Historic Districts Council

The Preservation Alliance’s Historic Districts Council (HDC) represents select residential National Register Historic Districts, Philadelphia Historic Districts and neighborhood organizations and institutions interested in preservation activities within their neighborhoods and throughout the City of Philadelphia.

The Historic Districts Council meets quarterly and members engage in Alliance advocacy events. Past speakers include Simeon Bankoff, Executive Director of the Historic Districts Council in New York City; Jon Farnham, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Historical Commission; Warren Huff, former Deputy Director of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission; Domique Hawkins, preservation consultant with Preservation Design Partnerships; and John Leith-Tetrault,, the National Trust for Historic Preservation Director of Community Partners.

HDC meetings feature the following format: current information about the Alliance's neighborhood programs, presentations relevant to historic neighborhoods, and a roundtable discussion by participants. The Alliance continues to solicit neighborhood organizations to participate in the HDC who are not currently involved.

By engaging the HDC members, the Alliance galvanizes support for nominating new historic districts, for lobbying the state and city governments for positive preservation policies, and for relationships between participating neighborhoods.

Did you know that guides for property owners are available from the Philadelphia Historical Commission?  These manuals explain the history and identifying characteristics of the district, illustrate architectural styles found within the boundaries, and offer guidance to owners on working with the historical commission and performing maintenance and restoration work on the property.  Click on the links below for a pdf file for your district.

Diamond Street District

Girard Estate Historic District

Old City Historic District

Rittenhouse and Fitler Square District

Society Hill Historic District

Spring Garden Historic District

For other useful publications, such as the Preservation Alliance's How to Navigate the Historical Review Process in Philadephia, click here.

2009 Historic District Council Participating Organizations include:

The Athenaeum of Philadelphia
Center City Residents Association
Chestnut Hill Historical Society
Cliveden of The National Trust for Historic Preservation
East Falls Community Council
East Parkside Community Revitalization Corporation
Elfreth’s Alley Association
Fairmount Community Development Corporation
Frankford Historical Society
Garden Court Community Association
Historical Society of Pennsylvania
Manayunk Development Corporation
Manayunk Neighbors Association
Mt. Airy USA
The National Trust for Historic Preservation – Northeast Field Office
Old City Civic Association
Overbrook Farms Club
Parkside Historic Preservation Corporation
Pelham
Penn Knox Neighborhood Association
Powelton Village Civic Association
Queen Village Neighbors Association
Society Hill Civic Association
Spruce Hill Community Association
University City Historic Society
West Washington Square Historic District
West Mt. Airy Neighbors
Upper Roxborough