Queen Village is the first Neighborhood Conservation District in Philadelphia

After years of discussions, meetings, PowerPoint presentations and public hearings, City Council has unanimously passed — and Mayor Nutter has officially signed — the ordinance that makes Queen Village the first Neighborhood Conservation District in Philadelphia. This means that there is now set of design guidelines that the City Planning Commission will review for every construction project in Queen Village that requires a building permit. These guidelines are meant to preserve the characteristics of Queen Village architecture that make the neighborhood special. They mostly regulate materials and massing. They in no way restrict style, and they are in no way retroactive. They will also have a significant impact on reducing the number of street-facing garages on future developments.

Check the QVNA website www.qvna.org for a link to the guidelines and the legislation.

Michael Hauptman, AIA
Co-chair, QVNA NCD Committee
Co-chair QVNA Zoning Committee