The Philadelphia Historical Commission voted Friday to designate the west side of the 400 block of S. 42nd Street (420-434 S. 42nd) a historic district, a significant victory for local preservationists who want to protect historic buildings from the rapid development sweeping many of the city’s neighborhoods.

Named the “420 Row,” the cluster of Victorian row homes is the first historic district to be named since 2010, according to the Historical Commission. Designation means that the Historic Commission must approve any demolition or significant changes to the buildings. The designation comes as plans to convert one of the residences, a former fraternity house, into apartments are before the Spruce Hill Community Association zoning committee.

Block captain Justin McDaniel spearheaded the effort. Here is the designation application. Here is a list of other historic districts in the city, which include Parkside in West Philadelphia.

Increased development and a reluctance to grant historic status to large parts of West Philadelphia has prompted preservationists, including many members of local zoning committees, to seek designation on a “block by block” basis. Other designation applications are likely to follow. 

The Historical Commission also designated the following properties as historical during Friday’s meeting:

• 22-26 S. 40th St.

The West Philadelphia Community Mental Health Consortium owns this property. This mansard-roofed building sits at the northwest corner of 40th and Ludlow. It has been changed significantly over the years and its facade is now largely covered with metal panels, which conceals and Frank Furness designed building completed in 1876.

• 3827-33 Powelton Ave.

The building is currently owned by the Rudolphy/Mercy-Douglass Home for the Blind and was opened in 1880 as the Pennsylvania Industrial Home for Blind Women. The four-story, red brick building sits across from Presbyterian Hospital on the northeast corner of Powelton and Saunders.

• 435-41 North 38th Street

This church building, located on 38th Street between Spring Garden and Hamilton, is currently home to the Mount Pleasant Primitive Baptist Church. It was designed as a Methodist church and was for many years the home of Christ Methodist Episcopal Church. The “Gothic-revival style” church was opened in 1870.