If you live within one of the fifteen Historic or Conservation Districts in Marion County and plan on Renovating your home or property, there are a number of resources and requirements that you need to be aware of. This information may be of particular interest to homeowners in the Chatham Arch, Massachusetts Avenue and Irvington neighborhoods, as well as, those in Cumberland, Indiana. These areas have all either had new plans or revised plans adopted by the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission(IHPC) in the past two years. The IHPC is a State mandated Commission charged with preserving "the character and fabric of historically significant areas and structures for all present and future citizens of Marion County."
What does all this mean to you? It means that if you live in one of these areas and are planning a Renovation, the IHPC has design and zoning review jurisdiction over your property. The plans for your project will have to be presented to and reviewed and approved by the IHPC.
This all sounds complicated, what benefitdoes it bring to me? The process is definitely outside the realm of most homeowner's typical experience, but according to a study by the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, there are financial benefits to these Districts. Most notably, the perception that having to submit to such requirements may scare potential homeowners away from the Districts and drive property values down is soundly renounced. In fact, according to the study, homeownership in new Districts tends to stabilize and property values typically out pace similar adjacent neighborhoods.
Visit the IHPC website and the Historic District and Conservation Area Plans link at for more particulars and support the Historic District that your neighborhood falls within.
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