Philly Residents Push Back on New Historic Preservation District

A newly created historic preservation district in Philadelphia is drawing backlash from local residents, reports Avalon Hinchman in 34th Street. “While many opponents agree that historic preservation is important, they consider the Washington Square West Historic District a case of serious overreach, with little regard for the good of the community.”

According to Hinchman, residents worry the designation will make it more difficult to make alterations to their properties and could raise housing values, pushing lower-income people and renters out of the area. 

“In a letter of opposition, Washington Square West residents expressed their support for individual designation” of eight identified historic properties, but they argue that it “hardly justifies creating a historic district covering 1,441 [properties].” After all, in a city as historic as Philadelphia, it could be argued that the entire city is a historic landmark. 

Some residents believe the designation is an effort to stop new development. Other opponents argue that historic designation will impede upgrades to buildings that improve quality of life, such as adding windows to homes that often lack good natural lighting or making buildings ADA compliant, and make it more onerous and expensive for homeowners to make changes. 

The city could opt to create several smaller historic districts or let individual property owners participate in preservation programs on their own. “The PHC has designated historic districts in the past with little to no protest, but if the Washington Square West backlash is any indication, the historic preservation system in Philly can’t keep operating independent of the community.”