Neighbors, Some of the hotel supporters have made comments like, "see what happens when we don't have a historic designation." That's not only absurd; what a nightmare that would have been! As has been demonstrated, designation and an incredibly dangerous PHC, have nothing to do with protecting anything historic!
The Philadelphia Historic Commission is a prime example of corrupt government . They changed their policy and procedure in order to rubber stamp Penn's hotel proposal. This change, to bypass the architectural committee from inspecting the altered hotel plans (10-11 stories), was done without any reason or debate. As several people have pointed out, the hotel proposal went so obviously against accepted historic preservation standards, the federal standards, etc. Furthermore, the PHC refuses citizen recordings (as reported by Andrew) of their kangaroo proceedings and then passes out a synopsis so edited that it becomes a false record. With only a false written record, the public, or the little guy, must beg for the staff to allow a listening to the tape in their back library. The big developers are the ones that will tend to transform a community not our neighbor's window replacements. Existing building and zoning codes are sufficient protection from our neighbors and our neighbors are generally trying, as best they can, to keep their homes valuable in the first place. Would the little guy get the same special treatment from a dysfunctional corrupt commission with incredible power over the homes in an HD? This PHC could destroy the little guy as easily as rubber stamping a Penn plan. Civic association leaders shouldn't be given another weapon that has no legitimate purpose other than to harass the less wealthy. These so-called community leaders love these corrupt dysfunctional tools (dysfunctional city agencies) in the never ending quest for outrageous power over their neighbors. I think the support for the hotel speaks volumes about the true goals of the historic designation proponents. The PHC could be the most powerful tool to force lower and middle-income homeowners out of the neighborhood by taking their houses while driving them crazy! Organized groups like SHCA or UCHS use entities like PHC and hope that the gang loyalty will help them stay protected when they ask for special privileges. None of this has anything to do with historic preservation. I think people hoping to benefit from oppression often believe that they will escape being victims themselves. They cling to the belief that in the plutocracy they will be on the winning side. Inevitably the sad time arrives for everyone in that system. Based on my observations of PHC hearings/processes and the PHC hotel approval. Glenn
