Published: February 05, 2010 08:24 pm      

Historic Preservation Commission loses city funding

Its budget is casualty of revenue losses

With the city facing difficult economic times, historic preservationists are taking some of the hit.

Historic Preservation Commission officials recently learned its city funding of $6,500 had been cut for 2010.

During recent city council finance committee meetings, Mayor Mike Fincher said the Mayor’s Contractual Services Fund would be eliminated from this year’s budget to offset a predicted loss of revenue from property taxes. The fund included the commission’s money.

Commission’s president Teri Hawes understands the situation the city is facing.

“I plan to go to the council and discuss it with them to see if there’s any money in their budget,” Hawes said. “With the constraints, everyone wants their piece of the pie.

“They’re going to have to cut a lot of things, and this is a very small amount, and I understand that. It’s just for me and the members on my board, this is one of our priorities.”

Hawes said the funding was used to contract a representative from Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana. HLFI has made investments in the community by buying historic buildings and creating a partnership with Century Career Center to rehab those structures.

“They have really put a lot into the community,” Hawes said. “In my opinion, the alternative for those buildings is they would have come down. They were certainly endangered. And HLFI’s commitment is to save those buildings and get those successfully back on the tax rolls.”

The historic landmarks foundation, through the coordination with the city and Century Career Center, renovated Tower House on Bankers Row and is refurbishing the property at 315 E. Market St.

Hawes said the Tower House has been contracted for purchase, and deemed the project a success. She said HLFI also served as a consulting organization for various city and individual projects like inspecting homes to be designated as historic homes.

Kado Downs, who previously served on the historic board, was so distraught by the funding situation that he resigned.

“HLFI’s funding being taken away has never been the issue with me,” Downs said. “I resigned my position on the HPC for one simple reason — lack of communication, and common respect between city government and the HPC.

“I felt that any business that effects the HPC should have been discussed with the board of commissioners prior to any decisions. This would have allowed the HPC to have planned for the subsequent budget cut. But, instead, we were informed the day before our January meeting via e-mail.”

The loss of funding may be a bump in the road, Hawes said, but the commission will continue its mission.

Downs agreed.

“The HPC will have to just work harder, and become more innovative in their process,” Downs said. “And I have no doubt that the HPC will prevail stronger and more better prepared in the future.

Hawes said historic preservation is an integral part of the comprehensive plan for the downtown and the city as a whole.

She quoted historic preservation buff Don Rypkema, who said that cities that include historic preservation in their revitalization plans are successful.

“That in itself is the reason we want to continue our work,” she said. “The bottom line is it will be good for the city and the county.”

• Jennifer Tangeman is a reporter for the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5148 or jennifer.tangeman@pharostribune.com.