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OVERVIEW Overview | History | Calendar | Membership | Board ONE OF A KIND COMMUNITY Heritage Hill is a vital historic neighborhood of 1300 properties a heart beat from downtown Grand Rapids. The houses here date from 1848 and represent over 60 architectural styles. These were the homes of lumber barons, teachers, judges and legislators who shaped our city’s future. The population of the Hill today is equally diverse. Professionals, crafts and trades people, artisans and students; couples, singles and families; renters and homeowners; people of all colors, backgrounds and incomes have made these historic houses their homes. And it’s the unique blend of these two elements – the people and the place – that make Heritage Hill a one-of-a-kind community. THE ORGANIZATIONS The neighborhood has three organizations that influence its growth and development. The Heritage Hill Association is an action oriented neighborhood organization involved in land use, crime prevention, housing, preservation/maintenance, block club organizing and other issues that affect day-to-day life on the Hill. The HHA office is open Monday – Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and is located at 126 College SE. Contact 459-8950 for assistance or information. The Heritage Hill Foundation is more directly concerned with educating the public on the fine points of historic preservation. Contact is through the HHA office. The Grand Rapids Historic Preservation Commission is a city appointed body that oversees and enforces the Historic Preservation Ordinance which governs exterior changes to Heritage Hill properties. Applications and approvals from this Commission are necessary before exterior changes can occur. Contact is through the Grand Rapids Zoning Department at 1120 Monroe NW, 456-3451. The groups work separately yet together toward the common goal of creating a stable, secure environment for Hill residents to live and work. A LITTLE HISTORY The goal was obvious in 1968 when a group of 125 neighbors banded together to resist three threatening trends: urban renewal, “redlining” and speculative buying by developers. The Heritage Hill Association was formed and its first battle was to halt urban renewal projects that would have demolished 75% of the neighborhood. Residents worked diligently to have the neighborhood placed on the National Register of Historic Places and invoked national preservation legislation to stop the bulldozers. Not only did this save Heritage Hill, it set a precedent throughout the U.S. for historic preservation. The success of this initial battle was just the beginning of many “firsts”. To make a long, impressive story short, all the landmarks in Heritage Hill are not houses – there are many on legal and neighborhood organization levels as well. ON-GOING ACTIVITIES Preservation and improvement of the neighborhood is continuous. In 1988, the Heritage Hill Association conducted a neighborhood wide planning process that produced the Master Plan of Heritage Hill. This plan now guides the Association, residents, city officials, developers and others on issues affecting the neighborhood. The Association’s annual activities include:
For the many who are involved in these critical projects, the work and results are rewarding. But Heritage Hill residents don’t spend all their time working. They like having a good time, so there’s plenty of opportunity for having fun on the Hill:
GET IN ON THE ACTION So be a part of the Hill, for a day, for a decade, for a lifetime. If you’re visiting, we welcome you. If you live here, you’re a member and we need you! If you’re an interested non-resident, call the Association office, 459-8950, we have a place for you!! Heritage Hill is people – preserving a piece of the past – working together for the future. MEMBERSHIP FORM |
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Copyright© 1997-2008 Heritage Hill Association. All rights reserved. Revised: March 14, 2008. |
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