Historic Preservation Commission

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The Historic Preservation Commission was formed by Ordinance D-2064-11 in December 2011 to protect and to promote the educational, cultural and general welfare of the citizens of the City of Carmel and to ensure its harmonious and orderly growth and development.

The Commission preserves the qualities of the City of Carmel, relating to its history and harmonious outward appearance. This 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 regarding style, form, proportion, texture, and material between historic buildings and those of contemporary design.

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Initiatives, Goals, Accomplishments

Maintain established residential neighborhoods to ensure their distinctiveness
Enhance property values and attract new residents
Ensure the viability of the downtown area and to enhance tourism within the City of Carmel.
Façade Grant Program
Carmel and Clay Township Historic Architecture Survey
“Building Available for Relocation” Signs and Demolition Delay Ordinance

Members

Emily Ehrgott, President
Appointed by the Mayor to a 3-year term, ending 12/31/2026

Kelly Baskett
Appointed by the Mayor to a 3-year term, ending 12/31/2027

Matt Uber
Appointed by the Mayor to a 3-year term, ending 12/31/2027

Nick Kestner
Appointed by the Mayor to a 3-year term, ending 12/31/2027

William Sanders, Jr.
Appointed by the Mayor to a 3-year term, ending 12/31/2027

Barry Simich
Appointed by the Mayor to a 3-year term, ending 12/31/2026

Fred Swift
Appointed by the Mayor to a 3-year term, ending 12/31/2025

Commission Contact

Historic Preservation Commission Staff, 317-639-4534, Mark Dollase mdollase@indianalandmarks.org or Alex Brooks abrooks@indianalandmarks.org

Commission members can also be contacted by sending a letter addressed to: Historic Preservation Commission, One Civic Square, Carmel, Indiana, 46032

Meeting Dates

The 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 Council Chambers.

Resources

Historic Preservation Commission webpage

Historic Preservation Commission minutes

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.

2025 CHP Commission Meetings

2024 CHP Commission Meetings

2023 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 on September 2, 2025. 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.

Façade Grant Application
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 ArcGIS.
Access the completed survey here.

“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 Ordinance D-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 Alex Brooks at 317-639-4534.

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