Apparently, other communities are learning from the mistakes they see in places like Lower Merion and Radnor. We applaud grass roots efforts that urge things like preservation, no eminent domain, citizen input...how could we not?:
Easttown residents seek to protect historic sites
By: Ryan Richards 08/31/2006

Anna Sicalides is literally surrounded by history each day she gets out of bed.

She descends a narrow, winding, wooden staircase leading into the dining room. The room is dominated by a hearth that in its time roasted many a fowl and boiled many a stew. The adjacent living room is adorned with a large oil portrait of John Lawrence, who came to Watertown, New England, in 1630. His descendants, who fought in the Revolutionary and Civil wars, include Sicalides' fiancée, Peter.

Her Berwyn farmhouse is a late 18th-century stone structure built by Martin Potter. A nearby street, Potter Avenue, bears his name.

With so much history literally beneath her feet, it is no wonder Sicalides is leading an effort to help preserve Easttown's historical resources. She is part of a small but dedicated group of residents seeking the formation of a township historical commission and related ordinance to guard against the disappearance of the township's historic homes and other buildings.

"Our goal is to preserve the cultural integrity of the township as far as historic sites go," explained Sicalides during an interview in her living room.

Sicalidies, who works as a professional organizer for home- and business owners, noted that the township celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2004 and is one of the oldest communities in the county. Yet, of the county's 70 municipalities, it is not one of the 50 that maintains a historical commission.

"We have a very rich heritage," she said about Easttown.

Gene Williams, Easttown's township manager, said this week the current zoning ordinance does not protect historic property. But a revised one now being developed would add a 30-day waiting period between the time a demolition permit application is filed with the township and the time it is granted. Williams said the Comprehensive Plan contains a map earmarking historic township properties.

.....The citizens group has started making a historic-site survey of the township. Based on original maps, the compiled information will be submitted to Chester County, which will create a geographic information systems map (GIS).

The goals of the citizen commission would include, according to Sicalides, advising the Board of Supervisors and other township boards on matters relating to the rehabilitation, preservation, adaptive reuse and restoration of significant historical structures, including the review of zoning and/or subdivision/land-development proposals and building/demolition-permit applications that can affect historic structures.

The commission would also work with the township and homeowners to protect a house by trying to place it on the state and/or national historic registers.

In general, Sicalides points out, the commission would be a resource to teach the public about the township's historically significant architecture.

"Education is the key," she stated about preservation.

She says at least seven residents have already volunteered to serve on the commission, which would have five to nine members selected by the supervisors. Based on research of other similar commissions in the county, Sicalides estimated operating such a commission would annually cost the township about $200 to $500.

"There's a lot of value for that little bit of money," she maintained.

C. Herbert Fry, a local historian and past president of what is today the Tredyffrin/Easttown Historical Society, would be a consultant to the commission. The Berwyn resident said there is a trend now threatening Easttown's older homes, where a developer buys a property and then tears down the house on it.

"There's a lot of tear-down and rebuild in the township because open space is largely exhausted," he believed.

...."This has really been a grassroots effort," said Sicalides about preserving Easttown's history.
For information about the historical commission proposal, contact Sicalides at 610-647-8508 or e-mail her at