About The Historic Preservation Commission

The Historic Preservation Commission was formed to protect and to promote the educational, cultural and general welfare of the citizens of the City of Carmel and to ensure the harmonious and orderly growth and development of the City.

The Commission shall maintain established residential neighborhoods to ensure their distinctiveness; to enhance property values and attract new residents; to ensure the viability of the downtown area and to enhance tourism within the City of Carmel.

The Commission shall preserve those qualities of the City of Carmel, relating to its history and harmonious outward appearance of its structures be preserved. This purpose is advanced through the restoration and preservation of historic areas and buildings, the construction of compatible new buildings where appropriate, and the maintenance and assurance of compatibility in regards to style, form, proportion, texture, and material between historic buildings and those of contemporary design.

It is the intention of the City through this Commission to preserve and protect historic and architecturally worthy buildings, structures, sites, monuments, streetscapes, and neighborhoods which impart a distinct aesthetic quality to the City and serve as visible reminders of its historic heritage.

• Commission Members

• Historic and Conservation Districts

• Historic Preservation Commission Rules of Procedure

• Historic Preservation Ordinance - Ordinance No. D-2064-11,
  for further details about this Commission (and its adopted Historic Architecture Survey) please refer to ordinance number D-2198-10 and D-2463-19.

Meetings for Historic Preservation Commission

The Carmel Historic Preservation Commission meets the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. in City Hall at One Civic Square, on the second floor in the Caucus Room.

2021 CHP Commission Meetings

2020 CHP Commission Meetings

Stay Connected

Follow us on Instagram: @CarmelHistoricPreservation

Façade Grant Program

The Carmel Historic Preservation Commission routinely offers financial incentives for restoration through its Historic Façade Incentive Grant program. The program has been in place since 2016, with the last round of grant money being approved for reimbursement to eligible property owners by the Commission in September, 2021. The program is current closed, but the Commission anticipates holding another grant cycle in the Spring of 2022. Owners of historic properties identified in the 2014 City of Carmel/Clay Township Historic Architecture Survey are encouraged to complete projects that will improve and restore the historic character of their property, as seen from the public right-of-way.

• Contact the Carmel Historic Preservation Commission at 317-639-4534 if you have questions about the façade grant program.

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Carmel and Clay Township Historic Architecture Survey

In order to implement a comprehensive program of historic preservation, and identify worthy structures, sites, monuments, streetscapes, and neighborhoods, the Carmel Historic Preservation Commission commissioned an update to the 1992 Hamilton County interim report for Clay Township, known as the 2014 City of Carmel and Clay Township Historic Architecture Survey. The Carmel City Council adopted these survey findings on November 3, 2014. Please refer to Resolution CC-11-03-14-04.

As outlined in the Commission’s Ordinance D-2064-11, properties in the survey have been classified utilizing the following terms:

(1) Outstanding: “O” classification means that the property has sufficient historic or architectural significance that is listed, or is eligible for individual listing, in the National Register of Historic Places. Outstanding resources can be of local, state, or national importance.

(2) Notable: “N” classification means that the property does not merit the outstanding rating, but it is still above average in its importance. A notable structure may be eligible for the National Register.

(3) Contributing: “C” classification means the property is at least 40 years old, but does not meet the criteria for an “O” or “N” classification. Such resources are important to the density or continuity of the area’s historic fabric. Contributing structures can be listed in the National Register only as part of a historic district.

(4) Non-Contributing: Property classified as “NC” is not included in an inventory unless it is located within the boundaries of a historic district. Such properties may be less than 50 years old, or they may be older structures that have been altered in such a way that they have lost their historic character, or they may be otherwise incompatible with their historic surroundings. These properties are not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Carmel Historic Preservation Commission has made the survey findings available online through an interactive platform called RuskinARC.
Access the completed survey here: RuskinARC.com/City-of-Carmel/Carmel

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“Building Available for Relocation” Signs and Demolition Delay Ordinance

Citizens of Carmel may notice signs stating “Building Available for Relocation” in front of historic buildings around the city. These signs indicate that a demolition permit application has been filed for the marked structure. In 2017, the City of Carmel officially adopted OrdinanceD-2338-16, a demolition delay ordinance that requires owners of buildings identified as Outstanding, Notable, and Contributing in the 2014 Carmel and Clay Township Historic Architecture Survey to wait 60 days between applying for a permit to demolish the structure and receiving an improvement relocation permit for demolition. The period may be extended to 90 days at the discretion of the director of the Department of Community Services. The ordinance is designed to allow the Historic Preservation Commission time to market endangered structures for relocation and to coordinate the moving of those structures if there is interest in doing so on the part of current or prospective owners.

• For more information about specific properties marked with “Building Available for Relocation” signs, contact Historic Preservation Commission Staff, Mark Dollase or Joshua Biggs at 317-639-4534.

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