September 29: Preservation policy tools | DelDOT racial, gender disparities | Startup PHL winners

The Conkling-Armstrong house was once the most flamboyant and handsome mansion on West Tioga Avenue, writes Inga Saffron. Built in 1898 by the Conkling-Armstrong Terra Cotta Company, a major supplier of precast and custom terra-cotta pieces, the house functioned as a living showroom that displayed the company’s ornate wares. The “chateau-style demonstration house” is currently vacant, though the owner, who lives next door, says she wants to restore it.

Starr Herr-Cardillo shares four preservation policy tools from other cities for Philadelphians to consider for in preparation for the next Historic Preservation Task Force meeting. Contributing to Hidden City Philadelphia, Herr-Cardillo advocates for a demolition delay ordinance, adaptive reuse ordinance, abandoned building rehab incentives, and amending the 10-year tax abatement.

Mayor Kenney announced Thursday the winners of $100,000 in grant funding for five projects aimed at connecting kids with technology, Technical.ly Philly’s Roberto Torres reports. Startup PHL’s sixth Call For Ideas funded projects by Coded By Kids, Onyx Valley, VietLead, Philadelphia Children’s Foundation, and TechGirlz.

A new independent study shows racial and gender disparities within the Delaware DOT, WHYY’s Zoë Read reports. The study looks at perceptions from white and black employees, barriers against women, and workers’ concerns about how serious complaints are handled. The report offers recommendations to improve diversity and inclusion in the work environment.

The House passed two bills aimed at reforming Pennsylvania’s property assessment system this week, WITF’s Emily Previti reports. Both bills, which the Assessment Reform Task Force worked on for nearly a decade, go next to the Senate’s Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee.