Michigan Historic Preservation Network

It's here: Draft for Public Comment! Comments deadline: 5:00pm Friday, May 15.

Michigan’s next Statewide Historic Preservation Plan is coming together, and the draft is now available for public review.

This text-only draft of the Michigan Statewide Historic Preservation Plan for 2027-2034 is being provided for public comment as part of the SHPO’s public engagement process for the plan. This document is available on the SHPO’s website at http://www.mi.gov/mihpplan.

Comments will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 15, 2026, and can be made via the comment form linked on the webpage. While all comments are welcome, the team is particularly interested in feedback regarding the statewide goals and objectives for 2027-2034 and the accomplishments listed for 2020-2025.

We value your input and look forward to incorporating comments into the final version of the Plan, which will be published in December 2026.

The 2026 conference begins tomorrow! Today we wrap up our series on the 2026 MHPN Awards with our final Lifetime Achievement Award honoree.

2026 Lifetime Achievement Award — William A. Lovis, Williamston

William A. Lovis has spent his more than five-decade career uncovering and interpreting Michigan's rich archaeological record. As Professor Emeritus and former Curator of Anthropology at Michigan State University, his groundbreaking multidisciplinary research has reshaped our understanding of how early people lived and adapted to the shifting environment of the Great Lakes region.

Dr. Lovis has consistently championed the intersection of earth sciences and archaeology. His foundational work on site burial processes and the geoarchaeology of Lake Michigan’s coastal dunes has provided the critical framework needed to safeguard ancient human settlements. Beyond his academic achievements, he has been a leader in the ethical stewardship of Indigenous history, advocating for the return of cultural artifacts to their rightful communities through his dedicated work with NAGPRA.

The Michigan Historic Preservation Network proudly honors his enduring contributions, professional leadership, and lasting impact on the preservation of Michigan's deep past.

2026 Tax Credit Award — Red Arrow Lofts, Detroit

The building at 1567 Church Street in Corktown has been part of Detroit for nearly 130 years — first as a planing mill, then as home to the Red Arrow Bottling Company, and eventually as a self-storage warehouse. It came close to being demolished for a parking garage before community opposition changed the outcome.

The result is Red Arrow Lofts: 28 loft-style apartments that preserve the building's exposed timber framing, brick walls, wood floors, and distinctive rooftop monitors with clerestory windows. A former equipment bay is now a double-height resident lounge with a skybridge overhead.

Historic tax credits, brownfield incentives, and a state loan made it financially possible. Community advocacy made it happen.

Project Team:
Hunter Pasteur
The Forbes Company
Oxford Capital Group
Perennial Corktown
Kraemer Design Group
Premier Construction & Design
Daccord Chicago
Giffels Webster
Resurget Engineering
Peter Basso Associates, Inc

[As we prepare to gather in Metro Detroit for the MHPN Annual Conference, we’re publishing a series of posts highlighting our 2026 MHPN Awards Program honorees. The ceremony will be held Friday evening, May 8, at the Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores. Registration is now closed, but learn more about MHPN and the conference, visit the conference webpage at https://www.mhpn.org/conference/.]