Apply for Columbia’s Preservation Commission

You can help preserve historic places and spaces by applying for a spot on the City of Columbia’s Historic Preservation Commission. Click here to check out the application. The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4, 2023.

Laypeople with an interest in historic preservation can apply. The HPC also seeks a balance of members with backgrounds in architecture, design, law, real estate appraisal, and construction/general contracting.

You can get a sneak peek at the workings of the HPC by attending its next meeting in Conference Room 1B at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023, in City Hall.

So what does HPC do? The commission is charged with advising City Council about adopting ordinances to protect areas with “special cultural, historic, archeological, community or architectural value,” according to the City’s website. As part of this process, the HPC can designate a place as a notable property, local landmark, or local historic district. It also manages the Most Notable Properties List, which includes nearly 200 places ranging from the 1917 McKinnon Building to the Columbia Cemetery. Each year the HPC names several places to the Most Notable Properties List and typically holds a celebration. This listing is designed to increase awareness about the importance of historic preservation and Columbia’s history.

The seven-member board typically meets once a month on the first Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. The terms run for three years. There are currently three vacancies for terms that will expire Sept. 1, 2025, and Sept. 1, 2026.

This Tudor Revival at 121 N. West Blvd. was added to the Most Notable Properties list in 2004. It was built in 1934-1941.