Description of requirements for this board

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The Historical Architectural Review Board (HARB) is a public advisory body created by state and local laws, the Board of Historical Architectural Review is known, locally and nationally, as HARB. HARB operates under the authority of the State of Pennsylvania's Historic District Act, General Assembly #167 of 1961, as amended 1963. Lower Merion Township's HARB was created by Ordinance #1902 of 1980.

HARB's purpose is to help protect the distinctive and historic character of Lower Merion Township by considering the effects of proposed changes to buildings and properties within historic districts and on the Historic Properties List and by ruling on their appropriateness.

Design Guidelines for Historic Resources & Historic Districts

In February, 2023, the Board of Commissioners voted to accept a new Design Guidelines document to assist property owners, architects, and applicants of all kinds to understand the Township's review process and the appropriate alteration of historic properties. The Design Guidelines can be viewed here (10.7 MB PDF).

Design Guidelines Quick Reference Sheets And More Information

Historic Resource Inventory Interactive Map

The Historic Resource Inventory (HRI) is the official list of historically designated resources in Lower Merion. These resources are depicted in this interactive online map, which includes historical data and regulatory information about each.

View the Map

2026 Historic Preservation Report

This Report examines various aspects of the Township's historic preservation initiatives including Historic Districts, Historic Resources, the role of the HARB and Historical Commission, and the Township Code. It also contains detailed statistics and analyses of historical data.

Read the report (5 MB PDF)

HARB Certificate of Appropriateness Application

At the link below, download the Certificate of Appropriateness application form. Please note that historic district maps, linked below, are required as part of the application information. Submission materials, including completed application forms and all other supplemental material required, are due 10 days prior to the HARB meeting (typically two Fridays before the Tuesday HARB meeting).

HARB Certificate of Appropriateness (CofA) Application (PDF 381 KB)

Historic District Maps

Ardmore Commercial Historic District Map
Gladwyne Historic District Map
Mill Creek Historic District Map
Haverford Station Historic District Map
English Village Historic District Map
Harriton Historic District Map
Merion Friends Meeting/General Wayne Inn Historic District Map

Historic Ardmore StoryMap

Go on a virtual tour of downtown Ardmore, one of the Historic Districts overseen by HARB. This comprehensive history of the downtown and its many historic landmark buildings was created as a collaboration between the Lower Merion Conservancy, Ardmore Initiative, Lower Merion Township Building & Planning Department, and the Lower Merion Historical Society.

View the StoryMap here.

Historic Preservation Awards

The HARB and the Historical Commission periodically co-sponsor awards to recognize exemplary historic preservation projects in the Township.

The 2024 Historic Preservation Awards were held on September 26 and took place at the Merion Tribute House. The Township was proud to honor 8 historic preservation projects, 2 stewardship awards, 1 communication/education award, 7 past members of the HARB and Historical Commission, and Ted Goldsborough, recipient of the Robert DeSilets Award.

View the 2024 Historic Preservation Awards Presentation (PDF, 5.5 MB)

View the 2017 Historic Preservation Awards Presentation (PDF, 1.1 MB)

View the 2012 Historic Preservation Awards Presentation (PDF, 10.2 MB) 

Preservation Briefs

HARB Preservation Briefs is a series created and produced by the HARB for the Township.

A Short History of the Township - Brief No. 1
HARB's Role in the Community - Brief No. 2
Historic Districts: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions - Brief No. 3
Researching Historic Properties - Brief No. 4
Historic Resources and Opportunities - Brief No. 5

Useful Links

Ardmore Storefront Design Guidelines  
Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission
Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia
Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties
National Park Service Preservation Briefs

Historic Preservation in the Township Code

Chapter 88: Describes the locations of Historic Districts and the role of the HARB and HC in the review of Historic Resources.

Chapter 62-2.D: Additional provisions for Class I and II Historic Resources and the HC review process.

Chapter 155-7.1: Description of the Historic Resources Overlay District (HROD) in the Zoning Code, including the use and relief incentives available to Historic Resources.

Upcoming HARB Meeting Dates

HARB is scheduled to meet on the dates listed below in the Board Room of the Township Administration Building (subject to later notice of change of time and location). To sign up for automatic email updates on upcoming agendas, enter your email address on this webpage and select “Board of Historical Architectural Review (HARB)” from the list.