The Chestnut Hill Conservancy has adopted a 2025–30 Strategic Plan, looking to engage more with the community and in advocacy, while expanding its coverage area.

When David Gest took over as executive director of the Conservancy, community engagement and survey work for the strategic plan had been temporarily paused during the transition.

Once settled in, Gest restarted the process, getting feedback from conservancy members, institutional partners, and board members. While the Conservancy’s mission remains in historic preservation, environmental conservation, and history and archives, Gest is looking to ramp up its community engagement.

Part of that goal includes turning their building, at 8708 Germantown Ave., into more of a community space, and holding more events.

“We received a grant from the state called a keystone preservation planning grant, and we’re working with an architecture firm right now to come up with very specific plans to redesign our building in a way that makes it more hospitable for exhibits and events,” Gest told the Local. “We want it to be a friendly place where the public understands they can come in to learn about local history, to learn about zoning, environmental conservation, all the different aspects of our mission.”

The biggest change in the Conservancy’s strategic plan is the gradual expansion of its coverage area throughout the lower Wissahickon watershed, including areas like Germantown and East Falls. The goal is to expand the conservation easement program to properties within the watershed.

“We are really focused on that gradual expansion. That’s not something that’s going to occur immediately. But in each of our areas, from archives to conservation easements to preservation advocacy and zoning, we want to gradually engage with existing community groups,” Gest said. “It’s a gradual process; we’re being very respectful of the needs of existing groups … We want to be helpful to others, but in a way where we’re listening first and foremost.”

Much of Gest’s prior experience involved legal work throughout Philadelphia, working with different registered community organizations on land use, zoning and historic preservation issues. This experience contributed to his goal of expansion.

“I definitely was discussing that a lot internally, and wanting the Conservancy to try to be a broader resource to folks,” Gest said.

Another factor in Gest’s push for expansion was a broader effort in conservation, both historic and environmental.

With the Conservancy partnering with Friends of the Wissahickon for many years, many of their goals align, Gest said.

“We have historically partnered, especially with groups in Mt. Airy and Germantown, and occasionally sort of farther afield, like Springfield Township, but it’s really about strengthening those partnerships,” Gest said. “I would say from an advocacy perspective as well, there is a desire internally, and I think among our membership, for us to be a stronger voice in the historic preservation community.”

At home in Chestnut Hill

While much of the Conservancy’s strategic plan focuses on expansion outside of Chestnut Hill, there is much work left to be done within its home community.

Over 40 years ago, the Conservancy created Chestnut Hill’s National Register Historic District. While that achievement was significant, the National Register does not carry legal protections against the demolition of historic buildings.

With that in mind, Gest hopes to create a Chestnut Hill Historic District on the Philadelphia Register to allow for greater protection of historic properties.

“We want to think very carefully and thoughtfully about how we engage the community in discussions around the potential creation of new Philadelphia historic districts,” Gest said.

He added, “We understand that such local historic districts include both benefits and obligations for homeowners, and we plan to engage the community in multiple ways to explain how such districts work, and receive feedback from property owners regarding their questions and concerns.”

Branching further into the realm of conservation and zoning inherently ties into advocacy. For Gest, that means engaging more with local community groups and politicians to work toward greater conservation.

“In addition to me being a zoning attorney, we have a lot of expertise within our organization,” Gest said. “We have a lot of board members who are architects, landscape architects, and others with various types of experience in the preservation process. So we feel we have a lot we can sort of get organized around and contribute to the conversations about policy.”

For an example of the Conservancy’s advocacy effort, read their op-ed column from this week's issue.

Tommy Tucker can be reached at Tommy@Chestnuthilllocal.com.