1) Hire a Society Hill savvy contractor
Every year, a handful of Society Hill homeowners spend real money on a renovation that never gets built. Not because of budget. Not because of a contractor. Because nobody told them the plan was going to be denied before the first nail hits the wood.
If you are a Society Hill homeowner, the Philadelphia Historical Commission is a permanent stakeholder in your property. Understanding how the Commission thinks is key. So is using contractor familiar with Society Hill!
Society Hill Civic comprises an annual list of Contractors used and approved by members. This is not a generic list where contractors pay to be on it, like Angi’s List. No, this is a gem and many of the Aborists, Painters, Woodworkers, Roofers, etc, are often surprised to learn they are even on it. I call it Martha’s List because of the SHCA volunteer who compiles this insider information. And you must be an SHCA Member to access it!
**See the HUGE table of contents of Martha’s List at the end of this article!**
2) Know exactly what you own
Society Hill was added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 1999. That local designation is the one that carries teeth. The National Register listing from 1971 gets the plaques and the tourism, but local designation is what triggers mandatory review.
Inside the district, not every building is treated the same. Properties are classified as either contributing or non contributing to the district’s historic character. A restored 1790s Federal rowhome on Delancey is contributing, and review will be strict. A 1960s Pei townhouse built during urban renewal may be non contributing, and you generally have more latitude. Confirm your classification before you plan anything. It changes the entire conversation.
3) Know what the Commission controls, and what it does not
The Historic Commission’s jurisdiction is the exterior. Its stated priority is protecting public views of historic properties, which means the front facade, roofs, and anything visible from the street or an alley.
Your interior is almost always yours. Unless the interior itself is separately designated, you can gut the kitchen, move walls, redo the bath, and add a wine room without any preservation review at all. That surprises some owners who think historic designation means living in a museum.
What does trigger review:
- Windows, doors, transoms, and storefronts
- Roof changes visible from a public way, including dormers, decks, and new materials
- Rear or rooftop additions visible from a public way
- Masonry, cornices, stoops, and porches
- Any demolition or removal of historic fabric
What generally does not:
- Interior only work with no exterior effect
- Repainting a surface that was already painted
- Routine maintenance and in kind repair
4) The Historical Commission’s isn’t as bad as you think
The staff approves more than 90% of building permit applications without ever referring them to a committee, and many of those are turned around within days. There is no fee for a project review. Staff will also consult with you during the planning stage, before you commit money to drawings. That last point is the whole game. The owners who have miserable experiences almost always designed in isolation and submitted a finished plan. The owners who breeze through talked to preservation staff early and shaped the design around what they heard.
If your project does get referred, it goes to the Architectural Committee and then to the full Commission, which meets monthly. Budget roughly six to twelve weeks from submission to decision for major work, longer if your application is continued for more information or sent back as incomplete. Then add time for the Licenses & Inspections permit after the Commission decision.
Build that into your construction schedule from day one. A summer renovation that starts its approvals in April is a fall renovation.
Summary
Confirm whether your property is contributing or non contributing. Contact Historical Commission staff during design, not after. Hire an architect and a contractor off on Martha’s List who knows Society Hill and ask them for the addresses of previous clients.
Two Society Hill homes on the same block, same square footage, same finishes, can trade at meaningfully different numbers. One reason is documentation. Approved, permitted, compliant work is an asset at closing. Unpermitted exterior work is a liability that a buyer’s attorney will find, and it becomes a credit request or a broken deal at the worst possible moment. If you have work on your home that predates you and you are not sure it was ever approved, that is worth resolving on your timeline rather than during a 10-day inspection period.
And remember living in the most historic and charming neighborhood in the USA requires policies that keep it looking beautiful. Ultimately, everyone benefits from regulations that preserves our Society Hill for us and future generations.
Questions, Comments, Concerns? E-mail me at [email protected]. I promise to reply asap!
Martha’s List Contents:
- ANTIQUE (WOOD AND MARBLE) MANTELS, DOORS, SALVAGE
- BRICK AND MASONRY WORK – CONSTRUCTION, REPAIRS, POINTING AND CLEANING
- CABINETRY AND FINE WOODWORKING
- CHIMNEY WORK & FIREPLACES
- CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
- ELECTRICAL
- FLAT ROOFS
- GARAGE/OVERHEAD DOORS
- GENERAL CONTRACTORS
- HANDYMAN
- HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING
- HOME TECHNOLOGY
- HVAC DUCT CLEANING
- INTERIOR DESIGN
- IRONWORK
- LANDSCAPE DESIGN, GARDENERS
- LIGHTING – ANTIQUE AND REPRODUCTION (INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR)
- LOCKSMITH
- MARBLE AND TILE WORK
- PAINTERS – INTERIOR, EXTERIOR
- PLASTER WORK
- PLUMBING
- REPLACEMENT ORIGINAL AND REPRODUCTION HARDWARE (SHUTTER
- RESTORATION SERVICES – FIRE AND WATER DAMAGE, SPECIALTY CLEANING
- ROOFING & ROOF DRAINS
- SECURITY SYSTEMS
- SOLAR ENERGY AND BATTERY BACKUP
- TREE CARE AND REMOVAL, LANDSCAPE SERVICES
- WATERPROOFING (BASEMENT AND EXTERIORS)
- WINDOW TREATMENTS
- WINDOW WASHERS
- WINDOWS, DOORS, SHUTTERS & WOODWORK
- WOOD FLOOR INSTALLATION AND FINISHING
