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How does historic preservation work in Philadelphia?

Founded in 1955, the Philadelphia Historical Commission was one of the nation’s first municipal preservation boards to have citywide jurisdiction.

• With the power to halt demolitions or construction, and change the costs of owning or developing a property, PHC’s decision-making can affect the future as much as the past.

Historic designation can start feuds — or inspire new solutions. Jordan Levy breaks down how it all works, and how you can have a say in the process.

A tour of dead and dying malls around Philadelphia

Once as iconic to American culture as baseball and apple pie, the shopping mall is now a dying breed, with only about 1,000 left nationwide.

• The Philly region is full of these bygone landmarks, and they survive in varying states. Some are quaint and dated, others have been smothered by corporate makeovers attempts.

A couple are still bustling and busy, if confounding to navigate. For Billy Penn, Kurt Schiller takes a tour of eight dead and dying malls around Philadelphia.

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

• Gov. Wolf is suing the GOP-controlled state legislature for pushing through 5 constitutional amendment proposals in one bill during budget sessions — including one that would declare the state constitution doesn’t guarantee any abortion-related rights. [Spotlight PA/Billy Penn]
• Pennsylvania is discontinuing the COVID exposure app it released in 2020. The Pa. Health Department says it’s because people are more educated about COVID now, and know what symptoms look like and how to find a test. [WHYY]
• The woman arrested for torching a police car during 2020 racial justice protests in Center City was sentenced to 2.5 years in federal prison — but she’s already served 25 months, so could be released soon. [Billy Penn/Inquirer$]
• Philly public schools are trying to prevent a repeat of last year’s worker shortage by hiring earlier. Hiring events for bus drivers, cafeteria workers, school nurses, and other positions are scheduled for Aug. 10 and 24. [Chalkbeat/Phila SD]
• RIP Jaylill Foy, a founding member of famous singing group Brotherly Love, who died last week after being shot outside his home. [NBC10]
• Party bar Cavanaugh’s Rittenhouse is moving a block west. It’ll expand its space and offerings when it reopens at 1921 Sansom St. in September. [Biz Journal$]
• Eagles QB Gardner Minshew spent the off-season living next to a Florida gym in an old prison bus. Some stuff he did: Dug a gravel pit, learned to play guitar, showered outside, read “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” on a hammock he set up nearby. [ESPN]

MAYOR WATCH

Nothing on the public schedule today for Mayor Jim Kenney. Though he still has 17 months left in office, some are looking forward to his replacement. “We need somebody that smiles,” a real estate professional said at a recent business leader lunch, per The Inquirer. “We have plenty of pride in Philly; we need more joy.”

ON THE CALENDAR