The Farmington Hills Historic District Commission issued on February 22, 2021 its annual report at the Farmington Hills city council meeting, which includes making repairs on the Spicer House and continuing cemetery preservations.
The Historic District Commission’s purpose is to preserve the history and heritage of Farmington Hills that consists of over 70 historic homes and sites since the commission was founded in 1982.
Angeline Lawrence, staff planner and liaison of the commission said during the meeting, “COVID-19 of course slowed down some of our tasks and initiatives.”
Utley and West Cemeteries
One project the HDC put a lot of work into this year was the preservation of the West and Utley cemeteries located on 12 Mile Road, which are owned and maintained by the city of Farmington Hills.
Valerie Knol, council member and liaison to the Historic District community, said cleaning headstones that are this old take a lot more time and care:
Last fall, HDC held a training with volunteers and a local Boys’ Scout Troop and cleaned 75 historic headstones. However, the training session was virtual due to COVID-19.
Chair of the Historic District Commission, Kenneth Klemmer, said, “There’s going to be some additional work in these cemeteries, both for cleaning, and we’re currently looking at vendors that can do some of the headstone resettings, and some of the more major repairs.”
Spicer House
The Spicer House, located in Heritage Park, is another HDC project that hasn’t been renovated since it was purchased in the late 1980s. Late last year a tree fell onto the property.
Knol said it’s much more than just a tree falling on the house.
“Luckily, it was minimal damage, but in addition to that there are other trees that are growing to the house that are just too close to the house,” said Knol. “They’re becoming problematic, they’re providing too much shade, dropping too many branches and leaves on the house clogging up the gutters, trees are wonderful, but you don’t want them too close to your house.”
Klemmer said, “It highlighted some of the concerns the HDC had about the building, and some deferred maintenance that was occurring and needs that the building has.”
In response to the needed maintenance, the HDC is preparing a scope of work and has consulted Michael Kirk who was the original preservation architect who worked on the project back when it was first purchased.
The HDC is also going to be working with Parks and Rec to get the job done.