Historic District Commission
Members of the Commission
The Historic District Commission is a body appointed by the Mayor and City Council, per the mandates of Public Act 169, Michigan's Enabling Legislation regarding local historic districts. The Historic District Commission is made up of 7 members, each one knowledgeable about preservation practices, whether they are professionally engaged as preservationists or not. Each Commissioner is appointed to three-year terms. Anyone interested in serving on the Historic District Commission should fill out an application online. Anyone interested in contacting Commissioners should call Brittany Alexander at 734.794.6000, x 42665 or email Jill Thacher at jthacher@a2gov.org.
- David Rochlen, Chair
- Kathryn Fortener, Vice Chair
- Benjamin Calderon, Secretary
- Jennifer Ross
- Steve Kaplan
- Chip Smith
2025 Historic District Commission Meeting Schedule
The Historic District Commission typically meets on the second Thursday of every month at 7:00pm in City Council Chambers, City Hall, Second Floor. Please check Legistar for up-to-date meeting locations. The Historic District Commission continues to hold in-person hybrid meetings. Applicants, owners, and public commenters may attend virtually via Zoom or attend in City Hall. Regular meetings are broadcast for viewing online and cable television.
| Applications Due (in stream.a2gov.org) | Review Committee Site Visit | Meeting & Public Hearing |
| December 19, 2024 | January 6, 2025 noon | January 9, 2025 |
| January 17, 2025 | February 10, 2025 noon | |
| February 21, 2025 | March 10, 2025 noon | March 13, 2025 |
| March 21, 2025 | April 7, 2025 5:00pm | April 10, 2025 |
| April 18, 2025 | May 5, 2025 5:00pm | May 8, 2025 |
| May 23, 2025 | June 9, 2025 5:00pm | June 12, 2025 |
| June 20, 2025 | July 7, 2025 5:00pm | July 10, 2025 |
| July 25, 2025 | August 11, 2025 5:00pm | August 14, 2025 |
| August 22, 2025 | September 8, 2025 5:00pm | September 11, 2025 |
| September 19, 2025 | October 6, 2025 noon | October 9, 2025 |
| October 24, 2025 | November 10, 2025 noon | November 13, 2025 |
| November 21, 2025 | December 8, 2025 noon | December 11, 2025 |
Historic District Commissioner Handbook
- Historic District Commission Roster
- Historic District Review Fees
- Historic District Commission Conduct of Hearings
- Local Historic Districts (Act 169 of 1970)
- Open Meetings Act (267 of 1976)
- MML Overview of the Michigan Open Meetings Act
- MML Michigan Open Meetings Act - Closed Meetings Minutes
- The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties
- The Secretary of Interior's Standards: Rehabilitation as a Treatment and Standards for Rehabilitation
- Illustrated Guidelines on Sustainability for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings
- City of Ann Arbor HDC Historic District Design Guidelines
- Ann Arbor HDC Guardrail and Handrail Guidelines
- Ann Arbor Historic District Sign Guidelines
- Ann Arbor HDC Design Guidelines for Solar Panels
- Ann Arbor HDC Guidelines for Window Evaluation, Repair, and Replacement
- Bylaws of the Ann Arbor Historic District Commission
- Code of Ordinances Chapter 8 - Organization of Board and Commissions
- Code of Ordinances 108 - Historic Preservation
- HDC Review Flow Chart
- Staff Approval Information
- Work Done Without Permits
- How to Appeal a Commission Decision
- Tax Incentives for Preserving Historic Properties
- State and Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credits
- Economic Hardship, Feasibility, and Related Standards in Historic Preservation Law
- Ann Street
- Broadway
- Cobblestone Farm
- Division Street
- East Liberty
- East William Street
- Fourth/Ann
- Liberty Street
- Main Street
- Northern Brewery
- Old Fourth Ward
- Old West Side
- State Street
- Washtenaw/Hill
Updated 4/1/2025