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Dear Elected Officials:
I have lived in the graduate hospital area of Philadelphia for
one year now, and have recently moved one block from the naval
home. I chose the area because of its proximity to the
University of Pennsylvania and Center City, its beautiful
architecture, its residentiality and its affordability. I know
of no other large city where one can find such a combination of
attributes. However, when I tell others about the location of
my new home, they often ask about "that huge piece of land"
and "that huge building with the grafitti on it"- the Naval
Home. I have been very happy with the progress in the last two
weeks, with some of the grafitti being removed and some
landscaping being done to the land on the Naval Home property.
However, I am skeptical and worried about the Toll Brothers'
intentions and committment to this project.

The Naval Home property is unlike any other I have seen in a
major city: a large, undeveloped landscape close to major
businesses, universities and highways. Its potential is
unlimited given the right vision and guidance from our community
representatives and the land's developers. I ask that the
representatives of the city ensure that Toll Brothers'
construction and building on the land and building that they
have neglected for almost 2 decades be closely monitored and
regulated in accordance with the opinions of the community. It
is obvious from the Toll Brothers' past neglect of the Naval
Home property that they do not care about the community per se,
but that they will merely taking advantage of a hot real estate
market. Whatever their intentions are, please ensure that the
voice of the community is heard and taken seriously when
monitoring their development of this land.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Hogan

Dear Elected Officials:
After taking a trip recently to Spain, I felt inspired to write
again to remind you how important it is to save historic buildings
in our city. I was blown away by all of the beautiful old
buildings throughout Spain. They have been restored and protected
for people to enjoy. It is very depressing to see how willing our
city is to allow old and historic buildings to be demolished or
neglected. And even more depressing is the sight of a flat parking
lot in place of the demolished building!

If our city is to depend on tourism, then we should keep and
restore places and buildings for tourists to see. The restored
Naval Home is something tourists might want to see. Local
residents would most likely want to see a restored Naval Home. The
fact that a company has been allowed to let the historic Naval
Home rot away and become a torched eyesore is ridiculous. This has
to stop.

As a college educated artist, I know the value and beauty of
historic architecture. Our city can only become more beautiful
with every historic building restored and utilized. And with the
Naval Home in the center of a neighborhood going through a
transformation, it is the obvious answer to save and restore that
building.
Thank you.

Dear Elected Officials:
I am writing in regards of the Naval Home. I am getting really tired of our
citys approach to urban planning, which is to allow all the large
corporations to do what ever they please with our historic landmarks.
We do not need more flat parking lots or suburban style homes. What
we need to do is save our historic landmarks. People come from all over
the world to see where America started, to visit the Liberty Bell and
Independence Hall. What would they be seeing if we let developers tear
down Independence Hall, or to fall apart from neglect.
Wake up City Officials!
You are only hurting your selves. If you do not take an aggressive step,
then you will be as responsible as the Toll Brothers for the destruction of
our national heritage. And we the voters will remember your negligence.
Save the Naval Home!
Create a Museum and Park area.
Mike Bencik

Dear Elected Officials:
Please preserve this part of our history. The home is beautiful
and could be a wonderful attraction for the area. This was part
of the Toll Brothers agreement and they should be held to it or
pay a heavy price that would allow the city to take over the
restoration and open the Naval Home to the public.

Dear Elected Officials:
Toll Brothers inaction over the last decade plus with regard
to the Naval Home is abhorrent. I urge all city/state
representatives to take REAL action this time.
As a registered voting I am tasking particlar note of who
locally takes our concern in this community seriously. When will
this eye sore become a beautiful landmark again????
sincerly, U. Mc Quaile

Dear Elected Officials:

Wayne Spilove might be a politically expedient choice to head
the Pennsylvania Historical and Museums Commission. But it is
the wrong choice, and I urge you to correct this wrong.

The PHMC is the place for proven historical preservationists,
experienced planners, arts leaders, and economic development
specialists. With all the private development pressures in
this state, we need fair-minded advocates for history and art --
- not politically-connected developers
pretending "preservationist sympathies" to justify the
destruction of the historical value they profit from.

Wayne Spilove is not a hero-developer who deserves to be
rewarded by a political honor. His designs upon the
Rittenhouse Square neighborhood are horrible, and are a real
threat to the delicate fabric of a real historical treasure.
Furthermore, his "benevolence" is further tainted by the sorry
kow-towing of some Philadelphia officials to his political
power.

Please, take the role of the Commission seriously, and do not
approve Wayne Spilove's nomination.

Dear Elected Officials:

I am very disturbed to see that Gov. Rendell has nominated
developer Wayne Spilove to head the Pennsylvania Historical and
Museums Commission. This postion, critical to preserving our
State's historic fabric, is no place for a developer with Mr.
Spilove's track record of demolition and political "favor
banking." Mr. Spilove is not competent to balance the competing
interests before the PHMC, as his experience is too much favoring
one special interest.

Pennsylvania's historic treasures are more than a source of local
pride, they represent the very history of our nation. If Mr.
Spilove becomes Chair of the PHMC, he will be responsible for
reviewing plans to develop the Naval Home, first site of the
Naval Academy and a national historic landmark. He will also
review the "decertification" of three buildings across from
Rittenhouse Square so that they may be demolished to make way for
a parking garage. As a developer, Mr. Spilove has already
demolished what Architecture Critic Inga Saffron called "an
important block of eclectic 19th century buildings on Sansom
Street." What else will he allow to be demolished if he is
placed in this important position?

Historical preservation is a nuanced balancing act requiring a
deft touch, a lively, imaginative mind, as well as keen business
acumen. Mr. Spilove has none of the above. He is a poor choice
for problem-solving relating to rejuvanating older buildings for
new, innovative uses.

Please take a firm stance to oppose this nomination. Mr.
Spilove's vision of Philadelphia went out of date in the
early seventies. Don't spread this raze and build cheap
mentality throughout our precious state. Thank you.

Dear Elected Officials:

Please encourage Toll Brothers to keep the public informed of
its progress by building on their April 3 promise to Judge
Seamus McCaffery to send daily progress reports to the city.
Direct the head of the Commerce Department to make a weekly
progress report available to the community via City Council
President Anna Verna's office.

After fifteen years of neglect of this historic landmark, during
which the community has suffered because of this blighted site,
Toll really ought to keep us in the loop.

Please also encourage Ed Rendell to think twice about his
nomination of Wayne Spilove to head the state's historic
preservation commission. His record as a developer suggests that
he is no friend to historic buildings.

Dear Elected Officials:

I am very disturbed to see that Gov. Rendell has nominated
developer Wayne Spilove to head the Pennsylvania Historical and
Museums Commission. This postion, critical to preserving our
State's historic fabric, is no place for a developer with Mr.
Spilove's track record of demolition and political "favor banking."

Pennsylvania's historic treasures are more than a source of local
pride, they represent the very history of our nation. If Mr.
Spilove becomes Chair of the PHMC, he will be responsible for
reviewing plans to develop the Naval Home, first site of the
Naval Academy and a national historic landmark. He will also
review the "decertification" of three buildings across from
Rittenhouse Square so that they may be demolished to make way for
a parking garage. As a developer, Mr. Spilove has already
demolished what Architecture Critic Inga Saffron called "an
important block of eclectic 19th century buildings on Sansom
Street." What else will he allow to be demolished if he is
placed in this important position?

Please, please consider the importance of Pennsylvania's historic
buildings to its citizens and its tourism industry and stop Wayne
Spilove from attaining this position.

Thank you.

Dear Elected Officials:

Is action going to be taken to ensure the preservation of
the Naval Home? From what I've researched, Toll Bros. continues
to get a slap on the wrist, this time by Seamus McCaffery. I am
outraged at another apparent failure of committment by those who
run this city. Toll has sat on this too long, and as my elected
officials, I ask that you use your political influence to ensure
that the Naval Home be saved, and that Toll is not let off easy
from their civic responsibilites. And this is directed
particularly to the mayor: I vote in every election, and I am
watching.


Sincerely,

M. Edmond
Phila., PA

Dear Elected Officials:

I am a Navy Veteran who served my country proudly. I am a
registered Republican and pro-business.

I will not be putting my vote to any of the dirty democrats who
are taking money from Toll Brothers so that they can bring down
my property value using demolition by neglect. Toll Brothers is
not the only guilty party here, every Democrat has to be held
accountable on election day this November. If there is an issue
that cries out for good, clean, honest local government, this is
it.

I'm voting for Sam Katz, and that's where my money is going. We
need to clean house completely in this town. It's a disgrace that
Toll can buy not just a few politicians, but a whole party. A few
Democrats are meekly whimpering in protest, but getting nowhere
like they have since 1988 when Toll bought the property. Give me
a break.

I gave Toll a chance to get it together, but the place is still
covered with graffiti, with no attempt to get a roof of some kind
up there. But when Toll wants to, they put their own brand of
Tyvec all over. There is still some Toll Brothers brand Tyvec
material on the roof from 1988 or 1989. They aren't fooling
anyone with any construction experience or common sense.

Seamus knows he is being played. I am disappointed that he is not
as tough as his words first indicated. I can't give my vote to a
man who calls himself a Marine who can't follow through on his
word. McCaffrey gave his word to the community, and he is
back-peddling. It's a shame, because there is no honor in it. His
military heritage is at issue. He dishonors the memory of
the Marines who served who deserve to have their courage
and suffering preserved for the next generations. At the
time, Congress spared no expense on the Naval Asylum. Perhaps
politics has caused him to forget who he is. I can only say that
he must be hanging around with a bad crowd.

Time for a straight-ticket Republican change-up in Philly, and
new group that understands that rules are not made to be broken
for your pocket-liners. It's really not that hard, people, to do
the right thing.

Thanks, and God Bless.

Dear Elected Officials:
The community has been pleading for help for years for our
neighborhood. We thought that with the recent fire at the Naval
Home that finally something would be done. But we seem no
further along than the day before the fire with the exception of
boarded up windows. It is the city's failure to follow through
that leaves many residents leaving the city in search of better
services.
Sincerely,
Erica Bacich

Dear Mayor Street:

I am writing to ask your office to do its part in helping our
City's residents to preserve and appropriately develop the former
US Naval Home at 24th and Grays Ferry Avenue. To date, we have
received tremendous support in our efforts from Council President
Verna's office and various City departments, but so far, your
office remains silent.

Don't let Toll Brothers get away with a half-hearted effort to
preserve Biddle Hall and the other two historically certified
buildings on this property. Use the powers of your office to
provide close supervision of this project and ensure that the
development is one that is good for the City in the long-term,
not just politically advantageous in the short term. To that
end, I ask that you appoint Jim Cuorato, the Director of the
Commerce Department, to monitor and supervise Toll Brothers'
activities. Clearly designate him as a contact person for the
community and make him responsible for communicating with us.
Show that you care.

Thank you in advance.

Ann Hoskins-Brown
Southwest Center City

Dear Elected Officials:
Please designate Jim Cuorato, the Director of the Commerce
Department, to oversee the process of restoring and developing the
Naval Home and make him responsible for communicating with the
surrounding community.

If we are supposed to be living in a city that is proud of it's
history, then historic buildings should be included in that pride.
Restored historic buildings become artful jems in a city. Most new
builds look as generic as any strip-mall in the suburbs. One of
the many reasons I live in this city is because of its beautiful
achitecture. Saving only a few historic buildings is not enough.
Saving the Naval Home will attract more buyers to that growing
area.

Dear Elected Officials:

My concern about the Naval Home is that it doesn't seem that
there are any current stipulations about a temporary roof being
put on Biddle Hall and the two smaller buildings are not
encompassed by the security fence. A recent article at
Hallwatch.org states a number of other issues related to the NH
including Toll not agreeing to any stipulations n writing,
producing the engineering report Toll themselves claimed was
necessary to answer the K&H Report, or to produce a historic
structures report. Toll, at this early point in the
reconstruction of the NH, seems to be getting left off the hook
again. Justice is not being served by your going soft on Toll.
I, as a member of the community in the shadows of the Naval
Home, am already feeling let down by the elected officials who
are supposed to have the interests of their constituents at
heart and not that of a bad apple of the big business
community.

Dear Elected Officials:
After reading many recent articles. the cliche,poltics make
strange bedfellows has surely made its point in this case. The
Navel Home of Philadelphia was purchased by Toll Brother over 15
yrs ago with the promise of resturation but instead has become a
neglected piece of property with arson involved. The
circumstances appear to be a political run around of court
hearing with nothing resovled. To find out state employees such
as myself are helping Toll Brothers with their pension funds is
insulting at best.
Please right this wrong by not backing Toll Brothers contract
in August and show the tax payers that those in charge will
enforce this company to honor their commitment. I for one would
like to see my pension grow by more honorable means.

Dear Elected Officials:

Please remove Toll Bros. from the Naval Home site by
moving to commence condemnation proceedings as an inducement to
move, and also get the Pa. State Employees Retirement System to
dis-invest in Toll Bros. Realty Group--the state should not be
investing pension monies in their enterprises.
The Naval Home site should be made available to a
developer who will preserve the Natl. Landmark building
there,as well as build mixed income housing to allow lower
income residnets of the area to live there.

Best, Jonathan and Judith Stein

Dear Elected Officials:
I have already written a letter directly to Toll Brothers about
their demolition by neglect of the Naval Home, and as I
expected, received no response. They are corporate slumlords,
who apparently are cut much greater slack than a homeowner would
be who allowed his property to deteriorate to the same degree.
They can be leaned on by the state to sell the Naval Home; they
are dependent on the state to allow them to deface the suburbs
with their tract housing.
This sort of nonsense points out what a sham the current mayor's
neighborhood transformation initiative is- their malfeasance is
threatening the efforts of hundreds of homeowners in that part
of South Phila who are restoring the neighborhood. Stop playing
politics and do something for the taxpayers- now.

Dear Elected Officials:

The Naval Home represents a unique and irreplaceable asset. I
remember the McCrea Houses, and the Stetson Hat Factory, and the
Jayne Estate Building...all gone, forever. And there were scores,
perhaps hundreds, and maybe even thousands more.

What it takes is securing a developer who says "I can", and then sticks
to their word.

If Toll Brothers isn't the one, it would surely serve the public's interest for
elected officials to urge Toll Brothers to step aside. Either that, or get
them to make good on their word.

Dear Elected Officials:

I have lived in the neighborhood surrounding the Naval
Home for over 10 years now and have personally observed
the decline of this historic site over the years.

I have been closely following the City of Philadelphia's
efforts to force Toll Brothers into preserving and restoring
the Strickland buildings. I would like to thank those elected
officials that have been pressing to be sure that appropriate
measures are taken.

However, the most recent hearing raised some important
concerns for me when the Toll Brothers' representative
expressed their desire to replace the roof with one that
would be "true in appearance." I feel strongly that for the
restoration and preservation of these buildings to be done
properly, the materials and construction must be as close to
the original in every way. If copper and slate were the
materials chosen by William Strickland, then copper and
slate should be what is used - not some modern
"look-alike."

I urge the City and State officials and preservation groups to
closely monitor the restoration process and be sure it is a
true restoration. In addition, I call on all of the elected
officials to continue to press Toll Brothers for a long-term
development plan that is appropriate for the neighborhood.
The 1200 units called for in earlier Toll proposals is too
much. The neighborhood is not equipped to handle a
development with that level of density, nor do we want it.

Thank you for all your efforts so far, and please continue the
good work.

Sincerely,

Gregory A. Brown

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