COMMITTEE ON HISTORIC DESIGNATION 1 DECEMBER 2021 1725 W. TIOGA STREET 1

ADDRESS: 1725 W TIOGA ST Name of Resource: Gothic Revival House Proposed Action: Rescission Property Owner: Christian Street Baptist Church Nominator: Historical Commission Staff Contact: Jon Farnham, jon.farnham@phila.gov OVERVIEW: The Historical Commission is considering whether to remove the property at 1725 W. Tioga Street from the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. The Historical Commission designated the property on 28 September 1971. At the time of designation, a mid nineteenth-century, Gothic Revival house stood on the site. The Historical Commission’s minute from the meeting at which the property was designated on 28 September 1971 provides no information about the property and no clues to the Commission’s findings regarding significance. Some quick research indicates that the building was erected by builder Hiram Miller and sold to lime dealer John R. Brownholtz (sometime spelled Brownholt) as his residence in 1851. At that time, the area around 17th and Tioga Streets was being developed from farmland into the suburban village of Kenderton. The area was named for Col. Kenderton Smith, who began selling his farm for subdivision in the 1840s. The process accelerated after Smith’s death in 1851. The area was attractive for suburban development, owing to its proximity to the Tioga Station on the Germantown rail line as well as its adjacency to the Germantown Plank Road. Throughout the 1850s, Philadelphia newspapers advertised “cheap and desirable cottage lots at Kenderton, on the Germantown Railroad,” and “neat cottages on Tioga Street” near to the Germantown Railroad Station. Photographs of the house at 1725 W. Tioga Street taken by the Historical Commission in 1971 show that the house was intact and in apparently good condition. A 1983 zoning permit application seeking to use the building as a rooming house states that it “was formerly vacant, a breeding place for vandals, and a convenient hunting place for animals.” A 1986 zoning permit application indicates that Excalibur Nursing Home Inc. sought unsuccessfully to convert the private dwelling for use as a nursing home. By the 1990s, the house had fallen into disrepair. In 1996, the Department of Licenses and Inspections declared that the house was Imminently Dangerous, noting that it had suffered fire damage and was in danger of collapse. It was demolished soon thereafter. The vacant lot was paved for parking between 2004 and 2008. Section 5.14.b.1.a of the Historical Commission’s Rules & Regulations stipulates that the Commission may rescind the designation of a building and remove its entry from the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places if the resource has ceased to satisfy the Criteria for Designation because the qualities that caused its original entry have been lost or destroyed. While the property was designated prior to the adoption of the current historic preservation ordinance and its Criteria for Designation, the house was presumably designated for its architectural qualities and as evidence of the mid nineteenth-century suburban village of Kenderton. Given that the Historical Commission was only empowered to designate “buildings” at the time this property was designated in 1971, it appears that all qualities of the property that led to its designation were lost or destroyed with the demolition of the building in the 1990s. The role of the Committee on Historic Designation in reviews such as this one is to determine whether the property retains elements or features that led to its original designation. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: The staff recommends that the Historical Commission find the resource has ceased to satisfy the Criteria for Designation because the qualities that caused its original entry have been lost or destroyed, and that it rescind the designation of 1725 W. Tioga Street and remove it from the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, pursuant to Section 5.14.b.1.a of the Historical Commission’s Rules & Regulations.

COMMITTEE ON HISTORIC DESIGNATION 1 DECEMBER 2021 1725 W. TIOGA STREET 2

1725 W. Tioga Street, 14 July 1971, Philadelphia Historical Commission.

1725 W. Tioga Street, 14 July 1971, Philadelphia Historical Commission.

COMMITTEE ON HISTORIC DESIGNATION 1 DECEMBER 2021 1725 W. TIOGA STREET 3

1725 W. Tioga Street, undated, probably 1990s, source unknown.

Current aerial photograph of the property, 2020, Atlas.

COMMITTEE ON HISTORIC DESIGNATION 1 DECEMBER 2021 1725 W. TIOGA STREET 4

R.P. Smith, Map of the Vicinity of Philadelphia from Actual Surveys, 1853.

Scott & Moore, Scott’s Map of the Consolidated City of Philadelphia, 1856.

COMMITTEE ON HISTORIC DESIGNATION 1 DECEMBER 2021 1725 W. TIOGA STREET 5

Samuel L. Smedley, Atlas of the City of Philadelphia, 1862.

G.M. Hopkins, City Atlas of Philadelphia, 1875.

COMMITTEE ON HISTORIC DESIGNATION 1 DECEMBER 2021 1725 W. TIOGA STREET 6

1851 and 1852

1853

1858

1858 1850s newspaper advertisements from the Public Ledger selling lots and cottages in Kenderton.

HINUTES OF THE 159th STATED l!EETDlG OF THE PHILAIIEIPHIA HISTORICAL 0OMIIISSICJl

28 September 1971

Pre1ent were1 Hr. Charles R. Ty-eon, Chairman ot the Ca.ission Hr. Richmond P. Hiller, Vice-Chairman ot the Ccad.aaion Hr. Edvard PiDkCllf81ci Hr. J olua T ax:l.n Kr. Jaea L. Ferguaon, Deputy Director ot Finance llr. RIJll',f J. Xagasiner, Architectural Advisor to the C-1aaion Jira. Joseph Segal, Project Manager tor the RedeTelClplUnt Authority Dr. Margaret B. TiDkcaa, Historian Jira. Charle, J. Kaurer, Executive Aasiltant to the Chai:naan Patricia Siemiontkowald, Secretar,r

Unle11 ot.henr.l.1e noted, all actions taken herein are the renlt. ot aoti0111 correctly made, seconded and carried.

THE HINUTES tor the Stated Meeting Z, June 1971 were approved and directed to be tiled with the other reports tor that IIIOllth.

llEPOR'fS

The following etatt recCllllllJldatima tor certit;ring builcliJlg1 were approved:

121-123-125-127 Walnut Street 100 lint.on street SOlll.bwelt comer Tveaty-tirlt and Spl'Wle street• llorthweat corner Twnty-tiret md Bprace Street■ 1505 to lSllJ 1519 to 1539J 1504 to 1538 Pine street. 2200 aad 2300 block■ (both aides) ot Hadiaon Squ.are st. Jobll'• Church, Thirteenth Street below Market street 1725 :West Tioga Street.

The Ccad.■1ion'1 Activitiea, Dr. Margaret B. TiDkcaa, Historian. Dr. T:lnkccn. Nported on July, AMUat, and Stpternber activities. A report vu ade 011 the research 110ric ccmpleted by three college intem1 110ricing in the Camni1■ion office this past ■-r. One ot the intem■ would be able to continue 110rid.M one day a week tor the C-1■aion it $57.00, and an e.xt.ra $10.00 to coYer Social Security p-,-t1, eClllld be npplied. A IIIOl:.iat 'ftll made, 1econded and carried to provide this nCl!ldnaJ tnm 10 that further reaearch can be carried on.

A deficit ot $1.800.00 in Clue 100 money Wal di■CUl■ed ammg the 1118Dlber1. Dr. TiDkccm. stated that a aeac vu sent to Canmisaioner Coatallo, aa directed by My-er Kennan, notifying him that no other fllnda nre available in either 200 or 300 money. Mr. Tyson asked if it were possible to

THE MINllTES · 2 28 September 1971

REPORTS continued

acquire funds fran the Federal Govenuunt to fill this void. Dr. Tinkccn thOllght that it 'IIOUld be ti.f'ficul.t. Mr. Jlagamer also 11\lggested appqing to the Philadelphia Foandation for funds. The aoticn to make application for BUCh -ey• was made, seconded and carried. It was 1111ggested, by Mr. Pinkonld., that a 1J1J1R equal to the :,early salary of one perscn be requsted.

The C-1.ssiGl discussed the probl• of 305 Chestmit Street. A aotion vaa ude, Neonded and carried that Kr. Steven Gardner be reaillded that a reply to our letter regard.big this certified building has not :,et 'been received.

Mr. llaguiller spoke of the status of the Tweltt.h street Frimds I Xeeting­hClllse and the new plans drawn up by- the 1234 llarkst Street architects. le presented an optcmistic view 11hioh Glll,y depended on the Friends 1

ooq,eration.

Arohiteotval Ccadttee Reports, Henr,- J. Jlagamer, Cllairman.

Kr. Jlagl,Siaer nmarind 'briefly the reports for July and S-,tember. (There vu n.o Arohitectlll'al c-ittee Meeting held ill A118Ut.) It wu nggested that taeN Hinul.es 'be sat to all board. Mllbers ill allvanoe of the Stated Meeting for review. This aoticm wu appl'ffed. The C-1.ssion also appl'OYed the aoti• that the .lrcldteotural C-1.ttH ••t two veeks before the stated Meeting to all.ow llll'le time tor reproduoticn md ••:fling out of this report.

TheN t110 sets ot Xi.nut.es wre approyed, a• vu Dr. Tinkoo•'• Report.

OLD BUSDIESS

There wu aothing under this categoey to be discussed.

KEW BUSDIESS

The Art CcadBBion brought to the Historical Ccadasion '• attentiGn the elaborate proposal lllUlllllitted for Bel.acnt Jlansi• and new struotvea to be constl'lloted nearby. Since Belaclnt Kanaion is a historioal.l,y certified hu1Jd1ng, the C-1.Hion mored that the architect be asked to nlmit his plans to this C-1.ssiCll tor review.

There being no further budnes11, the Xe.ting was adjCllll'lled at 4:45 P. H.

Respecttully BllNlitted,

Patricia Siemi.ontkowski, Secretary

CITY OF PHILADELPHIADEPARTMENT OF LICENSES AND INSPECTIONS

MUNICIPAL SERVICES BUILDING1401 JFK BLVD, ROOM 1140PHILADELPHIA, PA 19102

CLARENCE BRIDGES

Date: 11/8/1996

You are hereby notified that the DEPARTMENT OF LICENSES AND INSPECTIONS has considered the situation at the subject premises IMMINENTLY DANGEROUS within the meaning of the Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code PM-308.0 ID structures. You are hereby ordered to demolish or repair the said premises IMMEDIATELY. If you fail to adhere to this notice the city will demolish the premises and stucco the party walls exposed by the demolition in accordance with all the provisions of the code, and bill the owner for the costs incurred. Failure to pay the bill will result in the city filing a lien in the amount against the title to the premises. Once the demolition has started, it will be necessary to secure legal action to halt the work. THIS NOTICE IS FINAL.

If you wish to appeal this violation, apply to the Board of Building Standards, Municipal Services Building - Concourse Level, 1401 J.F.K. Blvd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102-1686, within 10 days of this notice. Telephone inquiries concerning appeal process can be directed to 686-2419. It is required to submit a copy of this notice with the appeal.

PHILA, PA 19140

RE: 1725 W TIOGA ST 191

MAIN ROOF'S SUPPORT SYSTEM HAS UNDERGONE SEVERE STRUCTUAL FIRE DAMAGE AND IS IN DANGER OF COLLAPSE. FRONT PORCH ROOF AND MAIN ROOF'S OVERHANG ARE SEVERELY ROTTED AND STRUCTUALLY FAILING.

DANIEL QUINNCHIEF, CONTRACTUAL SERVICES UNITMSB - RM 1140, 1401 J.F.K. BLVD.Telephone: MU6-2582

3432 OLD YORK RDROBERT LEE ETAL