Historic Preservation Commission

Meetings

To confirm meeting schedule call the Planning Department Office at 419-354-6218
Administrative Services Building
305 N Main Street
Bowling Green, OH 43402

Agendas & Minutes

Agendas are available prior to the meetings. Minutes are available following approval.

Members

The Historic Preservation Commission consists of 5 members, appointed by the Mayor.

Overview

The commission was established to preserve, promote, encourage and support the maintenance, use and reuse of historic buildings in the city. The purpose of the commission is to foster civic beauty, stabilize and increase property values, strengthen the local economy, maintain and enhance the distinctive character, safeguard the city’s heritage, and facilitate reinvestment and revitalization through historic preservation.

Strategic Plan

The commission adopted a 3-Year Strategic Plan (PDF) on February 22, 2022. The plan is intended to guide and focus the commission activities for 2022 to 2025.

Historic Property Owners

The City has a Historic Preservation Ordinance that provides a process to protect the character of historic structures. Any owner interested in creating a historic district or for local historic designation of a property, can start the process by submitting the Request or Consent to Designate Historic Property Form (PDF).

The City was also approved by the National Park Service on June 16, 2021 to be a Certified Local Government.

Historic Building of the Month

Each month the Historic Preservation Commission highlights a different Historic Building of the Month. If you know of a historic building or home that should be recognized please nominate your building here.

National Historic Preservation Month

The Historic Preservation Commission has chosen chose to celebrate National Historic Preservation Month last May by establishing a self-guided walking tour of Bowling Green's historic homes and buildings. Residents are were encouraged to sign up their property online by providing basic details about their home or building. Residents who signed up received a yard sign indicating "History Lives Here," which will helped bring awareness to local preservation and recognize properties included in the self-guided walking tour throughout May.

Historic Home Sign Up

Resources to Help with Historic Buildings

On October 19, 2023, the City co-sponsored a free Building Doctor Clinic with representatives from the State Historic Preservation Office – Ohio History Connection, for owners of old buildings in the area. The seminar featured guidelines for renovation projects and ways to solve the most common problems of buildings dating from 1800 to 1960. Some of the “Prescriptions from the Building Doctors” can be read below. The presentation was recorded and can be viewed on the City’s YouTube page. The PowerPoint slides, courtesy of State Historic Preservation Office – Ohio History Connection, can be viewed here (see attachment in email).

The clinic featured Building Doctors Justin Cook, Jessica Chunat, Miranda Fisher, Vanessa Gabriele, and Abigail Rosenow of the State Historic Preservation Office. They have extensive educational backgrounds and experiences with historic preservation, architecture, planning, sustainability, and reviewing state and federal historical tax credit projects.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, the Building Doctors visited pre-1960 buildings in Bowling Green, advising owners on specific technical or design problems by appointment. The Building Doctors examined mostly homes with the homeowners present. Some of the frequent concerns for on-site examination included persistent peeling paint or flaking plaster, a wet basement, deteriorating masonry, and plans for remodeling and additions.

The Building Doctors program is made possible in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the State Historic Preservation Office. Each clinic is made possible by support from local cosponsors, as well.

On February 28, 2023, representatives from the State Historic Preservation Office held a workshop at the City Building to provide information about Federal and State Historic Tax Credits. The meeting was recorded and can be viewed on the City's YouTube Channel. Copies of the presentations are linked below: