Nominations will be accepted through April 3

The Kalamazoo Historic Preservation Commission (KHPC) is accepting nominations for the 2024 Historic Preservation Awards of Merit. These awards will honor individuals and institutions who are dedicated to preserving historic buildings in the City of Kalamazoo.

The awards are open to the public and include the following categories:

• Individuals or Institutions whose day-to-day, general preservation activities merit significant recognition OR who, as stewards of a historic property, have demonstrated excellence in ongoing preservation by the use of timely maintenance and repair. 
  
• Residential Property Projects that demonstrate outstanding exterior restoration or rehabilitation work or new sympathetic infill construction. 
  
• Commercial/Institutional/Government Property Projects that demonstrate outstanding exterior restoration or rehabilitation work or new sympathetic infill construction. 
  
• Mixed-use (commercial and Residential or others) Property Projects that demonstrate outstanding exterior restoration or rehabilitation work or new sympathetic infill construction. 
  
• Infill or New Construction Projects that complement the historic character of the surrounding buildings. 
  
• Interior Rehabilitation Projects that demonstrate outstanding interior restoration or rehabilitation work. Nominations in this category must have the owner’s permission and the nominator must be able to facilitate a viewing by the judges. “Before” photos are especially important in this category. 
  
• Innovative Solutions Award that recognizes an outstanding and creative example of adaptive reuse, incorporating sensitive and creative solutions to issues of sustainability, and integration of accessibility improvements. 
  
• Archaeology Award that is open to individuals, institutions, or organizations who merit recognition for their contributions to the preservation of Kalamazoo’s archaeological heritage. 

To be eligible for the nomination, projects must be located in the City of Kalamazoo and have been completed within the past five years. The work should have been substantially completed by March 15, 2024. The commission is especially seeking projects outside the currently designated historic districts.

The Kalamazoo Historic Preservation Commission will host a ceremony during National Preservation Month in May to announce the winners of the awards.

The public is invited to submit nominations online, and can do so at www.kalamazoocity.org/hpcawards. Nominations will be accepted through April 3.