Inquirer Editorial: City's historic jewels are being treated like cheap baubles

History is Philadelphia's brand. The city is America's birthplace and the nation's only World Heritage City. Yet, the city is gift wrapping many of its most-prized historic, architectural, and cultural gems and topping them with a bow for developers instead of preserving such treasures.

Jewelers Row, for example, is the country's oldest diamond district, home to nearly 1,000 merchants, artisans, and craftspeople. Dating to 1852, the charismatic neighborhood draws shoppers and tourists, and is as uniquely Philadelphian as the Italian Market, Rittenhouse Square, or Boathouse Row.

Such an iconic landmark one block west of Independence Hall certainly should be protected from development - right? Apparently not.

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