Historic District Commission

COMMISSIONERS

• Tiffany Franklin, Chair
• James Hamilton
• Allan Machielse, Vice Chair
• Adrea Simmons
• Najahyia Chinchilla

Formed by Detroit Ordinance 161-H in 1976, the Detroit Historic District Commission’s purpose (HDC) is to ensure the preservation of historically and culturally significant areas of the City which are designated by City Council as Local Historic Districts. Appointed by the Mayor, the Commission is comprised of seven Detroit residents.

The Commission is staffed by the City of Detroit Planning and Development Department. In addition to administering building permit application review for all exterior changes to a building or site in a designated district, HDC staff works closely with residents on a broad array of design and maintenance issues.

It has been demonstrated that the preservation of cultural, social, spiritual, economic, political, engineering and architectural history often stabilizes and improves property values, strengthens the local economy and fosters community pride.

HDC MEETING DATES  

Per the 2019 Detroit City Code, Section 21-2-56 (5), Notices of meetings, including an agenda of matters to be considered, shall be mailed to all known property owner organizations, community organizations, and citizens district councils in any proposed historic district or any designated district where a permit application is to be considered at such meetings. Notices of all meetings, including an agenda of matters to be considered shall be mailed to any existing historic preservation societies in the City, including, but not limited to, any historic district associations, the Mayor, the City Council, the Historic Designation Advisory Board, the Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department, the City Planning Commission, the Planning and Development Department, and the Historical Department. Interested persons shall be given reasonable opportunity to be heard on any matter before the Historic District Commission before the Body reaches a decision.

The Historic District Commission relies on organizations seeking mailed meeting notices to make themselves known to Commission staff, and regularly update their mailing address as necessary. Please send requests for public meeting notices, and changes of address, to [email protected]. Agendas are posted to the meeting websites below coincident with the mailing of meeting notices.

**NOTE: Application Deadlines are the last possible day to submit an application for a given meeting, but does not ensure your application will be heard at that meeting. Meetings can and do fill up prior to the deadline. Please submit your complete application as soon as possible to ensure a hearing at the next available HDC meeting.  Applications are docketed to the next available meeting agenda in the order that they are received and determined complete by staff, until the docket is full.