(2) Powers and Duties.

The powers and duties of the Philadelphia Historical Commission shall be as follows:

(a)   Designate as historic those buildings, structures, sites, and objects that the Historical Commission determines are significant to the City, pursuant to the criteria of § 14-1004(1);

(b)   Designate as historic those public interior portions of buildings that the Historical Commission determines are significant to the City, pursuant to the criteria of § 14-1004(1);

(c)   Delineate the boundaries of and designate as historic those districts that the Historical Commission determines are significant to the City, pursuant to the criteria of § 14-1004(1);

(d)   Prepare and maintain or cause to be prepared and maintained a comprehensive inventory of historic buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts;

(e)   Review and act upon all applications for building permits to alter or demolish historic buildings, structures, sites, or objects, or to alter or demolish buildings, structures, sites, or objects located within historic districts, pursuant to § 14-1005;

(f)   Review and comment upon all applications for building permits to construct buildings, structures, or objects within historic districts, pursuant to § 14-1005;

(g)   Make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council concerning the use of grants, gifts, and budgetary appropriations to promote the preservation of buildings, structures, site, objects, or districts of historic importance to the City;

(h)   Make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council that the City purchase any building, structure, site, or object of historic significance where private preservation is not feasible, or that the City acquire facade easements, development rights, or any other property interest that would promote historic preservation;

(i)   Increase public awareness of the value of architectural, cultural, and historic preservation;

(j)   Adopt rules of procedure and regulations and establishing any committees deemed necessary for the conduct of its business; and

(k)   Keep minutes and records of all proceedings, including records of public meetings during which proposed historic designations are considered.

§ 14-1004. Designation.

(1) Criteria for Designation.

A building, complex of buildings, structure, site, object, or district may be designated for preservation if it:

(a)   Has significant character, interest, or value as part of the development, heritage, or cultural characteristics of the City, Commonwealth, or nation or is associated with the life of a person significant in the past;

(b)   Is associated with an event of importance to the history of the City, Commonwealth or Nation;

(c)   Reflects the environment in an era characterized by a distinctive architectural style;

(d)   Embodies distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style or engineering specimen;

(e)   Is the work of a designer, architect, landscape architect or designer, or professional engineer whose work has significantly influenced the historical, architectural, economic, social, or cultural development of the City, Commonwealth, or nation;

(f)   Contains elements of design, detail, materials, or craftsmanship that represent a significant innovation;

(g)   Is part of or related to a square, park, or other distinctive area that should be preserved according to a historic, cultural, or architectural motif;

(h)   Owing to its unique location or singular physical characteristic, represents an established and familiar visual feature of the neighborhood, community, or City;

(i)   Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in pre-history or history; or

(j)   Exemplifies the cultural, political, economic, social, or historical heritage of the community.

(2) Notice.

(a)   At least 30 days before holding a public meeting to consider the proposed designation of a building, structure, site, or object as historic, the Historical Commission shall send notice to the owner of the property proposed for designation. Such notice shall indicate the date, time, and place of the public meeting at which the Historical Commission will consider the proposed designation. Notice shall be sent to the registered owner's last known address as the same appears in the real estate tax records of the Department of Revenue and sent to "Owner" at the street address of the property in question.

(b)   At least 60 days before holding a public meeting to consider the proposed designation of a district as historic, the Historical Commission shall send written notice of the proposed designation to the owners of each building, structure, site or object within the proposed district. The notice shall indicate the date, time, and place of the public meeting at which the Historical Commission will consider the proposed designation. Notice shall be sent to the registered owner's last known address as it appears in the real estate tax records of the Department of Revenue and sent to "Owner" at the street address of the property in question. The Historical Commission shall publish notice of the proposed designation of a district as historic in a newspaper having general circulation within the City at least 60 days before the Historical Commission holds a public meeting to consider the proposed designation. The Historical Commission shall post notice of the proposed designation at locations within the proposed district at least 60 days before the public meeting to consider the proposed designation.

(c)   The Historical Commission shall send written notice of the designation as historic of a building, structure, site, object, or district to the owners of each separately designated building, structure, site, or object and to the owners of each building, structure, site, or object within a district designated historic, which shall include reason for the designation. Notice shall be sent to the registered owner's last known address as the same appears in the real estate tax records of the Department of Revenue and sent to the "Owner" at the street and address of the property in question. The Historical Commission shall send written notice of historic designation to any person appearing at the public hearing who requests notification.

(3) Meetings.

Any interested party may present testimony or documentary evidence regarding the proposed designation of a building, structure, site, object, or district at the public meeting of the Historical Commission.

(4) Planning Commission Comment.

During the 60 days prior to a Historical Commission hearing on designation of a particular historic district, the Planning Commission shall review and comment on creation of the district and transmit its comments to the Historical Commission to assist the Historical Commission in making its determination.

(5) Amendment or Rescission of Designation.

Any designation of a building, structure, site, object, or district as historic may be amended or rescinded in the same manner as is specified for designation.

(6) Register of Historic Buildings, Structures, Sites, and Objects.

The Historical Commission shall compile a register of buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts designated as historic by the Historical Commission that shall make the register available in electronic form to the public for inspection during normal business hours.