Historic Preservation in Indianapolis: Government Programs Presentation to Chapters of The Daughters of the American Revolution November 14, 2009 Indianapolis

Historic Preservation in Indianapolis:

Government Programs

Presentation to Chapters of The Daughters of the American Revolution

November 14, 2009Indianapolis

By Dr. James A. Glass, Director Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology

Indiana Department of Natural Resources

I. Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission

• Established by state law 1967 and 1975• Originally intended to help create tourist

attraction in Lockerbie Square• 1973—Supreme Court Justice Roger DeBruler

and wife build new house on Vermont Street• Commission approves restoration of historic

houses by “urban pioneers” in Lockerbie, 1974-1980

Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission

• Commission hires professional staff—1975• First four historic areas designated by

Commission through preservation plans:


Lockerbie Square Historic Area, East Side of Downtown, 1978


Old Northside Historic Area, Immediately North of Downtown, 1979


Fletcher Place Historic Area, Southeast of Downtown, 1980


Chatham Arch Historic Area, Northeast Section, Downtown, 1982

I. Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission

• Commission now administers 13 historic areas in Indianapolis-Marion County, including since 1982:


Wholesale District Historic Area, South Side of Downtown


Herron-Morton Place Historic Area, North of Downtown


Fountain Square Historic Area, Southeast of Downtown


Lockefield Garden Apartments Historic Area, Northwest Section, Downtown


Irvington Historic Area, Eastside


* Historic landmarks designated by Commission:


Union Station Historic Landmark, Downtown


Circle Theater Historic Landmark, Monument Circle


Hannah House Historic Landmark, Madison Avenue, Southside


• Commission also designates Conservation Districts (fewer aspects require approval)

• Examples:


Ransom Place Conservation District, Northwest Section, Downtown


New Augusta Conservation District, Pike Township


• Powers of Commission:Design review—Historic Areas:


Review of Exterior Alterations: House on Lockerbie Street, 1978


Additions: Cottage on Park Avenue in Lockerbie Square.


New Construction: East Street in Lockerbie Square, 1983

II. Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, Indiana Department of Natural

Resources• Carries out National Historic Preservation Act

of 1966 in Indiana• Carries out Indiana Historic Preservation and

Archaeology Act of 1982

Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology

• History* National Historic Preservation Act created a federal-state program to encourage preservation of historic places throughout the United States* State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPOs) appointed in each state to carry out programs* Indiana’s first professional staff hired in 1973


* Director of Indiana Department of Natural Resources serves as State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) for Indiana* Division created in Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in 1982 to serve as staff to SHPO


• Programs under National Historic Preservation Act:* Conduct surveys to identify historic properties and important archaeological sites* List historic places (buildings, structures, objects, sites, and districts) in National Register of Historic Places* Conduct federal grant program for historic preservation and archaeology

Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology* Grants Program (cont.)

* for restoration of buildings listed in National Register owned by local

governments or non-profits* for conducting surveys of

historic properties, listing historic districts in Register, preparing studies of feasibility of preservation, heritage education projects


* Grants Program (cont.)* Archaeology grants to study

archaeological sites and nominate to National Register

* Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits* Federal (historic commercial

buildings)* State (homes lived in by

owners)

Indiana Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology

Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits: Indianapolis Glove Co. (left), Sears Roebuck & Co. (right)


• Section 106 Reviews* All federal agencies must take into account effect of all federally funded or permitted projects on historic properties and afford the SHPO in each state and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in Washington an opportunity to comment


* Examples of Indianapolis projects reviewed, with significant modifications to lessen adverse effects:


Section 106 Reviews of Federally funded Projects(Circle Centre Mall)


Section 106 Review of Federally Funded Projects(L.S. Ayres & Co. interior)


• Examples of Individual Properties and Districts in Indianapolis-Marion County that Could Be Nominated to the National Register of Historic Places:


Possible Nominations to National Register: Tabernacle Presbyterian Church

Possible Nominations to National Register: Former Third Church of Christ, Scientist (now Phillips Temple C.M.E. Church)



Possible Nominations to National Register: Indianapolis Public Library Branch # 3


Possible nominations to National Register: Sutherland Avenue Historic District


Possible nominations for National Register: Shearer’s Pleasant Run Historic District (north of Irvington)


Possible nominations to National Register: Watson Road Historic District


Possible nominations to National Register: Justus Addition Historic District, north of Irvington


• Process for Nomination:* Most nominations (applications) prepared by qualified professionals hired by owners or non-profit organization such as Historic Landmarks Foundation* Nominations in draft form are reviewed by Division staff for technical requirements

and substantive content

Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology* Nominator makes revisions* Division puts nomination on agenda of

Indiana Historic Preservation Review Board

* Review Board reviews nomination and votes at quarterly meeting to

nominate it* Nomination goes to National Park Service

for final review and listing.


Benefits of Listing in National Register:• Official recognition of value of historic feature/district to

heritage of Indianapolis• Qualifies owner if local government or non-profit organization

for restoration grants through Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology

• Qualifies owner if for-profit enterprise for federal historic rehabilitation tax credits

• Qualifies owner if homeowner for state historic homeowner rehabilitation tax credit

• Increases tourism potential for listed property if owned by non-profit or for-profit entity.


For more information on the National Register, please contact Frank Hurdis, Assistant Director for Preservation Services, [email protected] or 317-232-3494.

mailto:[email protected]

Documents

Historic Preservation in Indianapolis: Government Programs Presentation to Chapters of The Daughters of the American Revolution November 14, 2009 Indianapolis