City Commission may halt Historic District process for two areas

The City Commission agenda for Monday, April 1, includes a resolution regarding the Historic Preservation Commissions' (HPC) effort to establish downtown's Church Square and the Nazareth College site as Historic Districts. The resolution directs the HPC to "suspend and undertake no further action toward the possible establishment of a either a Bronson Park or Nazareth Campus Local Historic District." Committee members will be deciding between those advocating for the preservation of historic buildings and the non-profit or ecclesiastical corporations who own the properties, and who have different plans for them.

For backstory on the proposed Bronson Park Historic District, which is opposed by downtown churches: 

• https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2019/02/downtown-kalamazoo-churches-oppose-historic-district-designation.html

For more on the plan that would demolish and replace a church in that area:

•  https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2019/01/historic-kalamazoo-church-to-be-demolished-for-urban-nature-playground.html

For backstory on the proposed Nazareth Historic District, which is opposed by the Sisters of Joseph:

• https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2019/02/historic-designation-could-save-nazareth-motherhouse-from-deconstruction.html

 The City Commission April 1 agenda: 

• https://kalamazoo.novusagenda.com/Agendapublic/MeetingView.aspx?MeetingID=239&MinutesMeetingID=-1&doctype=Agenda