The commission has been conducting research to identify and qualify the historical status of property within the City of Rochester. In accordance with the directive of the City Council, the Commission has focused on facilitating voluntary preservation of historical properties.

The Historical District Study Committee (HDSC) was organized by the City Council in September 2000 to research the need for establishing a Historic District under the Local Historic District Act of Michigan, and in accordance with Federal Department of Interior Guidelines for Historic Preservation.

The HDSC is responsible for:

• Conducting a photographic inventory of resources within a proposed historic district following procedures established or approved by the State Historic Preservation Office
• Conducting basic research of the proposed historic district and the historic resources within the district
• Preparing a preliminary Historic District Study Committee report to be presented to the City Council