WHEREAS, Richardson Dilworth was a genuine hometown war hero, first earning a Purple Heart as a marine fighting in WWI, and then earning a Silver Star fighting in WWII; and
WHEREAS, Richardson Dilworth was one of Philadelphia’s most important civic leaders and political reformers and served as Philadelphia’s Treasurer, District Attorney, Mayor, and President of the School Board; and
WHEREAS, Under Richardson Dilworth’s leadership, the neighborhood of Washington Square East underwent a period of urban renewal, which was the first such program to be based on historic preservation; and
WHEREAS, This urban renewal program enabled Philadelphia to retain its status of a world-class city, served to revitalize living in downtown Philadelphia and became a model for similar movements nationwide; and
WHEREAS, In 1957, Richardson Dilworth made a personal commitment to the success of this program by moving his family into a house at 223-225 S. Sixth Street (the “Dilworth House”); and
WHEREAS, In 2000, the Philadelphia Historical Commission, recognizing the importance of Dilworth’s contributions, classified the Dilworth House as having “significant” historical value in the Society Hill Historic District; and
WHEREAS, In 2005, the Commission’s Committee on Designation voted unanimously to reaffirm the house’s “significant” classification; and
WHEREAS, The Historical Commission has been presented with a petition of over 1,800 signatures from the community advocating for the preservation of the Dilworth House; and
WHEREAS, We are now marking the 50th Anniversary of the first inauguration of Richardson Dilworth as Mayor of Philadelphia and it is important to keep alive his spirit of optimism and faith in the City; and
WHEREAS, The Historical Commission has been presented with an application to alter the Dilworth House’s historic designation in order to demolish the House and erect a luxury condominium building; now therefore
RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Calls upon the Philadelphia Historical Commission to maintain the Dilworth House’s classification as a significant historic building worthy of preservation.
End