Proposal for appropriate information dissemination and survey
on the topic of nomination of Spruce Hill as a historic district
under section 14-2007 of the Philadelphia Code.
by Alan Krigman
Resident, Business Owner, and Rental Property Owner/Manager
(Member of Spruce Hill Community Association)
Consistent with the Purpose of the Association as stated in the bylaws -- "... to instruct the public on subjects beneficial to the community; to lessen tensions; to eliminate prejudice and discrimination; to combat community deterioration; and to promote the betterment of the community."
Actively and passively, the Spruce Hill Community Association purports to speak with the voice and authority of the Spruce Hill community, despite it's having a membership -- by its own estimates -- of approximately 400 in a community of 16,000.
Therefore, prior to so representing itself, in a matter which vitally affects and is of concern to the stakeholders in the community at large -- freeholders as well as leaseholders, residents as well as business entities -- the Association has a moral obligation to participate in well-publicized public debates against individuals holding opposing views on the question of nomination as a historic district, then conduct a statistically defensible survey to ascertain the actual sentiment of the community. And this should be done well in advance of the notifications and hearings which are the responsibility of the Philadelphia Historic Commission and which are inherently inappropriate as means of informing the community as to the costs and benefits of designation or of determining the wishes of the community at large.
