It makes a difference in how you feel about life, and about the world.”

Sherman Aronson, architect

Northwest Philadelphia's pre-war apartment buildings, scattered along the Chestnut Hill West SEPTA line, stand as architectural treasures from an era when design and green space took priority over density. From art deco high-rise towers to intimate four-story buildings with courtyards, these structures help define the character of some of our most historic neighborhoods – Germantown, Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill. 

But their future may be at risk. The city's 2035 Zoning plan, which allows for higher density development, has already claimed casualties. In 2021, residents and preservationists were stunned when new owners of the Wood Norton Residences in Germantown demolished one of four 110-year-old buildings, despite its recent renovation and good condition, to make way for modern apartments. That same year, conditions at Mt. Airy's Cresheim Valley Apartments deteriorated so severely that residents took legal action against the owner.

So a group of concerned residents have decided to take action. Two West Mount Airy Neighbors (WMAN) board members have joined forces with Sherman Aronson, an architect with 50 years of experience, to protect these historic properties.

"That gave some impetus for us to say 'wait a minute, what can we do with preservation to help maintain and keep these buildings from getting destroyed and damaged,'" Aronson told the Local.

Their group, the WMAN Historic Preservation Initiative (HPI), has already achieved early victories by securing Historical Commission protection for both the Cresheim Valley Apartments and Wood Norton Residences. Now, they've set their sights on a broader goal: creating a Northwest Apartments Thematic District that includes 30 buildings throughout Northwest Philadelphia.

Building the district

Unlike traditional historic districts that focus on geographic clusters, thematic districts can span different locations while connecting buildings that share common characteristics. "They're all built in the same time period, the same type of use and in the same situation," Aronson explained.

HPI initially identified about 50 qualifying buildings but opted to narrow their focus to 30 for the initial submission. Notable properties include the Alden Park Apartments in Germantown, Upsal Gardens in Mt. Airy, and Aronson's personal favorite, The McCallum in Mt. Airy.

The proposed protections would prevent demolition by right, and require greater oversight for renovations and maintenance of exteriors and public areas, though apartment interiors would remain exempt. HPI advocates say these safeguards are crucial as developers eye the land they sit on, which is already zoned for apartments and could accommodate much higher density under the new code.

A golden age of apartment living

The district's buildings, constructed between 1910 and 1940, trace the evolution of urban living along the Chestnut Hill West SEPTA line. Their development marked a significant shift in American city life.

"People could work in offices downtown, get on a train for 25 minutes, and could be up here with trees, nature and greenery," Aronson said. "The builders came up with a way of making these apartment buildings accessible. You didn't need a car, you could get to them from the train and it was very popular. It brought way more people here.”

Early buildings were designed to complement existing neighborhoods, often featuring Tudor Revival elements and multiple entrances. "They took advantage of being in nature, breaking down the scale and making it really fit," Aronson said. "People aren't even aware that all these apartment buildings are here because they blend into the neighborhood."

These buildings are more family-oriented than typical new construction,  Aronson said.  

“You can get maybe a little more space. It might not be in top-notch condition, but you can get a family in there,” Aronson said. “The new stuff being built, it's all one bedrooms and studios and young people cramming together.”

They’re also much more generous with open space. 

“That makes a difference in how you feel about life, and about the world,” Aronson said. “They often have courtyards with multiple entrances and they're decorated. It makes that whole sense of arrival better, more human and inviting.” 

Four distinct styles

The proposed district showcases the rich architectural variety of the era through four distinctive building types. Garden apartments like Upsal Gardens offer gracious urban living with their three- to four-story U-shaped designs, and their carefully planned landscaped courtyards with garden beds, water features, and pedestrian paths. 

Corner-sited apartments like Cliveden Apartments, at the corner of Johnson and Greene streets, make bold architectural statements with their four- to five-story mostly L-shaped structures – commanding attention while creating protected courtyards between their wings.

More modest in scale but no less carefully designed, low-rise flats like Tulpehocken Apartments rise four to six stories, offering intimate living spaces with limited units per floor. These buildings sometimes stand alone, but often appear as elegant matched pairs or sets. 

Perhaps the district's most dramatic structures are its mid-rise flats, like Mt. Airy’s The McCallum, which rises nine floors to stand as a miniature skyscraper. This H-shaped vertical building is carefully arranged to maximize natural light and ventilation for each apartment. 

Looking ahead

The Historical Commission's designation committee will review the nomination on Nov. 20. While Aronson anticipates some resistance from property owners, he emphasizes that historic designation offers financial advantages. Buildings on the local historic registry are better positioned for national registry listing, potentially qualifying owners for federal tax credits worth 20% of renovation costs.

"It's a real incentive for doing better work at restoring the building," Aronson said.