Detroit pursues first citywide plan to save its historic buildings



Detroit is attempting to create something it has never had before: a citywide historic preservation plan.The city is looking to contract with a consultant or company to help create a plan that ends up, in the words of its request for proposals, “supporting and enhancing Detroit’s existing preservation policy.” The city's policy is largely centered around establishing local historic preservation districts, of which there are nearly 150 already in existence.
The plan, if adopted, is expected to be updated regularly and address things like “new and innovative policy recommendations for the treatment of older and historic buildings and properties citywide,” the RFP says.The consultant chosen will work with the Planning and Development Department and others to create the plan. The city is looking for companies or consultants with experience in areas like historic preservation planning, real estate and economic development, land use and zoning law, plus other areas, including what the RFP calls “Detroit’s unique history and built environment.”


The RFP says Detroit’s historic preservation framework is generally a result of an ordinance that allows for the creation of the historic districts. The first — the West Canfield Historic District — was established in 1970. According to the RFP, they can encompass everything from a historic fountain to an entire neighborhood.

The deadline to submit responses to a city request for proposals to help craft the preservation plan, which is being paid for out of the general fund, is Tuesday. While Detroit has done things like examine many of the school buildings it owns to determine how to preserve them and things like neighborhood framework plans include historic preservation components in that geographic area, a citywide study along the lines that are being embarked on has not been done before, said Garrick Landsberg, the city’s director of historic preservation.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Landsberg said in an interview.
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/real-e...servation-plan