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(1) Philadelphia consists of very distinctive neighborhoods that were settled at different times during the historical development of the City.
(2) These various neighborhoods developed their own distinctive housing patterns which are reflective of the time period during which these neighborhoods were nurtured during the growth of the City.
(3) Many of these residential neighborhoods are easily recognizable by their consistency of characteristics such as height, set backs and side yards as well as their distinctive exterior facade design elements including porches and steps, masonry, stoops, cornices and trim, doors and window and other architectural styles and features which over the years created a neighborhood environment and streetscape that brought neighbors together.
(4) Over the years these distinct neighborhood environments have been subjected to economic and social forces which threaten the very fabric of each one.
(5) Under Article I, Section 27 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the people of Philadelphia have a right to protect their neighborhoods and to preserve the unique contributions of Philadelphia's neighborhoods for all of Philadelphia and its residents.
(6) The public welfare of the City will be promoted by encouraging conservation and preservation through the revitalization of these distinctive residential neighborhoods in order to preserve their unique environments.
(7) It is necessary to provide a reasonable degree of control over the alteration and improvement of the exterior facades of existing buildings and the design of new construction located in a designated Neighborhood Conservation District (NCD) to preserve the aesthetic fabric of these distinctive Philadelphia neighborhoods.
(8) The purpose of this Chapter is the strengthening of Philadelphia neighborhoods to enhance the City's attractiveness as a place to live, work and enjoy its cultural, social and historical opportunities and also to foster a renewed feeling of pride in one's neighborhood.
(9) The further purpose of this Chapter is to compliment and supplement the goals of the City Planning Commission, the Philadelphia Historical Commission, and the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, as they all seek to develop, revitalize, preserve, and conserve the many diverse and historic neighborhoods of the City.
(10) This Chapter will also seek to promote the proper improvement of buildings within an NCD and to maximize the economic, social, and educational value of neighborhood transformation.