I am relieved that Councilwoman Blackwell has proposed to adjust the role of the Historic Commission to make it more democratic and accountable to residents. So, when I happened to get a copy of this letter, I was astounded to read what the University City Historic Society's take on the whole thing is (and I thought it should be distributed widely):
> ******************************* > The University City Historical Society > P.O. Box 31927 > Philadelphia, PA 19104 > > Dear UCHS Members and Friends: > > I first want to say that I am honored and privileged to serve as your new > president. The University City Historical Society has long provided a > valuable stewardship role for the great asset of our historic and attractive > community. We know that one of the greatest assets of our West Philadelphia > community is its architectural integrity, and that the preservation of that > integrity is integral to our survival. > > As most of you know, this year, the greatest priority for the historical > society is the creation of the Spruce Hill Historic District (officially > known as the "West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Municipal Historic > District"). Although we will eventually consider local historic districts in > other University City neighborhoods, our efforts continue to be focused on > gaining designation for Spruce Hill �??- a process begun in 1987. Spruce Hill > is also a priority for the historical society, as it has a large > concentration of landlords who continue to damage their buildings in an > attempt to maximize their short-term net operating income. > > Tragically, after a fifteen-year struggle, it appears that the political > process may jeopardize this effort. > > In recent weeks, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell introduced an ordinance in > City Council that would not allow the City's Historic Commission to create > any new historic districts. Rather, the Commission could only make > recommendations, and all new districts would have to be created by City > Council. > > Based on the City Council policy of "councilmanic prerogative", we know that > the body would defer to the district councilperson (Councilwoman Blackwell) > to make the decision, thereby changing the process from one based on > architectural and historical merit determined by the experts on the Board of > the Commission and its staff, to a political process to be determined solely > by Councilwoman Blackwell. > > In addition, this would make the process distinctly less democratic. Whereas > the Historical Commission holds community meetings, sends mailings to every > property owner, and provides many avenues for input, the City Council process > would be exposed to the politicking, lobbying, and institutional pressures > that we have seen kill many pieces of valuable community legislation. The > Historical Commission has a policy of systematically polling for community > support, and only supporting nominations where there is community buy-in. The > City Council process is much more susceptible to the disproportionate > influence of those people and corporate entities that have the resources to > amplify their voices. > > While we are on the topic of the democratic process, it is important to note > that Councilwoman Blackwell chose to not consult any of the community > organizations in the area, or as far we can determine, any of the city based > preservation organizations, or for that matter, the director of the City�??s > Historical Commission, in introducing the ordinance. > > Upon learning about this, Kate Stover from Spruce Hill Community Association > and I immediately arranged for a meeting with the Councilwoman to discuss the > issue. > > What I have to report back to all of you is somewhat disheartening. > Councilwoman Blackwell told us that she didn�??t really care whether Spruce > Hill became a historic district or not. In fact, she said she has no opinion > on the matter, and would not have an opinion on the matter. The only insight > she offered was that she said that no one should be able to tell anyone else > what to do with his or her property. Councilwoman Blackwell said that she > introduced her ordinance because she didn�??t have confidence in the Historical > Commission to ensure that the community supported the district, and that she > wanted that to be her decision in City Council. She added that although she > doesn�??t currently oppose the historic district, she would not support it > until it was demonstrated that a majority of the people in the proposed > district wanted it to occur. > > Kate Stover and I understood Councilwoman Blackwell�??s position, and asked > what she thought we could do to demonstrate that a majority supported the > historic district. Councilwoman Blackwell replied by telling us that she > didn�??t know how, or if, it could even be demonstrated. > > That left us at somewhat of an impasse. If we had to demonstrate that a > majority supported the historic district, but there was no process to get > there, and it might not be possible, then where were we left? > > We also appealed to Councilwoman Blackwell on political grounds, asking why > she would put herself in the middle of the controversy over the historic > district by introducing her ordinance. She told us that she did this, because > she didn�??t know what the Historical Commission does, who are on its board, or > what the process is for historic designation. She said she had hoped to be > educated about the process along with the community, but as that hadn�??t > happened, she needed to introduce the ordinance in order to have a say in the > process. > > She likened the situation to the current hold she has placed on a proposed > zoning ordinance which would add additional zoning restrictions on properties > in the northern area of Spruce Hill to protect the residential communities > there. She complained that there too she was assured that there was little > opposition, only to be called by a few irate large landlords complaining > about how this would adversely affect their properties. She was required to > pull the bill. > > And here is where my story ends. > > I say this, only in that I am not sure how we proceed from here. Councilwoman > Blackwell told us that she would not table or withdraw the ordinance. She > also disagreed with our assessment that the ordinance was "changing the > rules" on the community mid-game. > > Rather, she expects to pass the ordinance, and to rest final say for the > historic district in her office. > > That makes one thing crystal clear, however. If we are going to have a > historic district in Spruce Hill, we will only have it with Councilwoman > Blackwell�??s support. Thus, we need to refocus our primary effort for the next > year, in gaining her support. > > As such, I am going to make a request of you. If you care about our > community, its future, and its historical integrity, then please mail a > letter to the Councilwoman. Inform her, in your own words, of the value you > place on the architectural heritage of University City and the importance of > historic district designation in ensuring its preservation. > > Urge Councilwoman Blackwell to rescind her proposed bill, which would gut the > main provisions of an ordinance originally sponsored by then-Councilman John > Street �??- one that combined informed historical judgment in the Commission's > certification with extensive local democratic consultation and input. > Councilwoman Blackwell�??s proposed ordinance would destroy that balanced > process in favor of one where a single person in each councilmanic district > would have sole authority to deny historic districts. The great concern, of > course, is that this would give additional power to some irresponsible large > investors and developers to use their wealth and influence to lobby and fight > all efforts at historic preservation. In University City, where nearly 82% > of properties are investment owned and which has some of the wealthiest and m > ost vocal opponents of historic preservation, these pressures are a daily > threat to our community�??s sustained vitality. > > If you mail a letter to the Councilwoman, as we have requested, please > provide us with a copy. Her address is: > > Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell > City Hall, Room 408 > Philadelphia, PA 19107-3290 > > While this is underway, I can assure you that the boards of the University > City Historical Society and the Spruce Hill Community Association will devote > a significant effort to continue to reach out to the Councilwoman, to > continue our unprecedented community education efforts, and to call upon the > citywide preservation community to come to our aid. > > In sum, I believe that Councilwoman Blackwell�??s current lack of support is > based in her concerns over the level of community support, and a belief that > the community association and the historical society do not represent the > majority view. I believe that with continued communication and education, we > will be able to show overwhelming community support. Councilwoman Blackwell > has always supported the community, even when under intense pressure from > large landlords and large institutions. We need her support now, but we will > have to work for it. I have confidence that she will join us in making the > historic district part of our legacy so that generations will be able to > enjoy our unique community fabric. > > Greg Montanaro > President > ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
