Source: The Evening Bulletin
Date: June 20, 2007
Byline: Lily Williams
Preservation Month Proves Philly's Past Alive And Lively
The word preservation conjures up images of dusty attics and faded pages. Perhaps even the slight whiff of camphor or mildew.
But you can forget about such notions if you're talking about the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, one of the liveliest groups in the city, with an active schedule and an activist agenda.
If you don't know the Preservation Alliance by name, you are no doubt familiar with the results they've achieved around town: impacting important legislation that affects the historic look and feel of the city, creating an easement program that allows homeowners to donate protective preservation easements on their historic properties so that they will be maintained in perpetuity, and providing grants to low-income individuals and familes so that they can preserve their historic homes.
This and much more are all part of the job for Preservation Alliance Executive Director John Gallery, his dedicated staff and scores of committed volunteers. They are passionate about what they do, and aren't afraid to make a few waves to make sure their mission is accomplished.
But preservation is about bringing the past to life. So the folks at the Preservation Alliance are always looking for ways to remind people how much fun it is when history is a living, breathing part of their present.
And what better time to do it than during May, designated both nationally and locally as Preservation Month?
Philly kicked off this annual celebration with an awards preview reception held at the remarkable Urban Outfitters Corporate Commons building in the Navy Yard. The event included guided site tours by Urban Outfitters Chief Development Officer Dave Ziel, as well as appetizers, a jazz quartet and the opportunity for awardees, event sponsors and Preservation Alliance board members to mingle in the dramatic backdrop of the award-winning site.
Urban Outfitters, Inc. was a 2007 recipient of both the Preservation Alliance Board of Directors Award for outstanding achievements by an organization, as well as a Grand Jury Award in recognition of their successful adaptive re-use, rehabilitation and restoration of a historic industrial site.
Another May event that brought out the child in everyone was a Big Kids Play Date at the landmark Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse in East Fairmount Park.
Turning out to party like preschoolers were Ted Burkett, Bill Millholle, Clarissa Griebel, Rachel Royer, Michelle Marx and Cory Kegerise.
For a completely different perspective on the city, the Preservation Alliance hosted a Young Friends happy hour cruise along the Northern Delaware with Penn Praxis director and waterfront development expert Harris Steinberg.
Finally, the Preservation Alliance capped this eventful month with its 14th Annual Preservation Achievement Awards, a flagship event for the organization.
This year some of the awardees included Mary Warner DeNadai, recipient of the James Biddle Award for lifetime achievement in historic preservation, and the proud neighbors of Collingswood, N.J. as one of three Community Action award recipients.
Grand Jury recipients for 2007 included an extensive list of project participants including the Philadelphia Museum of Art's new Ruth and Raymond G. Perelman Building and the Water Works South Garden and Cliff path restoration.
The Preservation Alliance also paid a special tribute to Penny Hartshorne Batcheler, one of the region's most recognized preservationists who passed away in April through a special recognition of Ms. Batcheler's achievements by close friend and Preservation Alliance Board Member John D. Milner, FAIA.
For more information about the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, visit www.preservationalliance.com.