Just because a building or district is old doesn't mean it should be saved. To be considered for designation, a building or district must represent and reflect elements of the city's culture, social, economic, religious, political, architectural, or aesthetic heritage. More than 500 buildings have been designated for heritage preservation in the City of Minneapolis. These include churches, workers' cottages, bridges, warehouses, and commercial blocks. Nine districts have also been locally designated for heritage preservation.
Designation is a form of protection for significant buildings and districts.
However, designation does not mean freezing a building in time. In 1990, the HPC began drafting a plan for future preservation efforts in Minneapolis. Other future projects include on-going research and designation of eligible sites and districts as local landmarks, public education and community outreach programs, and the integration of historic preservation with city planning and development activities. The staff and the commissioners are happy to answer any questions you may have about historic preservation. Lists of locally and nationally designated buildings are available upon request.