City approves historic preservation master plan

By Grace Lovins

Birmingham has officially adopted its first-ever Historic Preservation Master Plan after city commissioners unanimously approved the adoption during the Monday, January 26, meeting.

The plan has been a work in progress for several years, noted by planning director Nick Dupuis in the meeting agenda packet, with a brief postponement earlier this month to allow for changes to some language. Dupuis described the plan as the “first comprehensive, long-range framework dedicated solely to historic preservation in Birmingham.”

Dupuis said the plan is intended to move the city away from a reactive approach to preservation in favor of a proactive and organized strategy. According to Dupuis, the plan outlines a vision focused on maintaining the city’s unique character and strengthening its connections between past, present and future.

There are 31 recommended actions organized under three ultimate goals: “get back to the basics,” “embrace proactivity” and “inform and engage.” Recommendations in the plan range from improving enforcement of maintenance requirements for historic buildings and updating preservation ordinances to expanding public education efforts and exploring tools like a demolition delay ordinance.

Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the master plan. Commissioners Therese Longe and Brad Host thanked Dupuis after the motion for his work in developing the plan. Mayor Clinton Baller also announced that he and his wife would like the city to research their house for possible recognition or historic designation.