kill bill 251030
Who we are
Stop Demolishing Philly is a coalition of community groups, preservation advocates, and cultural institutions fighting to protect Philadelphia’s Historic Preservation Ordinance.
Councilmember Mark Squilla’s Bill No. 251030 guts protections for historic properties. We demand that City Council votes NO to this dangerous legislation and invites community members to the table to make our City’s preservation ordinance work better for all Philadelphians—not just profit-driven developers.
Members: American Society of Landscape Architects, Pennsylvania-Delaware Chapter • Association for Preservation Technology/Delaware Valley Chapter • Brewerytown Sharswood Neighborhood Coalition • Cathedral Park Community Development Corporation • Community Development Board of East Parkside • The Dox Thrash Project • Frankford & Kensington Development Council • Keeping Society of Philadelphia • Neighbors Across Market • Neighborhood Alliance for Washington Square West • Philadelphia Archaeological Forum • Preservation Pennsylvania • Powelton Village Civic Association • RePoint Philadelphia • SoLo/Germantown Civic Association • University City Historical Society
This coalition is growing. If your organization would like to sign on as a coalition member, please reach out to stopdemolishingphilly@gmail.com.
Additional action opportunities & Timeline
If you’re a Philadelphia resident, reach out to your district Councilmember AND your Councilmembers-at-large to voice your opposition to Bill No. 251030. Also, reach out to the bill’s sponsor, Councilmember Mark Squilla.
At the earliest, legislators will review the bill at a February 3 meeting of the Rules Committee. Join us in monitoring the City Council meeting calendar to stay informed.
Submit public comment to the Philadelphia City Planning Commission during the current 45-day review period (planning@phila.gov). The bill will likely be reviewed at the February 19 meeting of the PCPC.
Further Reading
Legislation & Analysis
Text of Bill 251030, introduced 11/20/25.
“Analysis of Proposed Amendment to Philadelphia’s Historic Preservation Ordinance,” Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, 11/24/2025
“Demolition by Amendment: Why Council Must Vote NO on Bill 251030,” RePoint Philadelphia, 12/4/2025.
Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia letter to Philadelphia City Planning Commission, 12/4/2025: https://www.instagram.com/p/DR2TAJykVLI
Media Coverage
“Good government fix or a demolition derby? Historic preservation bill is provoking debate in Philly,” Jake Blumgart, Philadelphia Inquirer, 12/2/2025.
“Historic preservation bill is getting a rewrite after outcry,” Meir Rinde, Billy Penn/WHYY, 12/24/2025.
“Preservationists Worry of a Demolition Loophole in Squilla Bill,” Kyle Bagenstose, Hidden City Philadelphia, 12/31/2025.
Historic Preservation in Philadelphia
“Growing Through Preservation: The Economic Impact of Historic Preservation in Philadelphia,” PlaceEconomics, 9/2025.
Final Report of the Philadelphia Historic Preservation Task Force, 3/2019.
Summary of Philadelphia’s Historic Preservation Ordinance, National Trust for Historic Preservation, 3/2018.
Contact Us
Want to join our coalition? Get in touch!