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Historic Preservation Commission focuses on outreach and an expanded designation push, eyes surveys and updated design guidelines
Summary
Commissioners reported progress on public outreach plans using social media and AI tools, discussed neighborhood survey work and updates to designation procedures, and identified mid-century and National Register resources for next-step documentation and local designation.
Members of the Montgomery City Historic Preservation Commission described ongoing work by the education and designation committees to increase public engagement, expand survey work, and update local designation procedures.
Commissioner Keelan Adams summarized the education committee’s outreach ideas, including social media, community-center programs, walking tours with QR-code information, and an AI-driven avatar created in Canva to read prepared educational materials. Adams said the approach is intended to meet residents “where they are” with a light schedule that does not require heavy staff time.
Commissioner Vincent Hall and others emphasized reaching beyond “the usual suspects” to underrepresented neighborhoods. Staff and commissioners said community centers in Districts 3 and 4 and local churches are promising outreach sites; Commissioner Adams noted Councilwoman Marsha Johnson’s district had a recently renovated community center that could host events.
Commission staff briefed the commission on the designation process and next steps: a member of the public or staff can request research; staff compiles an architectural survey with photographs, site maps and inventory forms; the commission publishes two consecutive legal notices and holds a public hearing; if the commission recommends designation, the recommendation goes to city council, which must vote to approve local designation and design review protection. Sean Rose explained that the commission is now using Alabama Historical Commission inventory formatting for local designation forms.
The designation committee reported interest in thematic and neighborhood-based surveys, with mid-century modern neighborhoods and commercial buildings (such as Garrett Coliseum and City Hall) and sites already on the National Register but not locally designated as priorities. Commissioners mentioned specific neighborhoods—Garden District, Cloverdale, Capitol Heights, Cottage Hill, Forest Hills, McGehee Estates and Edgewood—where inventory updates are due after decades without surveys.
Staff said the commission was awarded a grant for a National Register survey of Mobile Heights and Carver Park but that grant work had not yet started because of statewide delays in grant execution.
Commissioners discussed simple outreach materials, including a pamphlet with committee contact information for council members and citizens and business cards with QR codes linking to online resources. Staff gave a desk line for follow-up: (334) 625-2041.
No formal motions were taken on outreach or designation items at this meeting; committees will continue refining materials, scheduling outreach sessions at community centers and churches, and advancing targeted surveys and document updates for National Register resources that warrant local designation.
