Heritage Preservation Commission

Staff Liaison: Steve Kohn, 651-385-3622, E-mail: steve.kohn@ci.red-wing.mn.us
Council Liaison: Dan Bender; 651-385-7521,  E-mail: dbender@charter.net

The Heritage Preservation Commission is a seven-member commission that makes recommendations to the City Council on matters pertaining to the historic aspects within the City of Red Wing. Interests include, but are not limited to; buildings, lands, archaeological sites, areas or districts to be designated and/or described for Heritage Preservation. The Commission protects designated buildings or districts from alteration or destruction through permit review. These “Design Reviews” are based on guidelines and criteria established in the City of Red Wing’s Heritage Preservation Ordinance.

The Heritage Preservation Commission also works to educate the public by creating a greater awareness of the vast architectural and culturally significant sites that are part of Red Wing’s heritage. Finally, the Commission encourages the rehabilitation and renovation of historic buildings and works with property owners to develop appropriate plans for proposed projects.

The Heritage Preservation Commission meets at 5:30 PM the first Wednesday of every month in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 315 W. 4th Street, Red Wing, MN 55066.

Current Heritage Preservation Commission Members and term expiration dates:

  • Chairperson Doug Fryer, 12/2011
  • Vice Chair Gary Stone, 12/2012
  • Nancy Kafka, 12/2013
  • Lisbeth Butler, 12/2013
  • Dave Hallstrom, 12/2011
  • Bernadette Gavin, 12/2013
  • Don Olson, 12/2012

Heritage Preservation Commission establishment and composition requirements listed in Chapter 2 of the Red Wing City Code, sections 2.30 and 2.37. See also Chapter 16, Heritage Preservation or the Design Review Application.

Click here to view meeting minutes and agendas.

PROPOSED NEW HISTORIC DISTRICT - SOUTH END RESIDENTIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT
The Red Wing Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) conducted an intensive historic properties survey in the south end of Red Wing in 2008/2009. The resulting South End Historic Properties Survey Report (2009) made several recommendations regarding the preservation and designation of historic assets located within the survey boundaries. For the past two years, the Red Wing HPC has been working toward the implementation of the Survey Report's recommendation for the creation of a historic district in the East Avenue area from roughly W. 6th Street to 13th Street.
On December 7, 2011, the Red Wing HPC unanimously approved a motion to recommend the creation of Heritage Preservation District Number 4: The South End Residential Historic District. Per Chapter 16: Heritage Preservation of the City Code, the HPC's proposal must be forwarded to the Minnesota Historical Society (State Historic Preservation Office) and the Red Wing Planning Commission for review and comment prior to holding a public hearing on the proposal and forwarding the recommendation to the City Council for formal action. The HPC may make revisions to the recommendation after receiving comments from the Minnesota Historical Society, the Planning Commission, and/or the public hearing. On December 20, 2011 the Red Wing Planning Commission found the proposal to be consistent with the City of Red Wing Comprehensive Plan and the Red Wing Zoning Ordinance and unanimously adopted a motion to recommend approval of the new historic district. At this time the State Historic Preservation Office has not submitted its comments; once the comments are received, the HPC will review and make revisions to the proposal, if necessary, before scheduling a public hearing. Link here for more information; link here to view a map of the area.


Current Preservation Projects

Heritage Preservation Publications and Links

South End Survey Report and Maps

Other Links:

The City of Kalamazoo, Michigan, and the Michigan Historic Preservation Network (MHPN) received Certified Local Government (CLG) grants to train contractors and homeowners in the rehabilitation of wood windows. An instructional video was made at that time; the video has been posted in five parts on YouTube.