Reading, Pennsylvania's Historic Preservation Efforts: A Call for Action and Reform
The recent mass resignations of the Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) in Reading, Pennsylvania, have sparked a critical moment for the city's historic preservation efforts. This event has prompted the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission to offer recommendations for reestablishing the HARB and ensuring the city's commitment to preserving its rich historical fabric.
A Moment of Opportunity
Megan McNish, the eastern region community preservation coordinator, views these resignations as a unique opportunity. She believes that this is a chance to critically evaluate and rebuild the city's historic preservation program. McNish's evaluation is comprehensive, considering immediate, short-term, medium-term, and long-term recommendations, each with a specific focus.
Immediate Steps: Revising the Ordinance
One of the immediate recommendations is a thorough revision of the city's historic preservation ordinance. McNish suggests that the city should critically examine whether the Historic District Act is the most suitable legislation for their current goals and needs. She highlights the difference in specificity between the Historic District Act and the Municipalities Planning Code, suggesting that the latter might offer more flexibility in regulating preservation.
This ordinance update could be funded through grants like the 2026 Certified Local Government Project Grant or the Keystone Historic Preservation Grant. McNish offers her expertise in assisting the city staff with grant applications, ensuring a smooth transition to a revised ordinance.
Short-Term Actions: Staffing and Digital Integration
In the short term, McNish advises the city to reassess staffing responsibilities, ensuring an equitable distribution of workload. This step is crucial to prevent staff overwhelm. Additionally, integrating historic preservation into the digital permitting process is recommended, providing efficient access to information and record-keeping.
Adopting bylaws for the preservation review board, reflecting the updated ordinance, is another essential short-term action. This process will streamline the review process and ensure transparency.
Medium-Term Focus: Design Guidelines and Education
The medium-term recommendations focus on developing and adopting design guidelines for each historic district. These guidelines will embody the unique character and history of each district, ensuring that any alterations respect the city's heritage.
Continuing education and training requirements for the new preservation review board are also crucial during this phase. This ensures that board members stay updated with the latest preservation standards and best practices.
Long-Term Vision: Surveying and Implementation
In the long term, the city will begin implementing the survey plan, comprehensively surveying existing historic districts and the rest of the city. This step is vital for ongoing performance standards and compliance.
A Call for Transparency and Action
The city council's role is pivotal in this process. Council President Donna Reed emphasizes the importance of reconstituting the HARB as soon as possible, citing the American principle of a jury of peers. However, questions about the legality of the council temporarily acting as the HARB have been raised, requiring further research by the city solicitor.
Community Development Director David Barr welcomes the recommendations, acknowledging the potential timeline until early 2029. This timeline highlights the complexity of the task and the need for a thorough and thoughtful approach.
Conclusion: A Brighter Future for Reading's Heritage
The recommendations from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission provide a roadmap for Reading to strengthen its historic preservation efforts. By addressing the immediate, short-term, medium-term, and long-term needs, the city can ensure that its historical districts are protected and celebrated for generations to come.
This is a call to action for Reading, urging the city to embrace these recommendations and take a proactive approach to preserving its rich historical heritage. With careful planning and a commitment to transparency, Reading can emerge as a leader in historic preservation, setting an example for other cities to follow.
