Application opens on January 19th at 5pm. Apply Now.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, this meeting will be held electronically and is open to the public.
Application opens on January 19th at 5pm. Apply Now.
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
Dr. Carolyn Carter, Chair
Melanie A. Bazil, Vice Chair
Theresa Holder-Hagood, Secretary
Naomi Beasley-Porter
Keith Dye
Louis J. Fisher
Zene´ Fogel-Gibson
Calvin Jackson
Joseph Rashid
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, this meeting will be held electronically and is open to the public.
Join Councilmember Roy McCalister, Jr. and the Historic Designation Advisory Board for a community kick-off meeting.
Join the Historic Designation Advisory Board for a community kickoff meeting.
This map shows all locally designated historic districts in Detroit. You can search by address to determine if a property falls within a local historic district boundary.
A local historic district is an area of historic, cultural, or architectural significance that has been formally designated as such by City Council per Section 21-2 of the 2019 Detroit City Code. An historic district may contain one building or multiple buildings, or may consist of a single site such as a cemetery.
Every local historic district in Detroit meets one or more of the following National Register of Historic Places Criteria for Evaluation:
A. That are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history; or
B. That are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or
C. That embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic values, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or
D. That have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory of history.
Once a local historic district has been established, the city’s Historic District Commission (HDC) will review all building permit applications for exterior alterations to properties within the district. Building interiors are rarely designated. For more information on the HDC review process, please visit their webpage.
Please note that these programs are not administered by the Historic Designation Advisory Board.
The National Register of Historic Places is the nation's list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. The National Register (NR) is a program of the National Park Service, an agency of the United States Department of the Interior, and includes all National Historic Landmarks (NHL). Neither NR nor NHL designations affect what private owners can do to their property unless they are utilizing federal historic tax credits or other sources of federal funding. In Michigan, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), a division of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), administers the program.
The Michigan Historical Marker Program is administered by the Michigan History Center, a division of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. These historical markers mark various historical sites across the state to educate the public about significant people, places and things in Michigan history.
If you are thinking about requesting a local historic district, we ask that you first please provide a community forum for a brief presentation by HDAB staff.
The historic designation process is initiated when any person residing, doing business, or owning property in Detroit submits a request to City Council. The procedure for establishing new historic districts is described below (see Section 21-2-31 of the 2019 Detroit City Code for more information):
I. Initial Request
A request is sent to City Council to consider a proposed designation. The request should state the reason the designation is being sought and describe the significance of the proposed district with respect to at least one of the evaluation criteria. It should also precisely describe the location of the proposed district by providing specific street addresses or by describing the proposed district’s boundaries. The request must be in the form of a letter addressed to:
Detroit City Council
c/o Detroit City Clerk
200 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
Detroit, MI 48226
Please also send a copy of the request to:
Historic Designation Advisory Board
218 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
Detroit, MI 48226
The City Clerk will then assign a petition number to the request, and forward it to City Council. The petitioner will receive a postcard from the City Clerk, including the petition number, to confirm receipt of the request. A waiting period may then occur, as requests for designation are generally addressed by City Council in the order in which they are received.
II. Study Period
City Council, at its discretion, may adopt a resolution directing the Historic Designation Advisory Board to study the proposed district, as well as appoint two ad hoc members to the Board. The study itself usually takes between four to six months due to ordinance requirements.
III. Preliminary Report
The Historic Designation Advisory Board staff prepares a Preliminary Report, describing the historic and architectural value of the proposed district, and presents it to the Historic Designation Advisory Board at its regular meeting for review. The Historic Designation Advisory Board then schedules a public hearing on the proposed district, which provides an opportunity for all interested parties to express their views. Interested parties are encouraged to attend if possible, or may also express their opinions in writing to the Historic Designation Advisory Board prior to the public hearing.
IV. Final Report
The Historic Designation Advisory Board prepares a Final Report, describing the historic and architectural value of the proposed district, and presents it to City Council. The Final Report will contain a recommendation for or against designation, and, if the recommendation is for designation, it will also contain a draft ordinance for City Council consideration.
V. Ordinance
City Council may then, at its discretion, introduce the ordinance of designation. City Council would then follow the ordinary course for the passage of an ordinance, including a public hearing before the Council. After the ordinance passes, the local historic district will be in effect and become regulated and protected by public review through the Historic District Commission. Detroit contains roughly 140 local historic districts.
The Historic Designation Advisory Board typically meets on the second Thursday of each month in the late afternoon (usually 4pm). These meetings are open to the public. They are usually held in the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, but are sometimes held at locations within or near proposed historic districts. Since meeting times, dates, and locations may vary, please call 313.224.3487 in advance for confirmation.
Why seek local historic designation?
What are some benefits of local historic districts?
1. Local districts protect the investments of owners and residents of historic properties.
Insensitive or poorly planned development can make an area less attractive to investors and homebuyers, and thus undermine property value. In contrast, historic district designation encourages people to buy and rehabilitate properties because they know their investment is protected over time.
2. Properties within local historic districts appreciate at greater rates than the local market overall as well as faster than similar, non-designated neighborhoods.
Findings on this point are consistent across the country. Moreover, recent analysis shows that historic districts are also less vulnerable to market volatility from interest rate fluctuations and economic downturns.
3. Historic districts are a vehicle for education.
They are a tangible link to the past and a way to bring meaning to history and to people’s lives. They preserve the original character of buildings and streets, while welcoming growth and innovation within those spaces. They are a living, active record of communities and their residents.
4. Protecting local historic districts can enhance business recruitment potential.
Vibrant commercial cores and charming neighborhoods with character attract new business and quality industry. Companies continually relocate to communities that offer their workers a higher quality of life, which successful preservation programs and stable districts enhance.
5. Local districts give communities a voice in their future.
By participating in the designation process, citizens can help direct their communities’ path. Making these decisions together in a structured way―rather than behind closed doors or without public comment―gives everyone involved a sense of empowerment and confidence.
The January 14, 2021 scheduled meeting of the Historic Designation Advisory Board has been rescheduled to January 21, 2021.
Historic Designation Advisory Board meeting schedule for 2021.
Historic Designation Advisory Board meeting schedule for 2020.