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Honoring the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia on the occasion of its 25th Anniversary.
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WHEREAS, The Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia was founded in 1996 to be the principal historic preservation advocacy organization for the Philadelphia region; and
WHEREAS, In May 1996, The Philadelphia Historic Preservation Corporation and the Preservation Coalition of Greater Philadelphia merged to become the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, In 1997, the Alliance brokered an agreement for the preservation and redevelopment of the United States Naval Home; and
WHEREAS, In 1998, the Alliance released The Economic Benefits of Preserving Philadelphia’s Past, detailing the economic benefits of historic preservation on neighborhood revitalization, heritage tourism and downtown development; and
WHEREAS, In 2003, the Preservation Alliance released its inaugural Endangered Properties List and the first issue of its Preservation Matters newsletter; and
WHEREAS, In 2008, the Preservation Alliance assumed stewardship of the Foundation for Architecture’s Walking Tour Program and continues an ambitious roster of over 60 unique tours; and
WHEREAS, In 2009, the Alliance lead a campaign to protect significant public interior spaces by amending the Philadelphia Historic Preservation Ordinance to allow interior designations; and
WHEREAS, In 2012, after sixteen years of persistent advocacy efforts by the Alliance and others were rewarded when Pennsylvania established the Historic Preservation Tax credit; and
WHEREAS, In 2014, the Alliance published the debut issue of Extant, a magazine produced in collaboration with Hidden City to promote historic preservation in the Philadelphia area; and
WHEREAS, In 2016, the Preservation Alliance mounted a multi-pronged challenge to proposed developments on Philadelphia’s historic Jewelers’ Row, highlighting the vulnerability of historic properties across the City of Philadelphia and leading to the creation of Mayor James Kenney’s Historic Preservation Task Force; and
WHEREAS, In 2019, The Historic Preservation Task Force issued its final report, resulting in Use Zoning and Parking Minimum Relief for historic properties; allowance of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) within historic properties; and partial demolition controls within Neighborhood Conservation Overlay Districts (NCOs); and
WHEREAS, In 2020, amid a devastating pandemic, the Alliance seamlessly transitioned to digital programming and communications, offering a digital lecture series, digital walking tours, and the first ever virtual Preservation Achievement Awards; and
WHEREAS, In 2021, the Preservation Alliance celebrates 25 years of commitment to historic preservation advocacy and education - a commitment established by its predecessors, that has produced a legacy proudly carried into the future; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Does hereby honor the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia on the occasion of its 25th Anniversary.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy be presented to the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia, further evidencing the sincere admiration and respect of this legislative body.
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