The Philadelphia Historical Commission (PHC) was scheduled to host a public meeting on Wednesday, July 16, to discuss a senior affordable housing project in Germantown. 

The developer, OTH Capital, proposes building a 49-unit, four-story, 18,666 square-foot affordable housing development for seniors at 328-330 W. Queen Lane. The project will receive residential assistance subsidies for all units. There is no parking included in the project.

The subsidies were awarded by the Philadelphia Housing Authority, an agency supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Because the subsidies are funded by federal money, a review process was triggered, including Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, which looks at the project’s effect on cultural resources and historic properties. 

The act requires state and/or local historic preservation offices to host public meetings. Bruce Bohri, a spokesperson for the PHC, says this is to give the public an opportunity to recommend and weigh in on options for mitigating adverse effects.

City officials determined that the proposed development would have an “adverse effect” on the historic district due to the destruction of two district structures. They also determined the design to be “out of scale and incompatible” with the district. 

The PHC recommended that OTH Capital consider alternate sites, preservation alternatives that preserve the existing building, and design alternatives matching the surrounding district.

In April, the PHC held a public meeting on the project, allowing local residents to comment and ask questions. According to meeting notes, a representative for the developer, Tom McInerney, said the developer is sensitive to the issues the preservation alternatives raised. He expressed his belief that there is a need for the project in the neighborhood and that it’s difficult to find alternative sites in Germantown. 

He also argued that the structures on the property could not be saved, with one in dangerous condition.

According to meeting notes, Oscar Beisert, a local preservationist and architectural historian, said he appreciated the need for senior housing, but was frustrated with the design of the project and the lack of context with the surrounding neighborhood’s architecture.

Several other attendees expressed concern over the demolition of the existing properties and the building’s lack of parking. 

Under the city’s zoning code, the project is “by right,” meaning it can be built without a variance from the Zoning Board of Adjustment. 

Tommy Tucker can be reached at Tommy@chestnuthilllocal.com.