I
f you’re lucky enough to live in the borough, you’re lucky indeed. “I drive my wife crazy saying, ‘Isn’t this a great place to live?’” says Allen Burke, Chairman of the West Chester Preservation Awards Committee. “The combination of wonderful people and the great architectural gifts that we’ve been given just leads us to enjoy every day.”
addition to a plaque for winners to affix to the front of their building, the event has changed from a quiet morning affair to a full-fledged ceremony with a who’s who of West Chester, along with local and state dignitaries, leading architects, university leaders, and borough residents in attendance. “Everyone has a good time,” says Burke. “It’s a really nice event.”
Burke is hardly alone. And though people can’t always put their finger on the exact reason they love West Chester so much, Burke has some thoughts. “It’s this incredibly special thing that the borough has, and I think a lot of it has to do with the architecture, the historic fabric, the streetscape,” says Burke. “And that’s what we try to do with the awards: we just want to celebrate and learn from these gifts.”
In honor of their 10th anniversary, the Preservation Awards are planning a special evening complete with hors d’oeuvres and a light buffet from Limoncello, plus wine and beer. And though it’s a fun night, with a lively presentation and reasonably priced tickets, it’s more than just an opportunity to dress up—it’s a celebration of the borough itself.
That’s what the Historic Preservation Awards do—celebrate and acknowledge the people and projects that have contributed to the borough’s unique character. Though the mission hasn’t changed, there have been updates to the ceremony since it was first held in 2011. In
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THE WC PRESS VOICE OF THE BOROUGH
With up to five Brick and Mortar, and Preservation Service, and Preservation Legacy awards distributed as appropriate, the ceremony is leaving a legacy of its own. “One of our key learnings is that people want to hear a little more about the history, any interesting story attached to a building. That’s what we try to do,” says Burke. “It’s not just about how they placed
the brick, but who lived there and what they did. We do a lot of research to determine what history there is to a building.” Nominations come from homeowners and businesses proud of their accomplishments, to architects, fans, and the Preservation Awards Committee itself. The winners are announced at the in-person event, but nominations are accepted annually from February 10 to June 10 and focus primarily on public spaces. “Individuals do submit nominations, and they are justifiably proud of the work that was done on their exterior and the interior. But the interior of a private residence is not a public space. So as much as we love the pictures of the inside, we don’t use any of those unless it is a public building,” says Burke. “If it’s a restaurant or something like that, we allow the main floor of any public building to be considered. But it’s really about the exterior.” While winners of the West Chester Preservation Awards won’t be announced until October 21, we are happy to present readers with four of the nominees for this year’s awards.