Notes from Monday Meeting with Jonathan Farnham

We met with Jonathan Farnham of the Philadelphia Historical Commission on Monday, October 20th, to discuss the potential implementation of a conservation district in Tacony.

Conservation Districts
- little infrastructure in place to regulate, PHC would have little authority
- little or no authority to intervene when changes proposed, more for regulation of demolition
and new construction

Industrial Heritage
- what are the goals of preservation in an industrial area?
- how do you regulate preservation of buildings when used for much different new purpose?
- can the economy support ways in which industrial properties can be adaptively reused?
- few industrial buildings in Philadelphia on local register (usually listed as contributing resources
in a district, or listed after they have been adaptively reused)
- marketability of current space and size of industrial properties (PIDC study underway)

Threats
- wholesale demolition and big box development
- protection of Disston Park from future development

Possible Approaches
- streetscape designation in relatively intact portion of industrial area
- threshold levels of conservation district, neighborhood-based guidelines
- "preservation lite" scheme involving setbacks, materials, etc.

Comparables
- Frankford Arsenal, locally listed with PHC, about 100 industrial buildings on site but only a few
designated
- Point Breeze exampled of workshops on how to perform repairs and take care of your
property, very popular and successful

Like with Society Hill in the 1950s, the involvement of the PHC over a similar period could have a tremensously significant impact on Tacony.

The full meeting notes have been posted to the server in the 'Meeting Notes' folder.

Torresdale Ave-MARC

I have read through a lot of materials with regards to businesses in Tacony, and with specific regard to Torresdale Ave. Within the past 2-3 years there has been a great degree of interest in revitalization and growth on this corridor, which extends through Disston Estates. The corridor spans from Wissinoming (neighborhood to the southeast bordering Tacony) northward into East Torresdale. With regards to what Caitlin posted about the Transit-Oriented Development along the SEPTA R-7, Torresdale Ave parallels that route to the Northeast. I've attached some of the links as well as the lists I have found for Tacony Business and MARC (Major Artery Revitalization Committee) an interest-focused group dedicated to improving life along this commercial corridor. They receive funding from a variety of sources including the Department of Community and Economic Development. I think from reviewing this literature it's important to think how historic preservation can fit into the redevleopment/revitalization plan, it is notably absent from the streetscape improvement plan designed by Cope-Linder Architects.

Here is a list of Members of Tacony’s Business Association

Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 39	James J. Anderson Construction	Anna Marie's Academy of Dance
Athenian Restaurant	Aztec Signs	Brooks Pharmacy
Dr. Val Cantagallo	Checchio and Metka, Attorneys-at-Law	J. Michael Checchio, C.S.A.
Choo-Choo Trolley	C-Lec Plastics, Inc.	Citizens Bank
Dr. David Cohen 6808 Chiropractic Center	Commerce Bank	Conway Doors, Inc.
Jack Costello Boxing Club	Cottman Check Cashing	Harry Crane Plumbing & Heating
Curran's Irish Inn	DeNofa's Deli	Dixon Saunders Printing
Do Do's Pizza	East Coast Dental Lab	Emili's Market
First General Lewis Builders	Mary Ford Dance Studio	Russel T. Friday Construction
Galzerano Funeral Home	Jerry Green Roofing	Good Riddance Exterminating
JANS Corp.	Jeff's Hardwood Floors	Gus' Auto & Truck Repair
Hamilton Disston School	Sgt. Peter J. Hartman PA National Guard Recruiter	H B F Electronics
Historical Society of Tacony	Marie Huff's Hairdressing	Louis A. Iatarola, Real Estate Appraiser
Karley's Specialty Linens	Krohnert Rentals	Len's Auto Body
Little Italy Pizzaria	Join the Tacony Business Association Call 215-331-1551	Little Victorian Village Pre-School
Lutz Contractors	Magnolia Cemetery	Manhattan Financial, Inc.
Mannal Funeral Home	Mayfair Chiropractic Center	Michael's Glass
Walter J. Meyers Funeral Home	Miss Susan's School of Dance	Moessner Foods
Nature's Way Landscaping	Nicoletti Beverage Center	Nolter's Sunoco
Pet Spa	Prince Cafe	Dr. Ronald Renzi
Rev's Used Furniture	Ron's Automotive	.Rowland-Meyers Funeral Home
Rubino's Pharmacy	Bill Schluth's Service Center	SE Family Federal Credit Union
H. David Siegfried Co	Dr. Gerald Skobinsky	W.F.Smith Heating and Cooling
Smith's Ace Hardware	Sovereign Bank	Sue-Ramics
Tacony Boys, LLC	Tacony Civic Association	Tacony Family Medicine
Tacony Florist	Tacony Income Tax Service	Tacony Palmyra Billiard Club
Tanique II	That Guy With the Hair	Tina's Deli

This list may be a bit outdated, but it’s a very diverse group of merchants.

Here's a link to the MARC committee outlining some of the goals of the Torresdale Ave Corridor, a major commercial area in our district. If anyone has questions' I'd be happy to help on Monday.

http://www.marc-cleansweep.com/marc.asp

http://www.marc-cleansweep.com/tap.asp

Here's a link to the firm doing the urban project:

http://www.cope-linder.com/index.html

This is a copy of the survey sent to business owners in the corridor:

http://www.marc-cleansweep.com/MARC%20Business%20Survey.zip