Our History

The company did its first restoration of a small, 19th century commercial building in Philadelphia's historic district in 1978 and the result was a resounding success. Young "urban pioneers" were drawn to the prospect of living in a unique "new" apartment building which had its roots in another era and another purpose. Soon after another historically significant property was transformed into a contemporary apartment community. Then another, and another.

Virtually overnight our little company grew into a major national developer, converting 66 decaying properties into distinctive apartment buildings across the country, while giving new life to off-the-beaten-path downtown streets and gentrifying entire neighborhoods in the process. As our new restorations opened to rave reviews, many developments began to take shape around the buildings. New restaurants and small stores sprouted, along with galleries, arts and entertainment centers, plus many of the essential services that were needed to satisfy the growing communities.

While Historic Landmarks gave many rundown buildings and neighborhoods new life, the company took great care to respect the significance of old, original architectural details of each property. The facades were painstakingly restored and enhanced with unique exterior amenities. In some buildings, outdated and nonessential structural steel was retained for ornamentation. Other buildings were retrofitted with trellised archways and spiraling exterior stairways. Oversized original window casings and building cornices were carefully restored. Art deco-style friezes and decorative stone and plaster details were preserved. Historic Landmark's creativity and innovation continued inside each building. Interiors were gutted to give way to luxurious lobbies, curved walls and wide hallways, and soaring ceilings to give a sense of open space design.

The new apartments preserved the best of the past- handcarved millwork, exposed brick walls, timbered beam ceilings and columns, dramatic window walls- while blending modern design details and popular amenities to create communities that were incomparable in every conceivable way. Today, Historic Landmarks for Living manages rather than develops properties, but our most prideful accomplishment is the fact that our buildings look as beautiful today as the day they were built. If you're planning a move, discover the distinct advantages of living in a landmark... and going with a company that has a history of success.