If somebody can elucidate the legal powers of the HC as opposed to its practices, I am sure many of us would appreciate that information.
It's all spelled out in detail in Section 14-2007 of the Philadelphia Code, which you can find from a link on the comprehensive website maintained by the Spruce Hill Neighborhood Alliance (www.move.to/univcityphila). If you want to skip the long, boring passages, go right to: <http://www.mfrconsultants.com/hc/pdf/ordinance/ordinance.pdf>),
(You'll find that they "can" regulate everything that affects the outside of the building, even things on the inside that they say affect the outside. What they choose as policy to ignore can be changed on a whim, as has been pointed out. Also, it's not clear whether you can just go ahead with unregulated items, or have to send in an application with pictures, bills of materials, and so forth anyway.)
The Alliance website also has a link to the Historical Commission's "Rules and Regulations." You can go to it directly at:
<http://www.briansiano.com/sprucehill/PHCRulesandRegs.PDF>
The people who are accusing the opponents of using scare tactics ought to read these things. Opponents don't have to use scare tactics. The Historical Commission has us finessed in this area by a long shot.
Al Krigman
