Landmarks seems likely to get its parking lot

IHPC prefers not to make it permanent through rezoning

The Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission has balked over a proposal to rezone two tracts of land next to the

Despite the delay on approval of a parking lot, Indiana Landmarks has been given authority to demolish two non-historic structures to the immediate north of the former Old Centrum (shown with scaffolding), in background.

Old Centrum, but appears willing to grant Indiana Landmarks variances on the two properties for the same goal:

Establishment of a larger parking lot to help accommodate activities at the soon-to-be-revitalized historic structure, and to allow Indiana Landmarks to move the existing parking lot away from the building.

At its June 2 hearing, the IHPC did agree to rezone the larger tract of land at 1201 Central Avenue which houses the historic building, which has been renamed the Landmark Center by Indiana Landmarks. (That organization itself has just been renamed, after having been known for decades as the Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana.)

Indiana Landmarks had previously received permission to demolish the one-story non-historic commercial building at 1225 Central Avenue, just north of the Landmark Center. At the June 2 hearing, IHPC also agreed to the demolition of a smaller accessory building at the rear of the next property north, at 1229 Central Avenue.

The idea that those two smaller lots would be converted to parking space had sparked a lively debate within The Old Northside. The Old Northside Association’s Land Use Committee had voted unanimously to oppose the parking lot plan, but a vote at a May meeting of The Old Northside Association resulted in a 40-7 vote in favor of the Indiana Landmarks plan.

Many neighbors believe the parking space was required to help ensure the success of the Indiana Landmarks project. The statewide historic preservation organization is counting on revenue from the renovated building to help with long-term maintenance and support. The largest and oldest sections of the huge facility were built to serve the Central Avenue United Methodist Church. Landmarks plans to use the 500-seat sanctuary and the 250-seat auditorium to serve a variety of functions described as ranging from cultural events and performing arts to educational workshops, weddings, neighborhood events and perhaps even religious services.

The renovation of those oldest parts of the building are being financed by Bloomington philanthropist Bill and Gayle Cook, at a cost estimated at $7 million. Indiana Landmarks has embarked upon a fund-raising effort to renovate the newer section of the complex, at a cost of about $3 million, to serve as its headquarters.

There are currently 36 off-street parking spaces on the site. Using the two lots to the north would only increase total off-street parking to 52, because Indiana Landmarks wishes to push the parking area farther away from the building to allow for landscaped green space.

IHPC staff supported the proposal for a variety of reasons, including the fact that Indiana Landmarks’ usage plans do not vary from the earlier purposes of the Old Centrum Foundation, which operated the facility for several years before running out of funds. IHPC staff also said in the formal report that Landmarks has identified 121 on-street parking spaces located near the subject site, as well as 15 parking spaces a block to the east in the Morris-Butler House parking lot, which Landmarks owns.

Most of the 52 spaces in the expanding parking lot would be used for Indiana Landmarks’ daily needs.

Wrote IHPC staffer Meg Purnsley in the recommendation, “A basic principle that has always been held by staff and commission is that assessing the adequacy of parking for historic buildings in historic districts is different than doing so for new development interjected into historic districts. It is generally justified to make compromises in providing adequate off-street parking when saving and/or finding a new use for a historic building.”

Paul DePrez, chair of The Old Northside Land Use Committee, disagreed. Speaking as a minority opinion, DePrez said the Land Use Committee has consistently opposed parking lots within the neighborhoods, and in this case believes that Indiana Landmarks’ grand purpose does not mitigate the issue. “A seven to ten million dollar investment does not entitle any entity to come in and do anything it pleases without some consideration for what the neighborhood has consistently asked for as to parking lots.”

He also questioned what sort of congestion would result in events to be hosted at the renovated facility. He also said the matter has advanced without any discussion of time and noise limits on future activities at what he termed “a mega-entertainment center.”

Earlier in the meeting, DePrez had asked, without success, that the Landmarks petition be continued to July so that further investigation could be done on matters of that sort, including a possible change in parking configuration along 12th Street between Alabama Street and Park Avenue. DePrez said more parking could be realized on those streets by a switch to perpendicular or angle parking.

DePrez also said the setback proposed for the parking lots, as well as the amount of screening, was insufficient.

Several neighbors testified in favor of Landmarks’ proposal, but one voice which agreed with DePrez belonged to Don Hennefent, who asked that the property not be rezoned. “How will the rezoning action be viewed by prospective buyers in the future,” he asked, pointing out that any prospective buyer “looking at a property adjacent to a vacant lot will have to wonder what the rules are.” He said rezoning would be a substantial weakening of The Old Northside Historic Preservation Plan.

Commissioner Susan Williams continued that thinking during discussion among the commissioners. She noted the irony of an historic preservation organization such as Indiana Landmarks seeking parking, and said that in her many years of public office she has never voted for a surface parking lot.

But she said the argument that the renovated building’s viability depends somewhat on the parking issue has weight, and that a variance would be a better option because a variance would apply to only this one situation, whereas rezoning would stay with the property even if Landmarks left.

That argument resulted in Landmarks’ petition being split into two sections, with everything but the rezoning of the two smaller properties being approved. The commission could not vote on any variance, because that action requires a new petition and proper public notice. The matter should return to IHPC at its July 7 hearing.

Marsh Davis, president of Indiana Landmarks, said the rezoning was sought at the recommendation of the city’s Department of Metropolitan Development. He said had city officials recommended a variance, that is what would have been sought in the original petition. After it was determined that the June 2 action would not affect the timeline for demolition and subsequent site work of the two smaller buildings, Davis said he had no objections to the continuance.