New Application Process
All HDC applications, for either major work for review by the Historic
District Commission or for minor work that has been designated to staff for approval, must be submitted online using the City's new online permitting system STREAM (stream.a2.gov.org). STREAM replaced the eTrakit system in March of 2022. For additional instructions, click Applications in the left sidebar.
Hayden House Preliminary Report Available
The Robert & Erma Hayden House Study Committee has completed a preliminary Study Committee Report that is available for public comment. City Council formed the committee to advise them on the designation of the Haydens' house on Gardner Avenue as a local historic district. Robert Hayden wrote some of the most powerful Black history poems in the English language and was appointed to two terms as the Poetry Consultant to the Library of Congress (later called the Poet Laureate), the first Black American to hold this position. Click here to view the report, and please forward any comments to [email protected]
Planning Staff Working Remote
Many City Hall staff continue to work remotely. For assistance with HDC questions or applications, please contact Jill Thacher via email at [email protected] or by phone at 734-794-6265 x42608.
Meeting Update
On January 1, 2022, the Historic District Commission returned to in-person hybrid meetings. Applicants, owners, and public commenters may attend virtually via Zoom or attend in City Hall.
- Regular meetings of the Historic District Commission have returned to Council Chambers, second floor, of City Hall, 301 East Huron Street.
- Regular meetings are broadcast for viewing online and cable television, and participants may attend virtually via Zoom.
- Applicants, owners, and public hearing comments may be made in person at the meeting, or via Zoom or by phone during the meeting.
- City Hall is mask friendly to all guests at all times.
- Masks will be required for all meeting participants and guests when the local CDC Community Level in Washtenaw County is HIGH. Check the current level for Washtenaw County through the CDC's website here.
- Working sessions will be held in-person immediately following regular HDC meetings, on an as needed basis. In-person attendance is necessary to watch or participate in working sessions.
- Please be mindful that the return to in-person meetings is required for compliance with the Michigan Open Meetings Act. Temporary provisions that allowed electronic participation since March 2020 expired on December 31, 2021. The City of Ann Arbor remains very sensitive to the on-going and ever changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Staff Services
- Information on the City's historic districts
- Review of building permit applications for property within historic districts
- Assistance with applications for work in historic districts
- Assistance with historic district regulations
Current Historic District Commission Packet
Historic District Commission agenda and packet information is now available at the City of Ann Arbor's Legislative Information Center.
- Access the
calendar page.
- Select "Historic District Commission" from the drop-down menu at the top of the page.
- Click on the "Search Calendar" button.
- Staff reports can be found by clicking the "Meeting Details" link for each meeting date.
Is This Property in a Historic District?
Two ways to look up whether an address is in a historic district:
1) On the City Assessor's website (from a2gov.org click Departments then Assessor ), click Online Assessment and Property Tax Data, then Continue to online tax data. Search by address, then look under General Information for Historical District: Yes/No.
2) In eTrakit, search by address in LandTrak and look for Restrictions X near the center-right of the page. Click it, and the pop-up box will tell you if it is in a historic district and/or flood plain. Restrictions X will also appear in PermitTrak and ProjectTrak, if the address has applied for a permit or project.
Or see maps of each historic district.
City Code Relating to Historic Districts; By-Laws
State Public Acts
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