Title
Resolution to Establish the Robert Hayden House Historic District Study Committee
Memorandum
This resolution establishes a historic district study committee to make a report and recommendation to the City Council whether to establish a single-resource local historic district consisting of the Robert Hayden House at 1201 Gardner Avenue.
Background
Robert Hayden was born in Detroit in 1913, attended Detroit City College and the University of Michigan. After finishing his degree in 1942, Hayden taught at UofM for several years and was the first Black faculty member in Michigan's English department. Hayden taught at Fisk University for over 20 years, but he and his family returned to Ann Arbor, to 1201 Gardner Avenue, in 1969, where he taught at UofM until his death in 1980.
Hayden wrote some of the most powerful Black history poems in the English language. In 1976 Hayden was offered and accepted the position of Poetry Consultant to the Library of Congress (later called the Poet Laureate) - the first Black American to hold this position. He accepted and was reappointed in 1978.
Historic District Study Committee Process
The committee is expected to meet up to three times before distributing a study committee report to the Historic District Commission, City Planning Commission, State Historic Preservation Office and others for review and comment. No less than 60 days later, the Committee will hold a public hearing and submit a final report to City Council for consideration.
Recommendations
Staff requests that City Council establish the Robert Hayden House Study Committee.
Staff
Prepared by: Jill Thacher, City Planner/Historic Preservation Coordinator
Reviewed by: Brett Lenart, Planning Manager
Derek Delacourt, Community Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Tom Crawford, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, According to the Michigan Local Historic Districts Act and City Code, Chapter 103, Section 8:408, the City must receive a report from a histor...
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