic Designation found that the property satisfies criteria for designation based on its association with Elizabeth Fleisher and as an example of Modernist architecture.
Tulipwood was completed in 1954. It was designed by architect Elizabeth Fleisher and landscape architect Horace Fleisher for the couple’s home. | Photos: Michael Bixler
The nomination was contested by the recent purchasers of the property, Valerie Safran and Marcie Turney, celebrated restauranteurs of the “Midtown Village” revival, whose establishments include Barbuzzo, Darling Jack’s Tavern, Marcie Blaine, Bud and Marilyn’s, Open House, Verde, and Little Nonna’s, plus four residential and office properties on the 1300 block of East Passyunk Avenue. They plan to demolish the house to build something new on the 2.4-acre lot, saying they had already spent about $400K on the redevelopment before receiving notification of the nomination.
Like most nominations, this one was limited to the building’s exterior. Nevertheless, the owners’ attorney referenced their removal of interior craftwork, including a Wharton Esherick cabinet and fireplace surround and cabinetry by Paul Evans and Phillip Lloyd Powell, suggesting respect for the building’s history. However, when she frequently said they “sold” the items she then amended herself to say “repurposed.” According to Freeman’s Auction House, the gross proceeds of the sale were nearly $100,000.
After contentious public comment, the Historical Commission voted, with one abstention, to recognize that Tulipwood satisfies several criteria for designation, but they ultimately declined to vote in favor of protecting the building from demolition. The home can now be razed for new construction.
419 West Clapier Street in Fernhill Park. | Photos: Michael Bixler
A nomination of four service buildings for an adjacent former estate was not approved for listing on the local register. A gardener’s cottage, garage, solarium, and a stone building at 419 West Clapier Street were associated with the house at 5000 McKean Avenue, the home of James Mapes Dodge, his wife Josephine Kern Dodge, and their son Kern Dodge, who were impactful in the fields of engineering and children’s literature. The gardener’s cottage was designed by John Linerd Conarroe in 1923. The Historical Commission ruled that the nomination lacked sufficient evidence that the buildings on their own merit designation, but some members suggested a proposal of a small historic district with the main house, which is not individually designated, would be more convincing.
5001-11 Lancaster Avenue in Cathedral Park. | Photo: Michael Bixler
The Lutheran Publication House Manufacturing Building at 5001-11 Lancaster Avenue was added to the Philadelphia register. It was built in 1930 by the firm Harris & Richards, Architects and Engineers, who were known for designing industrial and institutional buildings during a time when Philadelphia had a significant religious printing industry.
723 Church Lane in East Germantown. | Photo: Michael Bixler
The house at 723 Church Lane, a Victorian cottage constructed in 1866 with Gothic and Italianate architectural elements and Wissahickon schist, was also designated historic. It was the home of Lt. Col. T Ellwood Zell, a Civil War officer and publisher, one of many prominent Philadelphians who built suburban homes in Germantown in the late 19th century. The property’s half-acre lot also may contain archaeological resources from the 1777 battle of Germantown. A 1910 newspaper article noted that 20 skeletal remains of Revolutionary War soldiers were discovered during the building of the house. The site has remained largely undisturbed since then.
I lived around the corner from 419 W. Clapier from 1986 to 2005 and I don’t recall ever noticing it at all. I think I knew a family who lived in 5000 McKean for a while. I’m glad to see 5000 has survived. At some point it fell into disrepair and sustained a partial collapse of the rear wall. It looks to have a completely new rear wall, and I wonder what other changes went along with that.
I enjoyed reading your article.
That 1954 house look so modern it would pass for a modern house even now in 2025. Just purely amazing work!
It is very sad that the house designed by the first licensed female architect in Philadelphia is slated to be demolished. I am surprised with such a history behind it that the value and significance is not see. The new owners of the property “already spent $400 thousand” before the decision was made, I guess that speaks for itself.
PILLAGING should be illegal. That house should be saved. GREED rules.
I must agree with some of the fellow commenters this is very interesting and informative. I adore this richly crafted history of ours in Philly- Go Birds!!
For more on Fleisher and some of her buildings see https://www.baldwinparkphilly.org/children-s-crisis-treatment-center
The Childrens Crisis Treatment Center in the Baldwin Park neighborhood was hers and torn down a few years ago to build a bland mid-rise apartment building.
Any idea what’s going to happen to the Esherick fireplace? Are they just going to destroy it?
The new owners had it removed, along with 3 cabinets designed by Esherick and two other modernists woodworkers, Paul Evans and Phillip Lloyd Powell. They sold them at auction for a total of about $100,000.
When will these rich people stop buying up all of this beautiful architectural history just to put some overpriced new construction with no character in its place? Leave the nice homes for the rest of us. You can afford to live on land that has not been developed, in an upscale neighborhood with other rich people, or purchase a home that is in disrepair and is not livable. It’s so disheartening.
Why don’t you buy it and then you can preserve it with your money. Oh you don’t have the money and want to tell others what to do with their money.
A perfect example of the mocking, dismissive tone that has earned the top 10%of the nation’s wealthy(deserved or not)the disdain and distrust of those less fortunate; cold and tone-deaf.
I would have offered for it had I known. But money should not be power.
I bet if it was an Afro-America house it wouldn’t be torn down
What’s an Afro-American House??
Only the last two were worthy of designation, and only the last one is certain. Midcentury modern is just a stylistic choice and a new house could be built in that style. Designations should happen before purchases by new owners. The real issue is the poor standards for new construction and design. There need to be design standards established as other cities have done.
I would have thought Marcie and Valeri would show more respect for a house designed by the first licensed female architect in philly, go figure…