A. For the general purpose of protecting those historical areas, buildings and structures within the City which have distinctive character recalling the rich architectural and historical heritage of the City of Reading and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and of making those historical areas, buildings and structures a source of inspiration to our citizens by awakening interest in our historic past, and to promote the general welfare, education and culture of the City, the following sections, subsections, provisions, regulations, limitations, restrictions, sentences, clauses, phrases and words be and hereby are enacted into law by authority of the Charter of the City of Reading.
B. This chapter is enacted for the following specific purposes:
(1) To protect those areas, buildings and structures of the City which reflect the cultural, economical, social, political and architectural history of the City, commonwealth and nation.
(2) To awaken, in our citizens, an interest in our historic past.
(3) To foster civic pride in the architectural, historical, cultural and educational accomplishments of Reading.
(4) To promote the use and reuse of the historic areas, buildings and structures of the City for the culture, education, pleasure and the general welfare of the people of the City, commonwealth, and nation.
(5) To strengthen the economy of the City by improving property values within the historic districts and City at large and by enhancing the City's attractiveness to visitors.
(6) To encourage new buildings and developments that shall be harmonious with existing historic and architecturally important areas, buildings and structures.
(7) To enable the City to participate actively in the National Register of Historic Places program and procedures and the National Certified Local Government Program to qualify for grant assistance and to conform to state and federal standards and guidelines established by statute and regulation.