(a) Determination.
Within 60 days after receipt by the Historical Commission of a building permit application, the Historical Commission shall determine whether or not it has any objection to the proposed alteration or demolition. Before taking any action, the Historical Commission shall afford the owner an opportunity to appear before the Historical Commission to offer any evidence the owner desires to present concerning the proposed alteration or demolition.
(.1) Where the Historical Commission has no objection, L&I shall grant the building permit subject to the requirements of any applicable provisions of The Philadelphia Code and regulations and subject to any conditions of the Historical Commission pursuant to § 14-1005(6)(c).
(.2) Where the Historical Commission has an objection, L&I shall deny the building permit.
(.3) Where the Historical Commission has determined that the purpose of this Chapter 14-1000 may best be achieved by postponing the alteration or demolition of any building, structure, site, or object subject to its review, the Historical Commission may, by resolution, defer action on a building permit application for a designated period not to exceed six months from the date of the resolution. The Historical Commission shall inform the owner in writing of the reasons for its action. Where the Historical Commission acts to postpone the proposed alteration or demolition pursuant to § 14-1005(6)(a), L&I shall defer action on the building permit application pending a final determination by the Historical Commission approving or disapproving the application.
(b) Postponement of Determination.
During the time that action on a building permit application is deferred, the Historical Commission shall consult with the owner, civic groups, public and private agencies, and interested parties to ascertain what may be done by the City or others to preserve the building, structure, site, or object that is the subject of the building permit application. When appropriate, the Historical Commission shall make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council.
(c) Conditions on Approval.
The Historical Commission may require that a building permit for the alteration or demolition of any building, structure, site, or object subject to its review be issued subject to such conditions as may reasonably advance the purposes of this Chapter 14-1000. L&I shall incorporate all such requirements of the Historical Commission into the building permit at the time of issuance. In cases where the Historical Commission, pursuant to § 14-1005(6)(a), agrees to the demolition of a historic building, structure, site, or object, or of a building, structure, site, or object located within a historic district that contributes, in the Historical Commission's opinion, to the character of the district, the Historical Commission may require that the historic building, structure, site, or object be recorded, at the owner's expense, according to the documentation standards of the Historic American Buildings Survey and the Historic American Engineering Record (HABS/HAER) for deposit with the Historical Commission.
(d) Restrictions on Demolition.
No building permit shall be issued for the demolition of a historic building, structure, site, or object, or of a building, structure, site, or object located within a historic district that contributes, in the Historical Commission's opinion, to the character of the district, unless the Historical Commission finds that issuance of the building permit is necessary in the public interest, or unless the Historical Commission finds that the building, structure, site, or object cannot be used for any purpose for which it is or may be reasonably adapted. In order to show that building, structure, site, or object cannot be used for any purpose for which it is or may be reasonably adapted, the owner must demonstrate that the sale of the property is impracticable, that commercial rental cannot provide a reasonable rate of return, and that other potential uses of the property are foreclosed.
(e) Review Criteria.
In making its determination as to the appropriateness of proposed alterations, demolition, or construction, the Historical Commission shall consider the following:
(.1) The purposes of this Chapter 14-1000;
(.2) The historical, architectural, or aesthetic significance of the building, structure, site, or object;
(.3) The effect of the proposed work on the building, structure, site, or object and its appurtenances;
(.4) The compatibility of the proposed work with the character of the historic district or with the character of its site, including the effect of the proposed work on the neighboring structures, the surroundings, and the streetscape; and
(.5) The design of the proposed work.
(.6) In addition to the above, the Historical Commission may be guided in evaluating proposals for alteration or construction by the Secretary of the Interior's "Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings" or similar criteria.
(.7) In specific cases as will not be contrary to the public interest, where, owing to special conditions, a literal enforcement of the provisions of this Chapter 14-1000 would result in unnecessary hardship so that the spirit of this Chapter 14-1000 shall be observed and substantial justice done, subject to such terms and conditions as the Historical Commission may decide, the Historical Commission shall by a majority vote grant an exemption from the requirements of Chapter 14-1000.
(.8) With respect to designated public interior portions,
(.a) the Historical Commission may grant an exemption when, owing to special consideration of the mission and financial status of a nonprofit organization, the Historical Commission determines that a literal enforcement of the provisions of this Chapter would not be in the public interest and the spirit of this Chapter will be substantially observed, subject to such terms and conditions as the Historical Commission may establish; and
(.b) the Historical Commission shall approve a building permit application for an alteration to a non-designated interior portion if the proposed alteration neither has an effect on the appearance of, nor compromises the structural integrity of, a historic public interior portion.
(f) Jurisdiction During Consideration of Designation.
L&I shall not issue any building permit for the demolition, alteration, or construction of any building, structure, site, or object that is being considered by the Historical Commission for designation as historic or that is located within a district being considered by the Historical Commission for designation as historic where the building permit application is filed on or after the date that notices of proposed designation have been mailed, except that L&I may issue a building permit if the Historical Commission has approved the application or has not taken final action on designation and more than 90 days have elapsed from the date the permit application was filed with the Historical Commission. Where the Historical Commission takes final action on designation within the time allotted herein, any building permit application on file with L&I shall be deemed to have been filed after the date of the Historical Commission's action for purposes of this Chapter 14-1000.