Opportunities Industrialization Center, 1901 West Oxford Street, Philadelphia; Photo: Pete Woodall
Advocacy is both an area of concentration and a component of all of the Alliance’s work.
Advocacy programs and services include the following:
- Review and comment on proposals for alteration or demolition of historic properties in Philadelphia through regular monitoring of the Philadelphia Historical Commission.
- Appeals, when appropriate, of decisions by the Philadelphia Historical Commission or other public agencies, and support of appeals filed by community organizations in Philadelphia and adjacent counties.
- Participation in “Section 106” reviews of federally-funded projects to ensure the protection of historic resources.
- Advocacy on such public policy issues as creation of new state tax incentives for historic preservation, creation of conservation districts in Philadelphia, and review of proposed changes to the City’s Historic Preservation Ordinance.
- Creation of on-line petitions and letter writing or email campaigns on critical local and state preservation issues.
- Advice to private developers, community organizations, and individuals on the laws and procedures of historic preservation including designation of historic properties, creation of historic districts, financial resources for preservation projects, and procedures for alterations or demolition of historic properties.
- Nominations of historic properties to the Philadelphia and National Registers of Historic Places.
Support our Advocacy efforts by donating to the Advocacy & Legal Defense Fund.
In The News
March Advocacy Update: Preserve Historic Bryn Mawr House, 17 Elliott Ave.
Advocates are rallying to protect a 125-year-old home in Bryn Mawr, a site deeply connected to women’s history. Designed in 1900 by renowned architect William Lightfoot Price, 17 Elliott Avenue is a rare and intact example of the Arts and Crafts style, showcasing the region’s early suburban development.
Beyond its architectural significance, the home was also the longtime residence of pioneering educator Helen Sleeper Pearson and groundbreaking biologist Dr. Helen Dean King, making it a vital piece of Lower Merion’s cultural and historical fabric.
Celebrate the Wanamaker Organ before Macy’s Closure
The Marian Anderson Museum is Open Again
A New Chapter for the Former UArts Campus
Rev. Leon H. Sullivan Center Groundbreaking
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March To-Do List
Explore preservation events around Philadelphia with our monthly To-Do List!
To-Do List
Our Response to Macy’s Closure at the Historic Wanamaker Building
The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia acknowledges the closure of Macy’s department store at the historic Wanamaker Building with a deep sense of loss. This marks the end of an era for a historic site that has been a cornerstone of Center City’s identity for generations. Despite this moment of change, we are confident in the Wanamaker Building’s future as a cherished landmark. The Grand Court, its crown jewel, is fully protected from demolition and inappropriate alteration by its 2017 designation on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places.
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