Historic Preservation Commission
The Cedar Rapids Historic Preservation Commission makes recommendations on National Register of Historic Places nominations and local historic district designation. With City Council approval, the Historic Preservation Commission initiates historic preservation studies designed to identify and preserve the City’s historic building resources. The Commission also reviews and approves applications for Certificates of Appropriateness in local historic districts and local historic landmarks. For more details about the historic preservation review process, please click here.Exterior Work Application
For properties within the city's two local districts and local landmarks, exterior projects need to complete an exterior work application. To have a project reviewed by our Historic Preservation Commission, applications must be completed and turned in to City staff the Wednesday prior to Historic Preservation Commission meetings.
EXTERIOR WORK APPLICATION
Bever Woods Nomination To National Register
Upon completing the intensive survey, the area was determined to be eligible for the National Register due to it's significance in the development of Cedar Rapids and unique architectural characteristics. The City of Cedar Rapids was awarded a Certified Local Government Grant to complete the nomination. The nomination will be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission on September 8th, City Council September 13th, and the State Nomination Review Committee on October 14th. More information regarding the area and the significance of being on the National Register is included here. The complete nomination can be found below:
BEVER WOODS NOMINATION
Bever Woods Intensive Survey
In 2019-2020, an intensive historic survey was conducted of the Bever Woods neighborhoods. For more information on this project, including the draft survey report and a video of a presentation of the results, click below.
BEVER WOODS INTENSIVE SURVEY
Meetings
Regular meetings are held at 4:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. Please reference the schedule below for the exact meeting dates, conference room, and building location.
2023 HPC Meeting Schedule
| Meeting Date | Conference Room |
| January 12 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| January 26 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| February 9 |
*City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| February 23 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| **CANCELED** March 9 |
*City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| March 23 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
April 13 |
*City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| April 27 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| May 11 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| May 25 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| June 8 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| June 22 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| July 13 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| July 27 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| August 10 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| August 24 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| September 14 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| September 28 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| October 12 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| October 26 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| November 2 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| November 16 |
*City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| December 7 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
| December 21 | *City Services Center Five Seasons Conference Room 500 15th Avenue SW |
AGENDA PACKETS AND MINUTES DOCUMENTS
Membership
The Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) is comprised of nine volunteers appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council for three year terms. Those interested in serving on the Commission may submit a completed City application, by following these steps.
Current Members:
- Diana Pagan (2024) - Chair
- Ryan Russell (2023)
- Jeff Meyers (2024)
- Kim Schmidt (2024)
- Sandra Smith (2023)
- Gerard Estella (2023)
- Charles Blades (2025)
- Caitlin Hartman (2025)
- Jacob Cournoyer (2025)
Term expirations on June 30 of the year in parenthesis above.
Learn More:
- Historic Preservation Review Process - outlines the review process for property owners in the local historic district and owners of local landmarks and provides resources for historic home repair
- Historic Rehabilitation Program - grant opportunity for property owners in the local historic districts or owners of local landmarks making exterior improvements
- Cedar Rapids Historic Sites Viewer - interactive map used to search historic properties and access survey information
- Historic Preservation Design Guidelines - guidelines that outline best practices for repair or remodeling of historic properties, revised on August 14, 2018
- Surveys & Resources - this page includes history booklets, surveys of Cedar Rapids historic assets, and other resources for historic research
- City of CR Historic Preservation Plan - the City's guiding document for maintaining historic properties and places in the community, while also planning for future historic preservation, adopted on September 22, 2015
- Chapter 18 - Historic Preservation in the Municipal Code - outlines the rules related to historic preservation in Cedar Rapids
- Local Historic District/Landmark Applications - apply to designate a historically significant district or landmark in the City
- Cedar Rapids Historic Markers - program that highlights notable historic sites throughout the City
- Historic Asset Inventory Focus Properties - properties identified by HPC sub-committee for proactive preservation
