On August 8, the Philadelphia Historical Commission granted approval for the designation of the Blakemore Street Historic District during its meeting.
The district, which was nominated by Oscar Beisert of The Keeping Society of Philadelphia, is located in Mount Airy and features a set of Tudor Revival twin homes that were built in the 1920s as apartment buildings.
These structures were erected during a period of notable residential growth in the neighborhood along the Chestnut Hill East railroad tracks, contributing to the area’s urban development.
The Blakemore Street buildings are distinguished by their meticulous design on all sides, including second-floor faux half-timbering with various motifs, steeply pitched roofs, and extensive use of Wissahickon schist in their shared courtyards and steps.
Additionally, the rear of the buildings boasts a significant green space that stretches the length of the block.
Initially, the staff of the Historical Commission recommended the approval of the district. However, complications arose when the buildings at 6657 and 6659 Blakemore Street, which had been neglected and left to decay by Germantown Settlement, were taken over by the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (PRA) and subsequently demolished.
The PRA plans to construct affordable housing on this site and opposed the inclusion of the properties in the proposed historic district.
During the review process by the Committee on Historic Designation, it was recommended that the district be designated, but with a classification that deemed 6657-59 Blakemore Street as non-contributing.
In contrast, the shared stairs and courtyard between this site and the adjacent property at 6655 Blakemore Street were classified as contributing to the historic character of the district.
Despite support from some, including the owner of the neighboring property, the Historical Commission ultimately voted to exclude the entire parcels of 6657 and 6659 from the Blakemore Street Historic District after lengthy discussions regarding the shared stairs and courtyard.
In another agenda item, the long-standing issue of illegally replaced windows at the 18th Street Methodist Episcopal Church, located at 1730 Wharton Street, was addressed.
The owners will now be able to proceed with their plans to convert the historic 1888 building into 14 residential units.
Moreover, the owner of a row of six parcels situated on the west side of North 2nd Street, between Race and Quarry Streets, received conceptual approval for a new construction project.
This area includes a 2 1/2 story house constructed in 1755 at 150 N. 2nd Street and a two-story structure at 148 N. 2nd Street, both of which were designated individually in the 1980s.
These buildings are also considered contributing to the Old City Historic District, along with a three-story building at 152 N. 2nd Street that dates back to the 1920s.
The remaining parcels consist of two vacant lots and a one-story commercial building to the south, which is deemed non-contributing to the historic district.
The planned project will involve partially demolishing the three historic buildings while preserving their facades, alongside the complete demolition of the non-contributing building, in order to make way for a six-story mixed-use development.
image source from：hiddencityphila
