The mission of the Raleigh Historic Development Commission is to identify, preserve, protect, and promote Raleigh’s historic resources.
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Certificate of Appropriateness (COA)
Next COA Deadline:
4:00 pm on May 18
Grosvenor Gardens Apartments

Owner-developer Sidney J. Wollman built this three-story brick Georgian Revival gable-roofed apartment complex. The building features three- and five-bay symmetric blocks with two-story openings filled with glass block that naturally illuminate the stairwells. All of the original entrances have six-panel doors and the gable roof retains the original Spanish terra cotta tiles. Wollman hired a landscape architect and invested $10,000 on the selection and siting of plants in a massive year-round courtyard garden. The elegant Georgian styling and the lush green landscape continue to provide Raleigh with the best articulated example of the garden apartment concept. It has remained in the private ownership of the Wollman family and still functions as apartments. Private residences.
*National Register of Historic Places
Raleigh Historic Landmarks (RHLs)
A joint public hearing before the Raleigh City Council and the Raleigh Historic Development Commission is being held for May 1 to discuss the designation of the G. Dewey and Elma Arndt House as a historic landmark.
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Historic Overlay Districts (HODs)
The city’s first new HOD in 20 years takes effect May 1.
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National Register of Historic Places
In 2011, four RHDC sponsored Historic Districts were listed in the National Register: Longview Gardens, Rochester Heights, Battery Heights, and Hi-Mount.
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Certificates of Appropriateness (COAs)
After a year-long public effort of updating the Design Guidelines, the draft document is in the hands of the City Attorney prior to going to the RHDC and City Council for formal adoption.
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