The Carmel City Council tabled a proposal Jan. 7 to add three buildings to the city’s list of historic properties to ensure that homeowners are notified of the possibility before it happens.
Originally created in 2014, the Carmel/Clay Township Historic Properties Survey identifies 536 buildings in Carmel as historic, meaning that they are at least 50 years old and architecturally significant in some way.
Last fall, the Carmel Historic Preservation Commission identified three buildings to add to the survey that were not previously included. Buildings identified as historic are subject to a 60-day demolition delay to give the CHPC time to see if the structure can be relocated or another solution found.
Councilors tabled a decision on updating the survey when they discovered that the property owners had not been notified of the potential change.
“I don’t want to approve this without homeowners being able to come here and have a say,” Councilor Sue Finkam said. “Not that I’m not in support of the criteria, but it feels like we’re doing it behind their back, and I don’t want to see that happen.”
CHPC staff member Sam Burgess noted that the only effect of being added to the survey is the demolition delay, and that all property owners of historic structures are contacted by the CHPC twice each year to be notified of eligibility of façade grants.
Burgess said Jan. 23 the CHPC could look at amending its rules of procedure to ensure property owners are notified when a building is proposed to be added to the survey.
View the survey results at ruskinarc.com/city-of-carmel/carmel.
PROPOSED ADDITIONS
The buildings proposed to be added to the Carmel/Clay Township Historic Properties Survey are:
- Woodland Springs Clubhouse, 3535 E. 116th St. Designed by Avriel Shull, the 50-year-old building was initially not included in the survey because it was believed the east side of the building was an addition, but further research showed it was original.
- 10825 Cornell Ave. Constructed in 1915, the home was one of the first pre-fabricated homes built in Carmel. It arrived in town by rail and was constructed within 24 hours.
- 540 1st Ave. SE. Built in 1925, the CHPC believes the home may be even older and was updated with a craftsman flair.
