Historic and Architectural Preservation Commission (HAPC)

Oxford has three historic districts — the Uptown Historic District, the University Historic District, and the Western College Historic District — administered by the Community Development Department and the Historic & Architectural Preservation Commission.

The Historic and Architectural Preservation Commission (HAPC) was created in order to protect and enhance structures, sites, and areas that are reminders of past eras, events, and persons important in local, state, or national history. This basic mission is more fully developed in Chapter 1152 of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Oxford.

The HAPC consists of seven members. One member is a representative of the Planning Commission, and one member is a representative of City Council. Other members appointed by City Council are selected to serve based on eligibility and specific training and experience. The HAPC oversees the City's historic and architectural preservation code, providing information and education on historic preservation in the city, recommending the designation of districts and sites within the city, and reviewing plans for building modifications within the designated historic districts.

Meets: Meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.

Meeting Location: Courthouse 118 W High Street, Oxford, OH 45056

City Staff Person: Community Development Director, Sam Perry

Established: 1979

Residency Requirement: Members are not required to be residents; see eligibility requirements, as noted in the HAPC Rules of Procedure. 

Members

Contact the Historic and Architecture Preservation Commission

Title	Name	Term Ends
Chair	Dana Miller	June 2027
Vice-Chair	Brad Spurlock	June 2026
Member (Architectural/Historian)	Kelsey Stryffe	June 2028
Member	Sean Wagner	June 2027
Member	Alia Levar Wegner	June 2028
Council Representative	Alex French	November 30, 2026
Planning Commission Representative	Corey Watt	December 2026

Navigate The HAPC Page

• Design Guidelines
• Certificate of Appropriateness Information
• Historic Marker Program
• References and Materials
• Annual Summaries
• 2018-2019 Code Update

Design Guidelines

Important: Any applicant, business owner, and land owner in any of the City’s historic districts should consult the appropriate guideline(s) prior to initiating a project or submitting an application to the HAPC. Each project will be judged, at least in part, against the guidelines contained here. Obviously, the HAPC cannot anticipate every application or situation within the context of these guidelines. Thus, the HAPC will judge each proposal on its own merit. The guidelines represent a common framework from which to begin evaluating individual applications.

Historic Marker Program

On March 17, 2009, City Council approved Resolution #4425 accepting the Historic and Architectural Preservation Commission (HAPC) recommendations to establish a Historic Marker Program.

The HAPC and City Council want to encourage owners to show their pride in Oxford’s history and cultural heritage. The Historic Marker Program is a way for owners of historic properties to promote interest by displaying Historic Markers on their buildings. The program also recognizes outstanding restoration projects by owners of historic properties.

Tier One Markers

Tier One Markers will be awarded annually as a Preservation Award for restoration projects completed within the previous calendar year. Markers can also be awarded retroactively for nominations of exceptional preservation efforts in the past, or for intact and well maintained architecturally significant structures that contribute positively to the historic fabric of the city.

Tier Two Markers

Tier Two Markers will be awarded annually as a Historic Plaque for a significant historic structure or historic site. Historic Plaques are purchased through the HAPC by the owner or applicant; installation is included in the purchase price.

For more information about this program including the project categories eligible for awards, the nomination and application forms, and the property owners responsibility and commitment, click on the PDF documents below or contact the Community Development Department at (513) 524-5204.

Books

• History of Oxford 1830-1930. Ralph McGinnis
• Changes in Oxford. Herbert Bradley

Preservation Briefs

Preservation Briefs are produced by the National Park Service U.S. Department of Interior and provide guidance on preserving, rehabilitating and restoring historic buildings. Please note that the web versions of the Preservation Briefs differ somewhat from the printed versions. Many illustrations are new, captions are simplified, illustrations are typically in color rather than black and white, and some complex charts have been omitted. Versions of these Briefs are also available in the Community Development Department.

Preservation Tech Notes: Case Studies in Historic Preservation

The Preservation Tech Notes provide practical information on traditional practices and innovative techniques for successfully maintaining and preserving cultural resources. Please note that the web versions of the Preservation Tech Notes differ somewhat from the printed versions.

Other Historical Book References

Many of these are available at the Smith Library of Regional History (Lane Public Libraries) at 441 South Locust Street.

• 150 Year History of Oxford Government 1830-1980 by Avis Cullen, 1984.
• The Commercial Structures of Oxford, Ohio: A Study of Functional Change by Susan Walther, 1969. (Thesis)
• Highlights of Historical Oxford: A Guide to Points of Interest by Kathryn Hill, ca. 1965.
• Highlights of History Oxford: Tour of Points of Interest with Map Guide by Kathryn Hill and Katharine Stephenson, 1969.
• The History of Oxford College for Women 1830-1928 by Olive Flower, 1949.
• The History of Oxford, Ohio from the Earliest Days to the Present by Ralph McGinnis, 1930.
• Memoirs of the Miami Valley, Volume III, 1919.
• The Miami Years 1809-1959 by Walter Havighurst, 1958; revised 1969 and 1984.
• Minutes of Our Years by Charles Williams, 1982.
• The Negro in Oxford, Ohio by John Milholland, 1947. (Thesis)
• Old Oxford Days by Carl Greer, 1947.
• Old Oxford Houses and the People Who Lived in Them by Ophia Smith, 1941; revised 1975.
• Oxford, Ohio: An Ideal Place to Live, Work, Play, and Enjoy by Robert Myers, 1982.
• Oxford Town on Tallawanda: The Village on the Hill by Gordon Crecraft, 1923.
• Preserving Oxford’s Heritage: A Survey of Local Buildings and the People Associated with Them by Christopher Sauer, 1992.
• “Design Guidelines as Controls on Development: The Politics of Implementation in a Small Ohio Town” by Gerardo Brown-Manrique in Small Town, May-June 1991, pp. 4-11.
• The Urban Expansion of Oxford, Ohio, 1950-1966 by Dennis Enberg, 1966. (Thesis)
• Western College for Women 1853-1953 by Narka Nelson, 1953; revised 1967.

2018/2019 Code Update

On March 20, 2018, Oxford City Council adopted a new building/site inventory of the Uptown Historic District. This was step one of three that was decided between the HAPC and City Council on January 20, 2015. Step two was to update the Codified Ordinance that implements the goals of the City Council and HAPC. Step three is to update the Design Guidelines. In order to complete step two the City was assisted by Compass Point Planning / Wendy Moeller, FAICP.

With the completion of the code revisions, HAPC reached out to all historic district owners and operators that could be affected. The feedback was compiled for HAPC and Planning Commission review. A brief summary of the changes is included below. 

• Moved the entire Chapter (previously 1331) to new Ch. 1152, in Planning and Zoning
• Updated definitions to reflect terminology of 2018 Uptown Historic District Inventory
• Clarified procedures for all applications, districts and designations
• Added language to encourage historic building maintenance
• Added process for inspector to provide assessment of a building requested for demolition

Documents

Ordinance 3530 — Chapter 1152 — Historic and Architectural Preservation - adopted on June 4, 2019