Historic District


Overview    Board Members    Historic District Commission Application
Historic District Demolition Guidelines     Historic District Design Standards
Historic District Map      Historic Preservation Ordinance    History of Northville
Procedure to Appear Before the Historic District Commission

Historic District Overview

Historic District Study Michigan Public Act 169 requires City Council to appoint a historic district study committee to undertake a survey and develop a historic district study committee report before the creation, modification, or elimination of a local historic district.   2007 Northville Historic District Study Committee Report (489 K)   1972 Northville Historic District Study Committee Report (9.4 MB) (NOTE: For your convenience, slower connection speeds can use the links below.) For Slower Connections: 1972 Northville Historic District Study Committee Report: Letter of Transmittal; Mayor and City Council; Objectives and Legal Background; Purpose of Northville's Historic Area (375 K) Inventory of Buildings 1 (2.1 MB) Inventory of Buildings 2 (1.9 MB) Inventory of Buildings 3 (2.6 MB) Inventory of Buildings 4 (1.5 MB) Appendix A - C (1.0 MB)

In 1972 the City of Northville recognized that its unique and historic architectural character was worthy of preservation. In 1974, the Northville City Council passed the Historic District Ordinance. The purpose of the ordinance is to:

1. Safeguard the heritage of the City of Northville by preserving a district, which reflects elements of its cultural, social, economic, political and architectural history.
2. Stabilize and improve property values in the district.
3. Foster civic beauty.
4. Strengthen the local economy.
5. Promote the use of historic districts for the education, pleasure and welfare of the citizens of the city.

The Northville Historic District Commission is charged with reviewing plans for construction, alteration, moving, exterior changes, exterior paint colors or the demolition of all buildings in the Historic District.

The City Council and the Northville Historic District Commission have determined that standards and guidelines would be useful and instrumental in the preservation of residential and commercial structures in the Historic District.

City Council has adopted the Historic District Design Standards for use and application within the Northville Historic District.