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Sunday, March 22, 2009
Ind. Gov't. - "Historic districts fading away?"
Bill Donlan has this long story today in the NWI Times. Some quotes:
Wrecking crews pulled down a century-old Crown Point home recently while preservation advocates raised debate about whether Northwest Indiana's historic districts should extend protection to larger areas.It's a debate raging across the region as development and homeowner concerns force battles over the cost or benefit of saving properties perceived by some to be historic.
The recent battle is taking shape in Crown Point, a city that has created three historic districts and is contemplating a fourth.
"We tried to create another district on Court Street, but people in that area just said no," said Jim Kendall, a member of the city's historic preservation committee.
"Now that it's torn down, people might start rethinking that question," said Kendall, referring to the Court Street home that was demolished March 12.
The demolition of the vintage home just south of the city's fashionable Ruffle Shirt Hill neighborhood has some preservationists calling for the city to provide greater protection of its historical heritage.
The demolition came only days after the Valparaiso City Council dismantled the Banta Neighborhood Historic District, and a dozen years after Hammond abolished its Harrison Park Historic District.
At least 60 Banta residents complained the district prevented them from replacing doors or windows within their budgets.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 22, 2009 08:23 AM
Posted to Indiana Government