Neighborhoods Converge on Temple; Roxborough Up For Grant

What do an ancient South Philly mansion and an abandoned Roxborough theater have in common? According to the Preservation Alliance, loads.

Hosting its second-annual conference at Temple University Friday, the nonprofit focused on historic preservation looks to educate, aid and connect individuals, organizations and businesses focuses on protect the past. And the gathering entitled "A Sense of Place: Preserving Philadelphia Neighborhoods" is the place to make those connections.

"I think people think of historic preservation as elitist, but it's not," neighborhood preservation director Patrick Hauck said. "We want to work with the broader picture of Philadelphia and its neighborhoods. Historic preservation is about having a sense of place and how people value their neighbors and want to preserve the sense of character in their community."

The one-day conference at Temple's Student Faculty Center will feature speakers discussing preservation's impact on education, planning, affordable housing, environmental issues, commercial development and grant writing, among other topics.

Hauck said the goals of historic preservation—"with a small 'h' and small 'p'—often go hand-in-hand with many neighborhood initiatives.

"Last year, when 'traditional' historic preservation people talked, others realized 'Oh, we do have a lot in common," he said, adding concerns on safety, sustainability, commerce and character are often linked.

"The genesis of this project is to reach out to our broad neighbors and talk about what we're doing, what they're doing, and use tools to help each other out," he said.

One tool the Preservation Alliance is using: grant writing. On Friday, the nonprofit will announce recipients of the Neighborhood Preservation Project awards and offer two $1,000 and two $1,500 grants to the winners.

Hoping to compile an "Historic Roxborough" book, the Roxborough Development Corporation is one group vying for one of the four awards. Hauck was tightlipped about which groups won, but said the Preservation Alliance would still help out neighborhood projects that did not receive funding.

Serving as a model for the Preservation Alliance and Philadelphia, the keynote speaker is from a successful Baltimore neighborhood initiative. With Healthy Neighborhoods Inc., Barbara Aylesworth will discuss the Baltimore program that facilitated investment and citizen-organized building projects for under-served city neighborhoods.

In general, the conference's main goal is to put people with similar ambitions in touch with individuals, groups or programs they may have been ignorant of.

"We try to be the connective tissue. Who's out there doing what? We'll bring resources to the communities and help partner them," Hauck said.

Civic leaders, development groups, companies, and—of course—residents are invited to attend the conference Oct. 8 at Temple. Registration is $20 and includes lunch. Visit Preservation Alliance's website for more information.