WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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The majority of Bloomington Common Council members voiced their support last night for designating the Maple Heights neighborhood an Historic Conservation District. The Maple Heights Neighborhood Association requested the designation with the Bloomington Historic Preservation Commission, which recommended it to the council.
The neighborhood lies north of downtown Bloomington, between the Indiana Railroad tracks and 15th Street.
According to Connor Hendrick the city’s historic conservation program manager, the neighborhood was once part of a 160-acre tract bought by James N. Blair, in 1825. The area still contains houses that were built in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
The council heard opposing views during public comment on the topic – Terry Usry, a Maple Heights property owner, told the council he supports making the area a historic conservation district, but resident Daniel Bingham was not in favor of the designation. He referred to it as “a blunt instrument that ties our hands.” Bingham also said he couldn’t support creating more historic districts in the face of climate change. He advocates for what he terms more sustainable urban design.
Council President Dave Rollo voiced initial support for the designation, but passed on the straw poll, acknowledging Bingham’s comments. Council member Susan Sandberg was among those council members who supported awarding Maple Heights a historic designation, in part because of Bloomington’s lack of single family housing.
The council also voiced support for a historic designation for The Harvey Nelson House on South Smith Road. The farmhouse was built in 1875; an adjacent barn is from the 1930s.
The next meeting of the Bloomington Common Council is this coming Wednesday, January 16th at 6:30 p.m. in city hall.
