Yesterday, the State Department of General Services (DGS), which is building the Convention Center Expansion, ignored a ruling by the State Historical Commission, and started demolishing two historic buildings that stand in the path of the new building.

This is doubly disappointing. It is important that we save these buildings. And the way in which the DGS, and our political leaders, are acting is truly despicable. Evidently it was too expensive to violate the trust of the people the way we usually do them in this state--which would have meant that the demolition would have started at 2 am. Instead, the state has acted at the next most nefarious time, when the holiday season is upon us and we were celebrating, among other things, a decision that we thought would protect these buildings.

The whole story is below. Read it. And then email Governor Rendell and ask him to order the DGS to stop destroying our heritage.

The Effort to Save the Broad Street Buildings

For years, a determined group of preservationists, some of them my friends and / or people I’ve worked with before, like the incredible John Gallery of the Preservation Alliance and Alan Greenberger of the Design Advocacy Group, have been working to save two historic buildings on Broad Street, the Philadelphia Life Insurance Building and its Annex, that were in the path of the expanded Convention Center. The Annex, a building by the great Philadelphia architect, Aldo Giurgola, was path-breaking in that it showed that a modern building could, and often should, take into account the context in which it is built rather than standing apart as an abstract monument.

In 2004, the Convention Center signed an agreement with the State Historical Commission to preserve the facades of these building and incorporate them into the Convention Center.

Saving the facades of these buildings was not just a genuflection to the past. Incorporating them into the Convention Center expansion would have improved it by breaking up what will otherwise be a big, bland and boring exterior on Broad Street.

The Effort to Weasel out of the Agreement

The State Department of General Services, which is building the expansion, has been trying to weasel out of the agreement in the last year, saying that the facades could not be saved. But, according to Inga Saffron’s report in the Inky, the Convention Center’s own architects denied this claim.

On Friday I celebrated when I read that the campaign lead by the Preservation Alliance and the Design Advocacy Group to pressure the State Historical Commission to save the buildings had been successful as the Commission ruled on Thursday that the facades should be saved.

But, someone concluded that this was only an “advisory opinion” and, decided to put facts on he ground when no one would be looking. So, yesterday, demolition began. No one knows who ordered the demolition but someone from the Governor’s office is quoted, without attribution, saying that “we have no intention of leaving those buildings.”

Politics as Usual

I hope I am wrong, but as far as I know, not one political official in this city has spoken out about saving these buildings, or took any action to enforce the State Historical Commission ruling yesterday.

So this is just one more example of how politics in this city and state is not just broken but absolutely disgusting. It is a shameful act that diminishes our city and our spirit.

It is Not Over

But there is still a chance, to change directions. So far, only the limestone pieces on the Giugola building have been removed. The buildings are still standing. The Preservation Alliance will be seeking an emergency injunction today or tomorrow. I will post again if and when a hearing is held, with the hope that many of you will come out to lend your support.

In the meantime, Governor Rendell can stop the destruction of these buildings. Please email Governor Rendelland ask him to act now.