I always enjoy receiving feedback from my columns in the Chestnut Hill Local.  My last article about King Charles’ III “Vision of Britain” received more than the usual amount. While manning the Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s booth at Fall for the Arts this past Sunday, numerous people stopped by to share their thoughts on the King’s “vision” and how it relates to our own historic community.

King Charles, if you recall, appreciates historic architecture much more than the modernist styles. He also draws specific parallels between the built environment and the quality of life, along with the challenges presented when the character of a community is threatened by overdevelopment, and by proposed buildings that do not reflect the historic elements that surround them.

I shopped along Germantown Avenue as a young girl, with my grandmother, and was thrilled to actually move here in 1984. Chestnut Hill had a character that I loved. It was a blend of cobblestone streets, gardens, and especially the historic architecture that encompassed buildings from the 18th century onward. It was the quality of the materials, the natural stone, the painted wood, the windows of “true divided lights;” historic architectural elements such as slate roofs, deep brackets,  fluted columns, and circular archways. The Woodward family incorporated these elements along with intimate groupings of buildings that created the village we still love.

Our commercial district was a mix of architectural styles that in the 50’s had started to lose its identity. A local businessman decided to alter the facades of some buildings by “Colonializing” them, creating the more unified theme still seen today. 

Because our community is part of a large city, we are subject to its zoning laws, rules and regulations, which play a huge role in how we, as concerned citizens, can attempt to regulate our surroundings. 

Soon after I moved here, I joined what was then called the “Aesthetics Committee,” and was soon chairing that committee. Over several years, we researched and completed a document called the Germantown Avenue Urban Design Guidelines.”This 30-page document addresses three distinct areas of the Avenue, and provides specific recommendations and instructions on how to maintain the character and village atmosphere.

We depended on the role of the Chestnut Hill Business Association, which understood the importance of why people came here to shop, and why our identity was crucial to maintain the all-important atmosphere. The committee had a difficult task, especially in light of the growing number of chain stores, who had their own trade marks and identities to market. 

We stressed the importance of “the guidelines” and convinced many national chains that in order to have the privilege of running a business here, it was critical to also follow our guidelines.

The Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee of the Chestnut Hill Community Association also had a document that outlined the zoning classifications of the different sections of the community, and sought to emphasize the importance of buildings heights, scale, fenestration, and materials. All of these were subject to the variations of the city zoning board. 

We always have the option of becoming a local historic district” which has more teeth in its zoning and architectural regulations. But residents and business owners are often not that eager to give up certain rights and privileges, even with the risk of losing the atmosphere that brought us here in the first place.

Which brings me to today. At the Conservancy’s booth on Sunday, I also heard many comments of concern regarding the new developments proposed for Bethlehem Pike, Highland Avenue and Shawnee Street. 

Will these developments fit within our National Historic District? Will they match the scale, the roof lines, the fenestration and materials of our more historic facades? Will our committees continue to have the strength and desire to challenge these developers, and seek building designs that will reflect the character of a community we all love? 

It becomes more difficult with each passing year. We need to take a few cues from His Royal Highness, and continue to push for more historically-sensitive developments, or we will surely be at risk of losing the main reason we chose to live here.

Patricia Cove is Principal of Architectural Interiors and Design, and represents the Chestnut Hill Conservancy on the community’s Development Review Committee.