The Philadelphia Historical Commission voted to create the city’s largest new historic district in decades. Washington Square West’s new historic district includes 1,441 properties across roughly 26 city blocks. The designation is the culmination of a yearslong effort by preservationists and the Washington Square West Civic Association. And it comes over the objections of some residents who don’t want restrictions on their properties and urbanists who argued the designation would hinder development. A large portion of Washington Square West will now be protected from demolition, and property owners within the historic district’s boundaries need the historical commission’s approval to make certain changes to the outside of buildings. The district stretches about a half-square mile in an area between South Broad and Eighth streets and Sansom and South streets. It sits between the Society Hill district to the east and the Rittenhouse-Fitler district to the west. The local civic association and the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia nominated the district together, saying the area is culturally significant to Black, immigrant, Jewish and LGBTQ communities. And the Preservation Alliance said the district shows Philadelphia’s development westward and highlights the neighborhood’s architectural styles and major development trends. Much of the new district is on the National Register of Historic Places, but that status does not protect the area’s buildings from demolition.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 9/13/2024