The map of the proposed Delphi Courthouse Square Historic District depicts included district buildings. The map was developed by Delphi Main Street and Preservation Society members in conjunction with experts from Ball State Two local groups, Delphi Main Street and Delphi Preservation Society (DPS) have worked for at least two years to place the downtown Delphi area on the National and State registers of Historic Places. Unless something unexpected happens, that goal will be accomplished by the end of January. The formal plan and approval process was briefly described to Delphi City Council members Jan. 4 by DPS spokesperson Anita Werling.

Werling said the measure will not impose restrictions on building owners. She did mention that the city can impose restrictions in the future.

According to Delphi Mayor Randy Strasser the listing on the National and State registers will be a good measure for Delphi.

“This distinction helps enhance the historic values of the downtown buildings,” Strasser said. “This will give people a destination to go to and see the buildings.”

Strasser said if restrictions are to be imposed, they will come in the form of a re-zoning ordinance, which will be approved by the city council. He said the historic district can be zoned as such which can lead to legislation about appropriate changes and

modifications made to buildings

included in the district. However, Strasser emphasized that he did “not know enough about it” to comment on possible restrictions at this time.

DPS President Greg Norman explained that people throughout the state who are interested in historical buildings and preservation will visit the community because there will be an historic district in Delphi.

“People will visit the historic district to look at the architecture,” he said. “They will want to come to our community.”

“We (DPS) are into architecture and the historical preservation of the community,” he added. “We are enthusiastically behind this designation. It could be good for the community and the building owners.”

Delphi Main Street President Hank Ivy said building owners could benefit from the distinction by tapping into DNR and federal grants and low-interest loans for renovation projects.

“This will open funding doors where there wouldn’t be an opportunity for that money without these buildings being placed on the registers,” he said.

“This just puts Delphi out there a little more,” he added. “Anytime you can draw attention to a community in a positive way is a good thing.”

He said if designating part of the downtown district as “historic” brought one more person to the area, the effort was worth what it took to make it happen.

However, some building owners have reservations about the plans. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the agency that makes decisions about what district proposals are included for both registers, sent letters, dated Dec. 18, 2009, to building owners. The letters indicate that the Indiana Historic Preservation Board will consider the nomination during a Jan. 27 meeting.

The letters also direct building owners who do not want to be included in the historic district to submit a notarized letter stating who owns the building. The letters stated:

“If you choose to object to the listing of your property, submit a notarized letter of objection to the State Historic Preservation Officer by the date indicated on the first page of this letter.”

“Unless objections are received within thirty (30) days from the date of this letter, the property indicated in this letter will be listed in the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures, independently of the review board’s decision on the nomination to the National Register.”

Ivy explained that a meeting was held in April 2008 to explain the proposed plan and to answer questions raised by building owners. He said that although all downtown building owners received an invitation to the meeting, few attended. Ivy said DPS and Main Street members, along with an advisory group from Ball State University, helped develop the boundary lines.

“All of the concerns I heard were addressed at that meeting,” Ivy said.

Building owner John O’Connor, who owns the property at 111 S. Washington St. said he received the letter and had no objections.

“There could be some perks if you are going to restore a building in the downtown area,” he said. “I want Delphi to have what belongs to Delphi.”

However building owners Pat Clawson and Jeff and Krista Watson decided to not become part of the district and sent letters to the appropriate entity requesting exclusion.

Doug Whiteman, who owns the building on the corner of Washington and Franklin streets, said he did not remember receiving a letter and later learned that it was thrown away because the envelope was not recognized as important when it was received.

Country Hair II building owner Kathy Dunbar reports that she did not remember receiving a letter and was unaware of the plans to include her building in an historic district.

“I don’t know if I am against this or not,” Dunbar said. “I don’t know anything about it. It might be a good thing…I just don’t know.”

City council president Carolyn Pearson said that she was not aware that the proposed historic district was submitted for approval until she learned about it Jan. 4. She said that as a council representative, she expected to have learned about the plans and where the boundary lines were drawn sooner than less than a month before a decision was made.

“I wanted to be able to ask why the boundaries were drawn where they were,” Pearson said. “I just hope the building owners understand that they have a voice with their city council representatives if and when restrictions are proposed.”

Council members Nelson Smith and Brian Garrison echoed Pearson’s sentiments. Both said no report about the proposed district had been made at a city council meeting for more than a year and they expected information before the time of approval to understand the situation.

Delphi Chamber of Commerce President Krista Watson said the subject has not been discussed at chamber meetings because the members did not know what was happening. She said she or someone from the chamber attends most Main Street meetings and the subject was not discussed when they were present. Watson said she surveyed members after learning about the proposal.

“I heard from the members that they have a general concern that if restrictions are placed on building owners by the city council later, business in the downtown area would be stifled,” she said.

“There is no group with an ulterior motive to make the downtown one way or the other,” Strasser said. “It’s all about moving forward and being progressive.”

“When you look at the map, the individual buildings are not individual – each one is part of the district,” he added. “The objective is not to dictate what shutters can be used or what color people can paint their buildings.”

Paul Diebold, Team Leader of Survey and Registration for the Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology (DHPA), told the Comet Tuesday that there is no way for a building owner to be excluded from the historic district after the designation is bestowed on a group of buildings. He said the designation is for the group as a whole, not each building, singly.

Diebold said he is willing to visit Delphi and participate in an informational meeting to help community members understand what the designation means prior to the Jan. 27 review date.

“The notion of an historic district is an idea that’s been around for long time,” he said. “Several counties surrounding Carroll County, such as Cass and Tippecanoe, have historic downtown districts.”

Diebold can be reached at (317) 232-3493 for questions. He suggested readers visit the Web site at www.in.gov/dnr/historic for information about DHPA.