HD-24-02

Graduate Hotel (210 E Kirkwood Ave.)

Staff Report: Bloomington Historic Preservation

Commission

Petitioners argue that the property at 615 N Lincoln St. qualifies for local designation
under the following highlighted criteria found in Ordinance 95-20 of the Municipal
Code (1) a

1) Historic:
a) Has significant character, interest, or value as part of the
development, heritage, or cultural characteristics of the city, state, or
nation; or is associated with a person who played a significant role in
local, state, or national history; or
b) Is the site of an historic event; or
c) Exemplifies the cultural, political, economic, social, or historic
heritage of the community.

2) Architectural:
a) Embodies distinguishing characteristics of an architectural or
engineering type; or
b) Is the work of a designer whose individual work has significantly
influenced the development of the community; or
c) Is the work of a designer of such prominence that such work gains its
value from the designer's reputation; or
d) Contains elements of design, detail, materials, or craftsmanship
which represent a significant innovation; or
e) Contains any architectural style, detail, or other element in danger of
being lost; or
f) Owing to its unique location or physical characteristics, represents an
established and familiar visual feature of the city; or
g) Exemplifies the built environment in an era of history characterized
by a distinctive architectural style

Case Background

The proposed district consists of one building on the lot legally recorded as 53-05-33-
310-229.000-005 at 210 E Kirkwood Ave. The building was completed in 2018, and is
characterized by its steel frame, brick and limestone veneer, and large plate glass
windows.

In October 2023, the Graduate Hotel applied for listing as a local Historic District. On
October 20 Historic Preservation Program Manager Gloria Colom Braña recommended
th
that the building was ineligible for listing on the grounds of its age which, in addition to
falling short of the National Register’s standard 50 year threshold, has not allowed for
time to evaluate the site’s significance according to Criteria for listing locally.
Additionally, Colom Braña considered the application overly reliant on the building’s
interior and memorabilia collection, which fall outside of the purview of local
designation. The nomination was subsequently withdrawn from the October 26 th

agenda.

On February 22, 2024 applicants representing the Graduate Hotel spoke with Historic
Preservation Program manager Noah Sandweiss and Corporation Counsel Margie Rice
about reapplying individually or as part of a larger district. Sandweiss agreed with
Colom Braña that the building was not individually eligible, but may qualify as a non-
contributing structure in a larger historic district with the assent of surrounding property
owners. It was made clear that the Graduate Hotel could apply, but their application may
not receive a positive recommendation from City staff.

On March 21 , Graduate representatives nominated the hotel individually as a Historic

st

District presenting the argument that Title 8 of the Bloomington Code of Ordinances
does not establish the same thresholds as the National Register program.

Historic surveys rating and designations:

The Graduate Hotel does not appear on the Indiana Historic Sites and Structures
Inventory, which last resurveyed Bloomington in 2014, three years before construction
on the hotel began. Prior to groundbreaking on the Graduate project, the space was
occupied by a parking lot and the non-contributing Monroe County State Bank building,
since bought and substantially altered by Old National Bank. The IHSSI survey is based
on criteria for eligibility in the National Register of Historic Places.

Historic, 1 (a), (c): exemplifies the cultural, political, economic, social, or historic
heritage of the community.

“The Graduate Bloomington has been meticulously curated to honor and showcase the
community's rich cultural heritage, such as: the Graduate's lobby with crossword-
themed floor tile to celebrate New York Times crossword editor and IU professor, Will
Shortz; a mural of the 1952-53 Indiana Hoosiers Men's Basketball team; a gallery wall
with over 60 pieces honoring Bloomington's rich history of art, music, and agriculture;
authentic wooden bleachers from local gymnasiums; custom basketball hoop
chandeliers; and carpet featuring the Indiana's state seal and flower. The Graduate's
café, Poindexter, is visible from Kirkwood and features an extensive collection of cookie
jars, paying homage to Grannie's Cookie Jars & Ice Cream in Metamora, Indiana. The
meeting rooms and guest rooms continue the celebration of the character, heritage,
culture, and historically significant figures from Bloomington and the State of Indiana,
including framed prints of Hoagy Carmichael's sheet music, Jane Pauley and Dr. Kinsey
cartoons, ‘Pink Houses’-themed throw blankets, headboards styled after the iconic
Hoosier cabinet, nightstands decorated with peonies, portraits of the Dalai Lama, and
Little 500 wallpaper and light fixtures. Consistent with the City's historic preservation
code, the Graduate's exterior features Indiana limestone and styling that complement
and fit with the buildings along Kirkwood, the Courthouse Square, and the university.”

Staff Recommendation: Does not meet criteria for historic designation. Do not forward
application to Common Council.

Staff does not recommend that property parcel 53-05-33-310-229.000-005 (210 E

Kirkwood Ave) be designated as a local historic district. After careful consideration of
the application and review of the Historic District Criteria as found in Ordinance 95-20 of
the Municipal Code, staff finds that the property does not meet the criteria listed in the
code.

The completed nomination form submitted by the petitioner in March 2024 argues the
case that “Although the building is not 50 years old, neither Title 8 of the City's Code nor
Indiana historic preservation laws require as much. To the contrary, the purpose of the
City's historic preservation code includes ‘the maintenance and insurance of
compatibility in regards to style, form, proportion, texture, and material between historic
buildings and those of contemporary design.’ Further, placing more contemporary
buildings within a historic district ensures that maintenance and any future changes of
such buildings will be governed by the historic preservation standards.”

Most multi-property Historic Districts within the City of Bloomington include non-
contributing buildings; however, there are no single-property districts which include a
non-contributing building. Districts nominated by the Historic Preservation Commission
must be based on the Indiana Historic Sites and Structures Survey, which is conducted
by the Indiana State Historic Preservation Office with periodic participation of Certified
Local Governments based on criteria for eligibility in the National Register of Historic
Places.

Owners of property wishing to establish a historic district which includes their property
may petition the Commission to consider drawing and submitting a map of such a
district to the Common Council for its approval. The Commission may establish in its
rules criteria to be met before it considers a petition. While the criteria described in
Chapter 8.08 in the Code of Ordinances differ from National Register criteria, it has
never been the understanding of the Commission that they supersede national
standards, which establish a higher threshold for properties less than fifty years old that
“can be evaluated only when sufficient historical perspective exists to determine that
the property is exceptionally important.” Historic preservation staff hired by Certified
Local Governments in the State of Indiana must also meet and be familiar with federal
historic preservation standards.
My recommendation against nominating the Graduate Hotel as a local Historic District
is not an aesthetic judgment. It is commendable that Graduate pays homage to
Bloomington’s history with its collections, interior design, and choice of materials which
were topics of conversation during the project’s planning phase. The petitioners’
reasons for nominating the District are likewise not a topic for consideration, and
property owners are encouraged to nominate places that they believe meet Criteria for
listing. Based on my interpretation of Federal and local Criteria however, I do not find
this site eligible for listing.