What is it? Who does it? Why is it important?

October 26, 2010

Lafayette, IN
Historic Preservation
What is preservation, why is it important, who does it
and how does it enhance Lafayette?
Preservation IS:
Keeping buildings in active use
Protecting Key Architectural Features
Accommodating and Guiding Change
Preservation IS NOT:
Freezing a district in time
Presenting a false history
Preventing change
Historic Preservation
Q: Why is it important?

A: It provides us with a unique identity & sense of place.

Historic Preservation
Environmentally…
Extends the life of scarce resources
 Timber, plaster, bricks
Energy Efficiency (Embodied Energy)
 Steel, vinyl, aluminum, coal, gas, etc.
A Bad Equation:
 One Ton of Garbage/Person/Year with 25% Construction Waste.
60,000 people
x 1 ton of garbage per person
60,000 tons of garbage annually
x .25 (const. waste)
15,000 tons of const. waste PER YEAR (150K tons in 10 yrs!)
Historic Preservation
Economically…
Stabilize Property Values
and in Most Cases Increase
Values Faster
Job Creation
Puts money back into local
economy
Historic Preservation
Biblically…
“Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers
have set.” Proverbs 22:28
Historic Preservation
Who does it?

LOCAL STATE NATIONAL

Residents Consultants
PRIVATE
Merchants Contractors

Indiana
Wabash Valley NTHP
Landmarks
NON-PROFIT Trust for HP NAPC
IAHDC
NCSHPO

Historic
NPS
PUBLIC Preservation DNR-DHPA
ACHP
Commission
Historic Preservation
Two Kinds of Historic Districts:
National Register of Historic Places
 Honorary ONLY
 Some Tax Incentives & Grant Possibilities

 ZERO Obligation to the Owner

Local Designation
 Exterior Changes Must be Approved by HPC
 Owner Must Maintain Property

 Penalties for Non-Compliance

Historic Preservation
Lafayette Historic
Preservation Commission
9-members appointed by
Mayor
 Architects, Contractors,
Realtors, Historians, Historic
Property Owners
Design Review for 6
Downtown Local Historic
Districts
Historic Preservation
Local District Design Review for:
 Signage, Streetscape, Colors
 Rehabilitation/Restoration
 Additions
 New Construction
 Demolition
 Deterioration
What is not reviewed?
 Interiors
 Use/Zoning
 Ordinary Maintenance
 Work not visible from a PROW
Historic Preservation
How are Local District Design Reviews Enforced?
City will not issue work permit without HPC approval
Violators can be fined ($50/infraction PER day up to
$7,500 or $2,500 automatically for non-approved
demolitions)
City or other interested party can request injunction to
stop or undo work that is in violation of ordinance
Property owner can appeal to HPCs decision to civil
court
After 17 years we have a 95% approval rating (218 of 228)
Historic Preservation
How can it enhance Main Street:
 Provide guidelines for development and proper investment
 Create a unique sense of place (draws in business/people)
 Provides direct financial incentives (tax credits, grant
programs, etc.)
 Provides indirect financial incentives (property values,
heritage tourists)
 Creates local jobs and sustains the local economy
 Low rents, close housing and a customer niche for start-up
business owners
 And much more!!!
Historic Preservation
QUESTIONS???
For additional information and questions contact:
Brian Bugajski, Project Manager
City of Lafayette, Community Development Dept.
(765) 807-1090
bbugajski@lafayette.in.gov