Historic barn not eligible for relocation help after all

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A historic building along 116th Street isn’t likely to be moving after all.

Indiana Landmarks Community Preservation Specialist Joshua Biggs said a sign advertising a historic building was available for relocation on the Faith Apostolic Church property was placed there by mistake.

The sign, which directed anyone interested to savethisoldcarmelhouse.com or to call Biggs’ phone number, advertised the barn as “available for relocation” and claimed Indiana Landmarks will help move it to a new site. However, Biggs said Indiana Landmarks hasn’t set any funds aside to help with the project.

In 2013, a survey was conducted to catalog historic properties in the City of Carmel and Clay Township. The barn was not included in the 2013 survey, but it was included in an updated 2020 survey.

“In 2013, there was a survey done, and basically what that did is, that made a note of things the surveyors thought were of historic value in the township,” Biggs said. “There were approximately 540 or so properties that were included on that survey. The first survey was more of a representative snapshot, and not every single property of historic value was included.”

Biggs said the group wanted to compile a list that was more inclusive, so several properties that weren’t included in the 2013 survey were included in the 2020 update, including the barn on the church’s property at 1212 E. 116th St.

“I don’t know how old it is, around 100 years give or take,” Biggs said. “It’s a handsome little structure.”

A demolition delay ordinance was established in Carmel in 2017 that requires any properties proposing demolition of a historic structure to wait 60 days for the Carmel Historic Preservation Commission to consider solutions to save the properties.

“Unfortunately, this barn was not included in the 2013 survey, so it is not subject to a 60-day demolition delay,” Biggs said. “Because of that, the commission has not considered steps to preserve (the property) or considered funds to try to relocate the barn, so at this point, the applicant is free to proceed (with demolition).”

Biggs said it’s possible there was a misunderstanding since the barn was included in the 2020 survey, which was why the sign was placed on the property.

Biggs said he is not sure what the church plans to do once it demolishes the barn. The church did not respond to a request for comment as of press time.


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