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The district’s properties include Alden Park Manor on Wissahickon Avenue, Malvern Hall on McCallum Street, Cloverly Park Apartments on West School House Lane, and Germantown Manor on West Hortter Street.
Malvern Hall and Alden Park Manor were already on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. Cresheim Valley Apartments and the Wood Norton Residences were also previously on that list but are now part of the new district as well.
The buildings, a combination of low-rise, mid-rise and high-rise properties, illustrate a wide range of architectural styles, including Tudor Revival, Colonial Revival, Neoclassical and Italian Renaissance.
More properties may be added to the district in the future. Philadelphia now has five thematic historic districts on the register.
A committee of the historical commission approved the nomination — made by West Mount Airy Neighbors — in November.
During Friday’s meeting, the owners of two apartment buildings asked commissioners to exclude those properties from the district.
Attorney Michael Phillips, who represents the owner of Sedgwick Gardens in West Mt. Airy, argued that the Lindy family, which has owned and operated the building since its construction in 1939, should continue to control the property.
Sedgwick Gardens, said Phillips, “serves as a testament to the Lindy family’s legacy” and should therefore be free to make any alterations to the 65-unit building it deems necessary — without having to consult with the historical commission.
“The building in a sense can be thought of as a family heirloom — akin to a cherished pocket watch that was passed down through the generations,” said Phillips.
City Councilmember Cindy Bass submitted a letter in support of Sedgwick Gardens’ removal from the district.
An owner at Vernon House, a limited equity coop in West Mt. Airy, also urged the commission to keep the property off the district’s list, saying it could impact affordability and potentially result in deferred maintenance of the 48-unit building.
An initial motion excluding the two buildings failed. Commissioners then passed a second motion that included all 30 properties originally nominated as part of the new district.