Neighborhoods
Conducting a citywide survey of historic resources in a city as large and as rich in historic resources as Philadelphia is a challenging undertaking.
We need your help to identify historic resources in your neighborhood that should be included in such a survey and identified as worth preserving.
Click here to upload a photo of a historic resource in your neighborhood that is worth preserving.
To see what historic resources others have suggested, choose your neighborhood from the pull-down menu below, or select your neighborhood on the map at right.
Philadelphia’s neighborhoods each have a rich and diverse history, with significant historic sites, outstanding examples of residential architecture, impressive churches and civic buildings such as libraries and educational facilities, distinctive commercial properties, and more.
Yet, very few of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods have been adequately surveyed for their historic resources, except Center City and a few other neighborhoods such as Chestnut Hill, Queen Village or recently nominated historic districts.
What counts as a “historic resource”? Philadelphia’s Historic Preservation Ordinance allows buildings, structures (such as bridges), sites (parks, cemeteries) and objects all to be designated as historic resources and listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. While many cities require that buildings be 50 years or older to be designated historic, Philadelphia’s ordinance has no such requirement. However, in practice, most buildings, structures or sites listed on the Philadelphia Register were created prior to 1970. Anyone can nominate a building to the Philadelphia Register—even you!
For information on how to look at your neighborhood from an historic preservation perspective, click here.
For details on how to nominate a historic resource to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, click here.
Don't see your neighborhood listed? Send your suggestions to advocacy@preservationalliance.com.