Dear Friends,

The Preservation Alliance is Philadelphia’s only non-profit organization that is engaged in comprehensive advocacy for the preservation of historic resources. Our Advocacy and Legal Defense Fund ensures the continuance of informed preservation advocacy with dedicated financial support to the full range of the Alliance’s advocacy efforts. We urge you to make a significant investment in this fund today. By doing so, you will help ensure that the Alliance is prepared to take on future challenges. Thank you!

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Left: Post Office Station “D” (northeast corner of 18th and Christian streets), the information center of Christian Street (Google Maps). Right: John M. Brown, Superintendent of Post Office Station D and one of the Philadelphia Tribune’s “Outstanding” Citizens (Image from “Eight Men and Two Women on Philly Honor Roll: Outstanding Citizens from All Walks of Life Selected,” Baltimore Afro-American, 24 February 1940, p. 6).

ADVOCACY UPDATE: Christian Street/Black Doctors Row Historic District Approved for Local Register

The Philadelphia Historical Commission formally approved the Christian Street/Black Doctors Row Historic District for listing on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. It becomes the 37th historic district locally listed, and the first district whose primary significance is rooted in 20th century African American history. Click here for the full nomination and inventory of 154 properties, stretching from Broad Street to 20th Street.

1428-1434 (right to left) Christian Street. Note ABAB pattern, strong cornice, water table, and eyebrow lintels. 1430 Christian (second from left) retains curved top windows (image by Google Maps).
1428-1434 (right to left) Christian Street. Note ABAB pattern, strong cornice, water table, and eyebrow lintels. 1430 Christian (second from left) retains curved top windows (image by Google Maps).
Photo: Derek Duquette
Photo: Derek Duquette
Photograph of New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s visiting one of the classrooms at OIC at 1901 W. Oxford Street in 1966. Image features Kennedy and Rev. Sullivan at right. Image accessed from the City of Philadelphia, Department of Records.
Photograph of New York Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s visiting one of the classrooms at OIC at 1901 W. Oxford Street in 1966. Image features Kennedy and Rev. Sullivan at right. Image accessed from the City of Philadelphia, Department of Records.
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A huge expression of gratitude to our many partners and neighborhood stakeholders, especially our co-nominators the South of South Neighborhood Association (SOSNA), 2nd District Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (who enabled this process via a temporary demolition moratorium), the nomination’s primary authors Kevin Block and Adrian Trevisan, volunteer Randal Baron, and the many residents and property owners along Christian Street who voiced their support at recent PHC meetings.

We hope this will serve as a model for future listing of historic sites and neighborhoods throughout the city and helps provide a fuller telling of the American experience via our local historic register.

Not to be neglected and also approved on Friday: our nomination of Rev. Leon Sullivan’s Opportunities Industrial Center (OIC) headquarters at 1901 W. Oxford Street, a 1908 purpose-built police station, converted in 1964 to serve the OIC’s trailblazing employment and self-improvement programs for North Philadelphia residents and launching Rev. Sullivan’s storied legacy as a civil rights activist. Full nomination available here.

This month’s advocacy update is sponsored by Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr

August Preservation To-Do List

Enjoy the beautiful weather with Preservation events around Philadelphia. This month volunteer at the Rail Park, participate in the Obon Festival, enjoy lectures online with the Athenaeum, and much more!

Click here to view more preservation-related events around town this month. 

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Your support is vital to ensure that the Preservation Alliance can promote the appreciation, protection, appropriate use, and development of our region’s historic buildings, communities, and landscapes.

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