The
Philadelphia Historical Commission has decided not to rule on historic
protection for two Jewelers Row properties slated for demolition as long as
developer Toll Bros. has permits to carry through with its plan for a 29-story condo tower on the site.
The
commission voted, 8-3, Friday to table a decision on whether to list 704 and 706-08 Sansom St. on the
city’s Register of Historic Places after some members asserted that a ruling to
protect the properties would be meaningless, since Toll has permits to tear
them down.
The
Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia nominated the structures for the
register in September, months after Toll applied for zoning and demolition
permits to raze them and two others.
Under
city code, a decision to list the buildings would not affect Toll’s ability to
tear them down because applications for demolition were filed before the
Historical Commission began considering protection, officials have said.
The
buildings first came before the commission in November, when it voted to table the decision for a 90-day period
that ended Friday, with members saying they were wary of ruling on
the buildings' historical merit in light of the permits for demolition.
Commissioners
said Friday that they could take up the matter again if a pending appeal of the
demolition permit is successful, or if Toll abandons the project.
Source: Philly.com
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