Heritage Hill Association
Neighborhood association · Grand Rapids, Michigan · Founded 1968
Founders first met in early 1968; the first general meeting was held on 24 June 1968 and the association was incorporated on 9 November 1968.
Heritage Hill Association is the neighborhood association for the Heritage Hill area of Grand Rapids. This page covers the organisation — what it runs, the area it serves, and how to reach it. For prices, schools and walk times, see the Heritage Hill neighborhood page.
Contact
- www.heritagehillweb.org
- heritage@heritagehillweb.org
- 616-459-8950
- 126 College Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Nonprofit status
501(c)(3) nonprofit, recognised by the IRS in 1988.
- Registered as
- HERITAGE HILL ASSOCIATION INC
- EIN
- 38-2388674
- Reported revenue
- $176,382
Source: IRS Exempt Organizations data, checked August 5, 2026.
Historic district and design review
The Heritage Hill Historic District lies within this association’s boundary.
Heritage Hill Historic District
- Designated a City of Grand Rapids local historic district in 1973.
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 11, 1971 (reference 71000399).
- Ord. 73-25, adopted 24 April 1973 (Code of Ordinances ch. 68, sec. 5.411)
What this means if you own a building here
In a Grand Rapids local historic district, a Certificate of Appropriateness must be obtained from the Historic Preservation Commission or its staff before any exterior alteration, repair, rehabilitation, restoration, relocation, new construction or demolition, and before any interior work that changes the exterior. That applies whether or not a building is a contributing historic resource, and the certificate must be issued before the city will issue a building permit.
Applications go to the Planning Department. Minor classes of work — in-kind repairs, storm doors and windows, fencing, reroofing — can be approved by preservation staff, typically within a day or two. More complex projects such as new construction, demolition and alterations go to the Commission, which meets monthly. A certificate is valid for twelve months once issued.
Summarised from the City of Grand Rapids Historic Preservation Guidelines. Confirm the current requirements with the Historic Preservation Commission before starting work.
About
Association for the Heritage Hill historic district, one of the largest urban historic districts in the U.S.
About the area it serves
In the late 1960s, the city drew up plans that would have leveled roughly three-quarters of this district for downtown renewal. About 125 neighbors organized instead — and in 1968 they formed the Heritage Hill Association, then pushed Michigan to pass the enabling law that let cities protect historic neighborhoods at all. The bulldozers never came. That fight is why the district exists today.
The Association still runs the place's civic life from its office on State Street. Its best-known effort is the Weekend Tour of Homes, held the first weekend of October since 1969 and now past its 58th year — the group's largest fundraiser, and the one weekend the public gets inside these private houses. Anyone who lives within the district boundaries is automatically a member.
The district itself was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and ranks among the largest urban historic districts in the country: about 1,300 buildings across roughly a square mile, representing more than fifty American architectural styles from Greek Revival to Prairie. Landmarks anchor it — Frank Lloyd Wright's 1908 Meyer May House, restored by Steelcase and open for free tours; the 1895 Voigt House; Fountain Street Church; the Beaux-Arts former Central High School.
One practical note for owners: because this is a local historic district, exterior changes need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the city's Historic Preservation Commission, reviewed against federal rehabilitation standards. The district runs Crescent to Pleasant, Union to Lafayette.
Meetings and membership
Meetings
The board meets at 7pm on the third Wednesday of each month in the Community Education Conference Room at Trinity Health, 200 Jefferson Ave SE. All neighbors are welcome and there is a three-minute public comment period. Agenda items must reach the office by 4pm on the second Tuesday.
Membership
Free for residents — everyone living in Heritage Hill is automatically a member, though the association runs an annual pledge drive. Non-resident membership costs $20 individual, $25 family, $35 commercial or $100 contributing, per year.
What the association runs
Heritage Hill Tour of HomesA weekend in mid-May
A ticketed, self-paced tour of around a dozen historic sites, and the association's largest fundraiser. The 58th tour runs in 2026.
Heritage Hill Garden TourJune
An annual showcase of the gardens and exteriors of roughly a dozen Heritage Hill properties.
Heritage Hill Happy HourFirst Wednesday of each month
A standing neighbors' meetup at The Commons.
National Night OutEarly August
The neighborhood's National Night Out gathering in Pleasant Park.
Dumpster DayOctober
A bulk-item disposal morning in the Grand Rapids Community College lot off Prospect NE.
Who runs it
- Kimberly Lucas — President
- Jeremy Czubko — Vice President
- Cathy Bosscher — Treasurer
- Katie Heneveld — Secretary
Officers as published by the association. Boards turn over — check the association’s own site for the current roster.
Official links
Frequently asked about Heritage Hill Association
- What area does Heritage Hill Association cover?
- Heritage Hill Association is the neighborhood association for the Heritage Hill area of Grand Rapids.
- How do I contact Heritage Hill Association?
- You can reach Heritage Hill Association via its website at www.heritagehillweb.org, email at heritage@heritagehillweb.org and phone on 616-459-8950. Its mailing address is 126 College Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.
- Is Heritage Hill a historic district?
- The City of Grand Rapids local historic district lies within this association's boundary: Heritage Hill Historic District. Owners of property in a local historic district need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission before exterior alterations, new construction or demolition.
- Is Heritage Hill Association a registered nonprofit?
- Yes. IRS records list it as a 501(c)(3) organisation under the name HERITAGE HILL ASSOCIATION INC, EIN 38-2388674, recognised in 1988.
- Do I have to pay to join Heritage Hill Association?
- Free for residents — everyone living in Heritage Hill is automatically a member, though the association runs an annual pledge drive. Non-resident membership costs $20 individual, $25 family, $35 commercial or $100 contributing, per year.
- When does Heritage Hill Association meet?
- The board meets at 7pm on the third Wednesday of each month in the Community Education Conference Room at Trinity Health, 200 Jefferson Ave SE. All neighbors are welcome and there is a three-minute public comment period. Agenda items must reach the office by 4pm on the second Tuesday.
- Who runs Heritage Hill Association?
- Kimberly Lucas (President), Jeremy Czubko (Vice President), Cathy Bosscher (Treasurer) and Katie Heneveld (Secretary), as published by the association.
Buying or selling in this area? See the Heritage Hill neighborhood page for current listings and market data.