PHLF Advocacy Updates

Historic Review Commission, Local Designations, and Other City Issues

March HRC Meeting.  The next meeting of the HRC will be held on March 7, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. in the First Floor Hearing Room of 200 Ross Street.  The agenda is available here.

Section 106 Reviews

Liberty Tunnels Restoration Project.  PHLF is a “consulting party” to the Liberty Tunnels Rehabilitation Project being undertaken by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.  The project includes rehabilitating the portal faces of the tunnels to their approximate original appearance in accordance with the U.S. Secretary’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.  The Liberty Tunnels were opened in January 1924 and were determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.  PHLF opposed the remodeling of the facades in 1973 and is pleased with the plan for restoration.

National Register Nominations

On January 31, 2012, the National Parks Service listed the Mexican War Streets Historic District (Boundary Increase II) to the National Register of Historic Places.  This second boundary increase to the district includes the area bounded by W. North Avenue and Reddour, Eloise, and Federal Streets.

Draft Statewide Preservation Plan Released 

The Pennsylvania Bureau for Historic Preservation has released a draft of the 2012-2017 Pennsylvania Statewide Historic Preservation Plan for public review and comment.  Work on the plan began in April 2010 and included a public outreach process.  The plan is available for download here.