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 public policy issues, such 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.
Recent Advocacy Materials:
To make our advocacy work more accessible, check out links to recent reports, statements, and policy resources:
- Letter to PCPC on Bill 251030 (December 2025)
- Analysis of Bill 251030 (November 2025)
- Joint Response to the Planned Demolitions on Market East (October 2025)
- Growing Through Preservation: The Economic Impact Report of Historic Preservation in Philadelphia (October 2025)
- Coalition Letter to Secretary of the Interior on President Donald Trump’s Executive Order, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History” (September 2025)
- Preserving our Historic Public Schools: A Position Paper (August 2025)
- Save the Roundhouse Campaign (ongoing)
- PA Historic Tax Credit Coalition (ongoing)
In The News
December Advocacy Update: Amendment to Historic Preservation Ordinance
On November 20, Bill No. 251030 was introduced in Philadelphia City Council proposing amendments to Chapter 14-1000 of the Philadelphia Code, which governs the designation and protection of historic buildings and districts. As introduced, many provisions would significantly weaken the ordnance by changing how historic designations are initiated, how notice is provided, and how building permit applications are handled during the designation process. Read our impact analysis of the legislation to learn more.
Read Full Advocacy Update
Joint Response to the Planned Demolitions on Market East
The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia and docomomo-PHL find the wholesale demolition of commercial buildings on Market East, including the former Robinson department store at 1020 Market Street, to be deeply concerning.
Read Statement
January To-Do List
Explore preservation events around Philadelphia with our monthly To-Do List!
To-Do List