Dear ,

Today, May 8, 2026, the Chestnut Hill Conservancy led a consortium of 19 Lower and Upper Northwest Philadelphia community organizations in submitting a letter to the Philadelphia City Council Rules Committee opposing Bill No. 251030. 

The letter requests that the bill not be placed on a Rules Committee agenda during the Spring 2026 Council session, and instead calls for additional stakeholder engagement and discussion regarding proposed revisions to the legislation.

This effort builds on the Conservancy’s earlier advocacy regarding Bill No. 251030, including testimony before the Philadelphia City Planning Commission in December 2025, months of engagement with City Council and community groups on issues with the bill, and a joint community letter in April 2026 requesting additional stakeholder engagement and discussion.

The letter outlines several concerns with Bill No. 251030 as currently drafted, including:

• • The creation of a process that could allow significant demolition of buildings and historic features without oversight by the Philadelphia Historical Commission
  • Ongoing negotiations and discussions that have not yet concluded among City officials, development representatives, and community and preservation stakeholders
  • The need for broader inclusion of community stakeholders and Registered Community Organizations in future discussions regarding both Bill No. 251030 and related proposals concerning “tiered” historic districts

Participating groups include civic associations, Registered Community Organizations (RCOs), neighborhood groups, and other community organizations from across Northwest Philadelphia. See the full list of participating organizations below, and read the full letter online.

What you can do today:

• • Contact your local Philadelphia City Council representative by phone or email to share your views on Bill No. 251030 

    Find Your Councilmember

  • Read the May 8 joint community letter and learn more about the Conservancy’s advocacy efforts 

    Read the full letter

For more information or to connect with our advocacy team, please email Info@CHConservancy.Org or reach our Executive Director, David Gest Esq., directly at David@CHConservancy.Org. 

Thank you for staying engaged.

Participating Organizations include: 

• • Central Roxborough Civic Association
  • Chestnut Hill Community Association
  • Chestnut Hill Conservancy
  • Chew and Belfield Neighbors Club
  • Dearnley Park Civic Association
  • East Mt. Airy Neighbors
  • Manayunk Neighborhood Council
  • Penn Knox Neighborhood Association
  • Residents of Shawmont Valley
  • Ridge Park Civic Association
  • Roxborough Development Corporation
  • Roxborough Manayunk Wissahickon Historical Society
  • SoLo / Germantown Civic Association
  • The Keeping Society of Philadelphia
  • Upper Roxborough Civic Association
  • West Central Germantown Neighbors
  • West Mt. Airy Neighbors / Historic Preservation Initiative
  • Wingohocking & Wister Neighbors
  • Wissahickon Neighbors Civic Association

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