Preservation
St. Laurentius Church in Fishtown lives — Historical Commission delays demolition vote
A bitterly fought-over Fishtown icon will survive at least another month after heated debate over whether the crumbling landmark can be saved.
5 years ago
A moment of reckoning: What histories do our monuments commemorate?
Amidst the weeks of protests, an old conversation has gained new traction: what do we do with our monuments to slaveholders and other problematic historical figures?
Air Date: July 2, 2020
Listen 48:58
Black Futures Campaign is crowdfunding $100,000 to buy Dox Thrash house
The group behind the campaign wants to buy the Black artist’s house and transform it into a creative hub for North Philadelphia.
5 years ago
Eyes on the Street
Why do we save white monuments and let Black history rot?
People damaged historic buildings in the aftermath of protest. Let’s not mourn. Instead, think about the values and stories we tell with our architecture.
5 years ago
Eyes on the Street
I am a preservationist. This pandemic reminded me to see Philly’s ‘miracles’
Preservationist Paul Steinke rediscovers the wondrous yet fragile beauty of his West Philadelphia neighborhood, taking readers to 8 Garden Court sites.
5 years ago
Philadelphia Land Bank halts plan to redevelop Kensington gardens into housing
A housing development planned for a gentrifying area was hit with a firestorm of resistance from neighbors who will lose land that they use as gardens.
5 years ago
West Philadelphia church burned in blaze to save soaring bell tower
A West Philadelphia church is rebuilding after a 2019 fire. Most of the 115-year-old building will be demolished but the bell tower will be preserved.
5 years ago
Billy Penn
Strawberry Mansion’s famous John Coltrane house named ‘at risk,’ boosting chance for survival
It’s already a National Historic Landmark, but is still in danger of decay.
5 years ago
N.J. historic preservation officials insult the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.
N.J.’s refusal to list the Camden home where MLK plotted his first protest on the state’s Register of Historic Places insults the civil rights leader’s legacy.
5 years ago
On the eve of Black History Month, N.J. denied historic designation for Camden MLK House
The Historic Preservation Office withholds a spot on the state’s Register of Historic Places from the site where King planned one of his earliest protests.
5 years ago
With a ceremonial mortgage burning, the Paul Robeson House marks its next chapter
With the debt burden lifted, the West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance is one step closer to adding programming to attract younger people to the house and museum.
5 years ago
Time running out to save historic ‘MLK House’ in Camden
That structure is now on the verge of collapse in the face of indecision by local and state officials.
5 years ago
Alabama county to preserve jail remnant where MLK was held
An Alabama county is preserving what’s left of the lockup where officials say Martin Luther King Jr. served his final time behind bars just months before his assassination.
5 years ago
NJ Spotlight
Historians Fight to Preserve New Jersey’s Endangered Lifesaving Stations
A little-known but colorful slice of maritime history can still be found in a few places
6 years ago
City Council is making it harder to demolish buildings in 6 historic Philly neighborhoods
A bill expected to pass City Council aims to stem demolitions of historic buildings.
6 years ago