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, x42665 or email Jill Thacher at jthacher@a2gov.org.
- David Rochlen, Chair
- Steve Kaplan, Vice Chair
- Benjamin Calderon, Secretary
- Jennifer Ross
- Chip Smith
- Jenna Carter
- Sarah Nisbett
2026 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, 2025 | January 5, 2026 noon | January 8, 2026 |
| January 23, 2026 | February 9, 2026 noon | February 12, 2026 |
| February 20, 2026 | March 9, 2026 noon | March 12, 2026 |
| March 20, 2026 | April 6, 2026 5:00pm | April 9, 2026 |
| April 24, 2026 | May 11, 2026 5:00pm | May 14, 2026 |
| May 22, 2026 | June 8, 2026 5:00pm | June 11, 2026 |
| June 18, 2026* | July 6, 2026 5:00pm | July 9, 2026 |
| July 24, 2026 | August 10, 2026 5:00 pm | August 13, 2026 |
| August 21, 2026 | September 8, 2026* 5:00 pm | September 10, 2026 |
| September 18, 2026 | October 5, 2026 noon | October 8, 2026 |
| October 23, 2026 | November 9, 2026 noon | November 12, 2026 |
| November 20, 2026 | December 7, 2026 noon | December 10, 2026 |
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