Renovating Your Historic Home
CITY REQUIREMENTS
City ordinances protect many of the historic homes and other buildings in the HWTN from inappropriate changes and destruction. These protections benefit us all. As a result, each of us in a local historic district is required to obtain advance approvals from the Milwaukee Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) for any exterior work on our properties. More information on the process can be obtained here. City staff is dedicated to working with residents like us, and they’re also very knowledgeable and dedicated to preserving our neighborhood.
For more information, please contact HPC staff:
Carlen Hatala, carlen.hatala@milwaukee.gov, (414) 286-5722
HOW TO RESTORE YOUR HISTORIC HOME
The City of Milwaukee Publication’s Department offers free, spiral-bound copies of excellent restoration guides, written and published by city staff, are available to homeowners in historic districts by contacting Carlen Hatala or Paul Jakubovic (see above contact information). Preservation Guidebooks & Regulations available include:
- Living with History: A Guide to the Preservation Standards for Historically Designated Houses in Milwaukee
- As Good As New: A Guide for Rehabilitating the Exterior of Your Older House
- Good for Business: A Guide to Rehabilitating the Exteriors of Older Commercial Buildings
- Brochure: City Requirements for Your Historic Property
Join the Historic Water Tower Neighborhood Association
HWTN is one of the city’s oldest existing neighborhood organizations and includes the largest group of historic homes in Wisconsin. We work to support historic preservation and neighborhood improvement in our area. . Our neighborhood has been rated as one of the most walkable in Milwaukee.