Historic preservation commission revisits 2022 strategic plan, proposes 'mini-district' approach for downtown listings

At a meeting of the Bowling Green Historic Preservation Commission, members reviewed their 2022 strategic plan and discussed next steps for expanding local historic districts, including a proposal to pursue smaller, resident‑led "mini‑districts" modeled on the North Maple listing.

The commission said the plan — intended to guide Historic Preservation Commission activities through 2025 — has produced several completed items but still contains unfinished goals. "As soon as it seems reasonable, we hope to be able to add more, of historic Bowling Green to the proposed historic district, especially the Main Street area, which is now enrolled in National Register of Historic Places," a commission member said during the discussion.

Members noted completed listings on the local register and National Register successes as evidence of measurable progress. "We've registered the Police Building, Needle Hall, BGSU University Hall, and Wood County Courthouse And Old Jail," a member said, citing buildings completed in 2022. The commission also pointed to the North Maple Street district — approved in 2024 — as a recent success.

Commissioners and attendees discussed practical ways to advance remaining goals, including subdividing larger districts into smaller packages and recruiting resident "champions" to lead efforts for mini‑districts. "In other words, just like North Maple, but it's the same approach, but then look at where's the next kind of package of residences," one member said, arguing smaller, local initiatives could lower resistance and make projects more feasible.

Members debated how complete inventories should be. One commissioner suggested treating item 5 on the plan — completing an HPC inventory of Boomtown and Main Street areas — as an "abbreviated inventory" similar to the documentation compiled when the North Maple district was nominated. "So that'll be kinda maybe number 5 is completing this sort of the abbreviated inventory then of a district," a commissioner said.

The commission also discussed public outreach and publicity strategies tied to the plan, including the ongoing "building of the month" series and a proposed collected booklet of past features. A member noted planning ahead for the city's bicentennial celebrations, saying the commission should consider how preservation projects and publicity might feed into those plans.

Newly announced commission member Ryan Rothenbuehler, introduced at the meeting, said he preferred to "learn a little bit more before I start making any openings," signaling a cautious approach to immediate advocacy while he orients to the commission's work.

The commission agreed to keep the strategic plan on the agenda and to revisit proposed amendments and next steps in the fall.

The meeting also included routine administrative business and public‑relations planning tied to the strategic plan's outreach goals.