Finding Preservation Excellence

Remarkable historic architecture has become West Chester’s trademark. So it’s only fitting that exceptional examples of restoration stewardship were recognized at the West Chester Preservation Awards ceremony at the Chester County History Center, which has been home to the annual event for each of its 14 years. The West Chester Downtown Foundation has nurtured the event since its beginning. And again this year, the ceremony also included announcement of grants awarded to 16 worthy nonprofit organizations serving West Chester.

And the Preservation Award winners in the categories of Bricks & Mortar, Service and Legacy awards were …

Bricks & Mortar Awards

The Bricks & Mortar Awards are given to recognize architectural projects that exemplify best preservation practices. The five winners are given the opportunity to display on their buildings the distinctive brass plaque that serves as the award’s signature.

221 West Virginia Avenue. This c. 1872 green serpentine home, built in the Second Empire style, is one of the borough’s distinctive “Four Sisters” — a quartet of stately 19th-century homes, built side by side along Virginia Avenue. The homes were designed by noted Philadelphia architect Addison Hutton.

Because a previous owner divided the building into two separate residences, the interior was renovated to reunify it as a single-family home, now with a small separate rear guest apartment. A rear entrance was constructed with a covered porch that connects to a new slate-roofed garage, faced with locally sourced serpentine stone.

The work also included restoring a stained-glass kitchen window, original wood windows, exterior porches, ornamental woodwork, slate roof and brick chimney. The owners installed new copper flashings, gutters and downspouts as well as repointing the serpentine stone walls, restoring the front brick walk and new serpentine stone entrance pillars.

This thoughtful stewardship of the home’s distinctive architectural character also demonstrates appreciation and respect for the neighboring “Three Sisters.”

522 North Church Street. This beautiful home had just three owners in its 146-year history. A photo dated 1896 shows the first owner, Ruthanna Haines, sitting on the front porch with her companion.

The home had fallen victim to voracious overgrowth and the ravages of time to the extent that the porch had been condemned when the letter carrier fell through the floor. The entire metal-roofed porch had to be rebuilt, but the shutters were saved.

A garage designed to be architecturally compatible was added on the alley. Although the living space was expanded, the new owners sited the work so the visual impact from the street was minimized, allowing the home’s architectural character to prevail. The work completed an architecturally important block.

51 Patton Alley. This apartment building was built around 1940, reportedly as a structure for soldiers and staff of the adjacent National Guard Armory on North High Street.

A devastating fire consumed much of the building on December 26, 2023. Despite the valiant efforts of multiple local fire companies, the fire left the building uninhabitable. What was left of the roof had to be replaced, and most of the interior was lost.

Hazley Builders worked with the West Chester Historic and Architectural Review Board (HARB) to ensure the work complied with the Design Guidelines for the West Chester Historic District. The project illustrates how effectively borough ordinances, HARB guidelines and HARB itself work to help owners preserve their buildings.

The exterior of 51 Patton Alley now appears much as it did before the fire, preserving the neighborhood’s historic architectural character.

435 West Miner Street. This c. 1900 home has undergone extensive and costly exterior restoration. The work has been completed to a remarkably elevated level of quality, using original materials and techniques.

The crumbling roof, a combination of original slate shingles at the front and replacement asphalt shingles at the rear, was nearing the end of its life. The owners replaced the entire roof with slate because they valued the importance of retaining the home’s original materials. New copper flashings were installed throughout. Damaged exterior wood trim and soffits were replaced and refinished to match the original.

The owner’s thoughtful five-year maintenance campaign to repair and restore significant architectural features of their home embodies the best of historic preservation practices. The overall visual effect is now a striking 125-year-old home in pristine condition. The owner’s stewardship clearly illustrates how restoring original materials can make a significant contribution to the authenticity of West Chester’s historic fabric.

233 West Gay Street. The leadership and congregation of Saint Agnes Church were recognized for the careful restoration of their church’s front main entrance doors.

In 1793, a congregation of fewer than 100 local Roman Catholics built a church on this site. It became the first house of worship in West Chester and remained the only church in town for 20 years. The current church building, erected in 1925 and designed in an English Gothic style, is the third church built on this site.

After a century of use and weathering, the church’s three pairs of front main entrance doors had deteriorated, exhibiting advanced moisture and ultraviolet light damage.

Each door consisted of an astonishing 220 pieces of hardware, which had to be removed and taken to an offsite shop for stripping, sanding, washing, staining and varnishing. The work also included replacing damaged and deteriorated wood as needed.

It’s a happy coincidence that Saint Agnes Parish was presented with a Bricks & Mortar Preservation Award this year, as the parish marks the 100th anniversary of the church’s construction.

Service Award

Service Awards are given in recognition of educational or advocacy projects, publications, events and activities that educate the public and promote a better understanding of West Chester history.

County Lines Magazine. A preservation Service Award was presented to County Lines Magazine for its almost 50 years of highlighting West Chester and Chester County’s local history and lifestyles.

The husband-and-wife team of Edwin Malet and Jo Anne Durako took over the magazine in 2006. Under their guidance, the editorial content has reflected a special appreciation of Chester County’s rich culture and remarkable history.

The public develops an appreciation for good restoration by being exposed to the best examples, and that’s what County Lines delivers regularly. Articles typically address a wide variety of historic subjects including historic architecture, local preservation events and historic sites.

In an era of shrinking print media resources, County Lines is a crucial voice for the preservation community, both in West Chester and throughout the region. Their long-term commitment to the comprehensive coverage of West Chester’s history, historic architecture and preservation events provides an invaluable service to the community.

Legacy Award

Legacy Awards are given to individuals to recognize an outstanding contribution to the better understanding of West Chester history.

Tom Comitta was recognized with the prestigious Legacy Award for his important contribution to the preservation of West Chester, including his service as West Chester Borough’s Planner & Landscape Architect since 1988, for many years working pro bono.

Describing West Chester’s streets as intimate “outdoor rooms” where the dimensions are crucial to the town’s livability, Comitta believes “85 feet is as far away as you want to be … Beyond that you can’t recognize someone’s face.” His sensitivity to the importance of scale, proportion and design began at an early age and became a central focus.

In 1993, he made a series of public presentations about West Chester’s unique character and unfulfilled potential that were a catalyst, inspiring business and political leaders to coordinate their future efforts. Borough businessman Stan Zukin commented, “Tom opened all our eyes … [he] showed us that we’re sitting on a treasure here. And if we can’t protect it and develop it, we’re going to ruin it.”

Comitta worked with the borough task force in 2002 to develop the WC Urban Center Revitalization Plan, a 131-page comprehensive blueprint for the development of the borough. He later played a pivotal role in projects such as the development of the Bicentennial Garage on South High Street, a model for urban garages in historic towns.

The 2001 Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine article about West Chester becoming “a perfect town” focused on the substantial progress from its truly bleak condition in 1981, the year Comitta started his firm in West Chester. At that time there were only six restaurants in West Chester — today there are over 60. Thanks in part to Comitta’s efforts, the borough now serves as a model for other regional towns to follow.

The character, life and health of West Chester depend on the passion and involvement of people like Tom Comitta. It’s his legacy.

The next West Chester Preservation Awards ceremony is scheduled for October 15, 2026. Nominations close June 10, 2026. More information can be found at WCDF.org.

Editor’s Note: We were delighted and proud to be recognized for what we love doing.