HDAB Special Projects

The Historic Designation Advisory Board (HDAB) serves as the coordinating agency for the City of Detroit's Certified Local Government (CLG) Program. The CLG program is a preservation partnership between local, state, and national governments focused on promoting historic preservation at the grassroots level. The program is jointly administered by the National Park Service (NPS) and the Michigan State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO).

Grant Projects

The Detroit City Council's Historic Designation Advisory Board has developed a broad, multi-year initiative to document and highlight underrepresented communities in Detroit. Part of this work is supported through grant funding.

Arab and Chaldean Underrepresented Communities Project

This project will study, recognize, record, and share the histories of Detroit’s Arab and Chaldean communities. Detroit is the first city in the nation given a URC grant to study Arab and Chaldean history! This project is supported in part by an Underrepresented Communities Grant from the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

HDAB will work with Arab and Chaldean community partners to collect local and family histories. Based on community feedback, a site related to Arab and Chaldean history will be listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Detroit-based places of study will include businesses, churches, mosques, restaurants, grocers, schools, and community centers. 

Please join HDAB on Tuesday, May 7, to learn more about the Arab & Chaldean Underrepresented Communities History Project. HDAB needs YOUR help identifying people and places significant in Arab and Chaldean history in the City of Detroit. All are welcome and encouraged to participate in this event, and REFRESHMENTS WILL BE PROVIDED!

Event details:

Tuesday, May 7, 6-7PM
America’s Community Council Youth Center
62 W. Seven Mile Road, Detroit, MI 48203

Historic Context of Latinx Communities in Detroit

This initiative will develop a historic context for the Latinx community in Detroit as a Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPDF) and will nominate a property to the National Register of Historic Places. HDAB will work with community partners and stakeholders to provide education and outreach opportunities regarding the history of the Latinx community in Detroit. This project is supported in part by an Underrepresented Communities Grant from the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. 

Historic Context of Women in Detroit

This initiative will develop a historic context of women in Detroit as a Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPDF) and will include nominate a property to the National Register of Historic Places. HDAB will work with community partners and stakeholders to provide education and outreach opportunities regarding the history of women in Detroit. This project is being supported in part by an Underrepresented Communities Grant from the Historic Preservation Fund administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. 

For more information about any of the grant projects listed above, please email [email protected] or call (313) 224-3487.