The Philadelphia Historical Commission approved a proposal for new construction at 1706-10 Walnut Street on three vacant lots at its monthly meeting on September 11. The trio of three-story buildings were contributing assets to the Rittenhouse-Fitler Historic District until they were destroyed by arson in May 2020.

The Department of Licenses and Inspections (L&I) had subsequently deemed 1706-10 Walnut Street imminently dangerous and issued a building permit in August 2020, noting Historical Commission approval of plans that “show that the roof and third story will be demolished. The front facade will be retained. If possible, one dormer should be documented/measured and salvaged to allow for an accurate reconstruction in the future.” L&I records list this permit as “issued.” 

1706-10 Walnut Street was destroyed by arsonists during the social unrest following the murder of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota. | Photos: Michael Bixler

A permit for full demolition followed in January 2021, utilizing the same demolition company. The empty parcel was sold to the current owner, a Brooklyn-based LLC, in December 2022. 

The proposal arrived on Friday’s Historical Commission docket as a consent agenda item, having been reviewed by the Architectural Committee, which recommended approval with one modification. According to the Committee meeting minutes, there were conflicting recollections regarding the required documentation and salvage, whether they were done and, if so, where they might currently be.  

A rendering of the final, approved proposal for 1706-10 Walnut Street. | Rendering: JKRP Architects

The new construction will consist of two stories of retail space with a rooftop mezzanine, deck, and elevator. The front facade will feature limestone masonry cladding, a cornice, large window glazing, and bronze aluminum details. The height of the two stories will align with the three stories of the neighboring buildings.  

The Historical Commission did not consider any new nominations to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, the fourth such meeting in 2026 so far. The Commission’s Committee on Historic Designation, which reviews nominations prior to the full Commission, only meets six times this year, with their meetings often scheduled after the monthly Commission meeting. In addition, more than a half dozen nominations have received continuance requests, some for close to a year.

The nomination for Piers 38 and 40 South at 775 South Christopher Columbus Boulevard, submitted in October 2021, had been scheduled for review at today’s meeting, but has been continued once again, to next month’s Historical Commission meeting.

Pier 38 at at 775 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard. | Photo: Michael Bixler

At the start of the meeting, Executive Director Jon Farnham added a caution that some applicants and property owners working with the Commission have received fraudulent emails requesting payments from email addresses pretending to be the Historical Commission. He urged any recipients to delete them without replying or responding to attachments or links in them, stating that the Commission never requests payments from applicants or property owners.

A request to remove the marquee and vestibule walls from the former Boyd Theater at 1910 Chestnut Street was continued once again to next month’s meeting. The theater was built in 1928 by noted Philadelphia theater architects Hoffman & Henon. It was designated historic in 1987 and again in 2008. Its Art Deco auditorium and the rear of the building were demolished in 2015.

Proposal to remove the former Boyd Theater’s marquee and vestibule walls and install a storefront. | Renderings: Ambit Architecture

The owner of the former Tacony Club at 4619-25 Longshore Avenue received permission for the addition of an elevator tower to repurpose the building for a Veterans Administration housing project. A small connector will be erected between the tower and the rear wall of the building, avoiding any interference with historic window openings. A small vestibule will lead into the connector from the parking lot.

The College of Physicians of Philadelphia received approval for alterations to two adjacent historic buildings at 2129 Chestnut Street and 15-19 S. 22nd Street. To improve accessibility, they proposed adding a new doorway to each building and connect them via a path through their garden with one doorway replacing a bay window and the other cut into a side facade. The proposal also adds a cooling tower along the rear of the College of Physicians building at 15-19 South 22nd Street, to be screened by an aluminum enclosure, replacing a bank of condensers currently along the north side of the building.