The Historic Preservation Commission meets
on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m.
Meetings are held in the
City Commission Meeting Room
Decatur City Hall
509 North McDonough Street
Meeting Date Application Deadline
March 11, 2008 February 25, 2008 by 5:00 p.m.
April 8, 2008 March 24, 2008 by 5:00 p.m.
May 13, 2008 April 28, 2008 by 5:00 p.m.
>Certificate of Appropriateness Application Form
> Certificate of Exemption Application Form
>Design Guidelines for each district
>Historic Preservation Commission Agendas/Minutes
Update on the Creation of Local Historic Districts
The City of Decatur’s Historic Preservation Commission is authorized to prepare and maintain an inventory of all properties within the city that have potential for designation as a historic property of district.
The City Commission has requested that an updated and fully comprehensive survey be conducted to properly inventory all eligible places, districts, sites, buildings, structures, objects, or works of art located in Decatur. The commission of this survey will begin once funding is available starting the new fiscal year July 1, 2008.
All pending designations will remain on hold until this survey is completed. The city staff and the Decatur Historic Preservation Commission will continue to educate residents and property owners on the historic preservation ordinance, share information about the city’s historic resources and the variety of preservation programs that are available at the city, state, and federal level.
The city of Decatur has always valued its historical and cultural heritage and a comprehensive survey is essential to creating a preservation plan that will benefit all of Decatur.
About the Historic Preservation Commission
The Commission was established by local ordinance to ensure that renovations and new construction in Decatur's four Local Historic Districts are consistent with the character of the neighborhood. The three districts are the McDonough-Adams-King's Highway District, Ponce de Leon Court, Old Decatur, and the Clairemont Historic District. Click here to read more about Decatur's historic resources, including the report of the Historic Preservation Task Force and historic resource surveys.
The Commission must approve exterior projects to homes located within these districts by issuing a Certificate of Appropriateness before a building permit can be issued.
Current commission members are Larry Peters, Frank Burdette (chair), Ryan Jenkins, Lori Leland Kirk, Andrew Rutlege, Vance Cheatham and Melinda McBride.
Annual Design Awards
The Commission performs activities to encourage and promote historic preservation within the City of Decatur. They recognize projects that promote the historic character of the City through their annual Design Awards. The next design awards will be given out in May 2006 at the first annual Decatur Old House Fair. Click below to see the winners from the 2004 design awards.
>2004 Design Award Winners (PowerPoint)
If you are interested in submitting a nomination to the Historic Preservation Commission for the 2006 Design Awards please provide the following information to Amanda Thompson:
1. Contact information for the property owners and architect
2. A description of the project
3. Before and after pictures
>Click for more information