Historic Designation Advisory Board

People Preserving Places

The Historic Designation Advisory Board (HDAB) advises City Council on all matters regarding historic preservation to protect the historic, cultural, architectural, and archaeological resources that make Detroit unique. HDAB promotes preservation through the creation of local historic districts and design guideline ordinances and also serves as a general resource to the community. 

The Historic Designation Advisory Board has nine members, who are residents of Detroit, and two ex officio members as represented by the Director of the City Planning Commission and the Director of the Planning and Development Department. Two ad hoc members are appointed by City Council in conjunction with studies of particular proposed historic districts. 

Board Members

• Calvin Jackson, Chair
• Melanie A. Bazil, Vice Chair
• Theresa Holder-Hagood, Secretary 
• Louis J. Fisher
• Nubia Wardford Polk
• Dr. Carolyn Carter
• Osvaldo Rivera
• Sharon Sexton
• William Worden

BOARD MEETINGS

The regular meetings of the Historic Designation Advisory Board are usually held on the second Thursday of the month, except where noted.  The exclusion, no meetings are planned for the month of August and December.  The meetings are held; pursuant to the Michigan Open Meetings Act; and begin at 4:00 pm.  The dates for the meetings in 2023 are:

          January 12                              July 13

          February 9                             *August - No meeting

          March 9                                  September 14

          April 13                                    October 12

          May 11                                      November 9

          June 8                                     *December - No meeting

View the agenda under Events below for a link to the board meeting.