Whereas, The geographic section of West Philadelphia known as "Spruce Hill" is large and diverse, and includes numerous structures built or substantially altered after its settlement as a streetcarsuburb in the period from the American Civil War through the first decade of the 20th Century; and

Whereas, The nomination of Spruce Hill as a historic district has created considerable contention in the community, and if enacted threatens to raise the costs of living unnecessarily for or induce displacement of long-term homeowners and the preponderant population of rental residents, both groups typically of modest means who provide stability to our community, as well as discourage the influx of young families who have recently been finding the area desirable; and

Whereas, Neighborhood properties have generally been well preserved without government inter vention, through the efforts of responsible homeowners and investors acting with respect for the aesthetic qualities of the community while they were adapted to meet the demands of societal change; and

Whereas, Many residents — those who have favored as well as opposed historic designation — agree that historic significance is not the same as the visual aesthetics of an earlier epoch, and are united in principle on a desire to find appropriate, cost-effective tools for preservation and revitalization that optimize the trade off between maximizing the benefits and minimizing the expenses and restrictions imposed on individual rights "for the greater good;" and

Whereas, Bill 040156 having been enacted by City Council to authorize the creation of "neighborhood conservation districts" would facilitate further preserving and invigorating communities like Spruce Hill through processes that — compared with historic designation — are more democratic, better attuned to the specific needs and preferences of individual sections of the neighborhood, more compatible with the practices that have enabled this area to adapt to changing social needs and remain stable or undergo improvement over the years when many other parts of the city have decayed, more affordable, less encumbered by bureaucratic red tape, and less likely to raise the cost of living for owners and renters; therefore

Resolved,That the Spruce Hill Community Association, in the best interests of the roughly 16,000 residents of Spruce Hill, less than 3 percent of whom are members, rescind the earlier action of its Board of Directors and withdraw support from the nomination of Spruce Hill as a historic district previously submitted to the Philadelphia Historical Commission.