In a message dated 10/24/07 2:55:39 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > well, I don't know nuttin' 'bout nuttin', but it looks like > uchs's own website lists the house as being on the national > register for historic places, june 22, 1979 > > Ray, my mistake, I've been assuming that the property on the corner of 40th & Pine was 4000 Pine Street, but I realize now that it is not. The entry you read on the UCHS website is for the intact house next door to the proposed hotel site. In other words, the house one-in from the corner is 4000 Pine St. You can confirm this by looking it up on Hallwatch.org: that building is not owned by Penn!
The proposed hotel site is 400 S. 40th St. That's the address on the documents for the Historical Commission's meeting yesterday, now that I look at them more closely. 400 S. 40th St. is also on the UCHS website, both on the West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District inventory, as: 400 South 40 St. Attributed to Samuel Sloan, architect c.1853 Three-story, Italianate, stucco detached house. Distinguishing features include wrought iron window hoods, columned porch with pedimented entrance, quoins, bracketed cornice, cupola with arched windows, and paired bracketed cornice. One-story white brick-front addition c.1960. Driveway through yard. 1 Con tributing. ...and on the Hamilton Family Estate historic site inventory as: Buildings contributing to the quality of the district: 1. 400 South 40th Street - Italianate house, c. 1853; altered into a nursing home, with front porch removed, and front and side additions. (Part of district in that it survives, but not essential to the streetscape in that it fronts on 40th Street). BUT - huge distinction here between types of historic districts: a National Register district is not under the guidance of the Philadelphia Historical Commission. AND, being on the National Register does not require an owner to preserve the property. If it did, most every house in University City would be protected now, because University City has quite a few National Register Districts - including the West Philadelphia Streetcar Suburb Historic District, and as far as I can tell, also the Hamilton Family Estate historic site, both shown on the UCHS website. So the fact that the address was shown on the UCHS website as being a part of a National Register District would not have alerted its buyers or sellers to the fact that it was locally designated, requiring that it be preserved. Thanks for pointing out the address discrepancy and giving me the opportunity to explain the distinction between the National Register and a local historic district. Enough on this topic, I'm sure, - Melani Lamond Melani Lamond, Associate Broker Urban & Bye, Realtor 3529 Lancaster Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19104 cell phone 215-356-7266 office phone 215-222-4800, ext. 113 office fax 215-222-1101 ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com
