Owosso historic panel urges council to adopt vacant commercial building registration and inspection ordinance

The Owosso Historic District Commission voted unanimously May 20 to advance a resolution urging the Owosso City Council to adopt a vacant commercial building registration and inspection ordinance.

Commissioner Byrne moved to approve the resolution; Commissioner Ferweda seconded and the motion carried with all five members present voting in favor (Commissioner Powell was absent). The resolution asks the council to create a program the commission said would give the city stronger tools than those available under the International Property Maintenance Code to address neglected vacant commercial properties.

Commissioners cited several recent local losses and severe deteriorations — including the Exchange Street property, a historic hotel, and the Matthews Building — as examples the panel said a registration-and-inspection program might have helped prevent. The commission discussed limiting the program’s geographic scope to a defined area such as the Downtown Development Authority district or the Historic District and expressed particular interest in applying it to the Historic District.

During board comments, Commissioner Byrne called attention to ongoing maintenance issues at specific properties, saying bricks were falling from 103 N. Washington, the Puff Puff tobacco building’s façade needs restoration, and the Vibrissa awning was in tatters. Henne responded that the awning can be addressed through the city’s code enforcement process under the International Property Maintenance Code.

The commission approved the May 20 agenda and the March 18 minutes earlier in the meeting. No members of the public spoke during the public comment period. The commission scheduled its next meeting for June 17, 2026 and adjourned at 6:46 p.m.