TERRE HAUTE —
There are several reasons why the historic buildings adjacent and west of Roger’s Jewelers should be saved, and why our downtown needs to protect and embrace our remaining historic fabric. First and foremost, rehab and reuse saves our historic buildings for future generations to experience, and the more architectural authenticity our downtown preserves, the more admired and “walkable” it will become.
Many leaders, it seems, still do not believe that we can be in the same league with other downtowns that consistently manage to save all tiers of their historic architecture. Authentic historical fabric is the most important visual element that distinguishes a downtown. Existing buildings that are notable need to be saved, and modern buildings of similar scale and character should infill next to them. Saving only isolated historic “stand-alone icons,” such as our courthouse, churches and federal building, will not prove to be adequate historic fabric to hold our downtown historic districts together.
The historic block now endangered, “the 500 Block” of Wabash Avenue, is the centermost block of our West Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Some of the finest architectural details in our downtown are found on these facades, including 19th Century Indiana Limestone Craftsmanship as well as ornate terra cotta work imported to Terre Haute from France in the early 1890s. Existing storefronts need a makeover, which would be no more complex than my facade designs for either the Coffee Grounds storefront or The Ohio Building facade and roof garden.
Thank goodness for selfless, nonprofit organizations like Terre Haute Landmarks, Inc. When The Ohio Building was on its last leg, First Financial Bank, rather than calling for demolition, reached out to our community — and it was Terre Haute Landmarks, Inc. that accepted a difficult deadline for creating drawings and finding a new owner, and then followed through with Indiana Landmarks and new owners Casa Urbana, LLC. The Ohio Building is now a treasure that City Hall and every community organization is proud of, as we are of Candlewood Suites and the work on ISU’s Scott Business College (federal building).
I feel that everyone should visit the Facebook page of Terre Haute Landmarks and place your name on the online petition to save the historic facades on this block of Wabash.
The age of the 500 Block of Wabash is 125 years young (similar building construction in Europe is now over 300 years old). These buildings are highly adaptable to new use, and saving their embodied energy also helps our community achieve new goals for a sustainable downtown. Having toured every building in this endangered block, I can say the overall condition of these structures is acceptable for rehab purposes, and renovation will not cost more than new buildings of this size and stature.
I agree that saving old buildings is not an easy road. Knowledge and skills are as important as money. Downtown has success stories proving that mixed use in the downtown is both viable and established, such as the Kaufman Block and Lou Corey’s building. The White Building, on the 400 Block of Wabash, is another example: when renovation began in 1997, it was in similar condition to the buildings on the 500 Block, similar size, age, and lack of parking. Today, The White Building is on its way to another century of life, with three franchises (Roly Poly, J.Gumbo’s, AAV Travel), the HNTB office space, and upper floor apartments.
I am tired of witnessing the down-sizing of our historic downtown. Density, small footprint diversity and authentic historic structures are the attributes that distinguish exceptional downtown revitalizations from ordinary ones. It is doubtful that new dorm housing for students, which often lends itself to a repetitive and homogeneous facade design, will even come close to the caliber and visual diversity of this particular row of buildings, nor will it provide the unique retail spaces and lofts that so many are seeking. Everyone needs to weigh in on this issue.
— Ben Orman, AIA
Terre Haute
Opinion
FLASHPOINT: Notes on saving structural history
- Opinion
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RONN MOTT: Ernie Pyle
I stepped back in time last week when I visited the Ernie Pyle World War II Museum in Dana.
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RONN MOTT: Pyle museum in Dana good way to study WWII
I stepped back in time last week when I visited the Ernie Pyle World War II Museum in Dana.
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FLASHPOINT: Legislative session reflected Hoosier priorities
The 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly came to an end just a few weeks ago with the final passage of our state’s next two-year budget.
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The celebration season
Spring has been a bit elusive at times in 2013, which is its nature.
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RONN MOTT: Frustration
For those who know me well, they can say without contradiction I am not a patient man. But in this hustle and bustle world I’ve been a part of all my adult life, I’ve had to learn a little patience. On occasion, however, I find some experiences extremely frustrating.
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EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news: MVC tourney an event worth having
It’s been a long time since the Missouri Valley Conference chose Indiana State University to host its post-season baseball tournament, but Terre Haute had never been more prepared for an event such as this.
- READERS' FORUM: May 23, 2013
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EDITORIAL: Cleaning up voter rolls
It’s not a lot of money in the big scheme of things, but the $2 million designated in the recent session of the General Assembly will begin the messy but necessary process of cleaning up Indiana’s voter registration rolls.
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READERS' FORUM: May 22, 2013
Rich history all along the river
Great work by Duke employees
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RONN MOTT: Rabid Republicans
The so-called news people at Fox News can hardly sit still long enough to report on the latest gossip or untruth about our sitting President. They can hardly contain themselves.
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READERS’ FORUM: May 21, 2013
• Great response to annual golf outing
• Doing your part on climate change
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LIZ CIANCONE: Smell of fresh air gave way to dryers
Remember when clean clothes smelled like fresh air and sunshine rather than fabric softener and dryer sheets?
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READERS' FORUM: May 20, 2013
The dangers of a little knowledge
Students enjoyed Rose study trip
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Mark Bennett: High-profile mural connects historical dots from city to river
At 96 feet wide and 2 stories tall, the power, impact and value of the Wabash will be evident.
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EDITORIAL: Waging the ‘readiness’ campaign
Almost every Hoosier who starts college intends to finish. Unfortunately, those who arrive on campus unprepared in key academic areas are far less likely to fulfill that aspiration.
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READERS' FORUM: May 19, 2013
• Flawed reasoning on gun checks
• A hint of things yet to come?
• Are the ‘makers’ doing the ‘taking’?
• The ‘Obamination’ is finally revealed
• Pondering effects of Obamacare
• Fantasizing on the ‘Apocalypse’
• Another view of Hinduism
• Great experience for HCMS students
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FLASHPOINT: A legislative session of missed opportunities
Given the nature of politicians, grand claims of accomplishments and overblown rhetoric about “historic” efforts are to be expected at the close of any legislative session.
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RONN MOTT: Mushrooms = Hoosier happiness
Someone wrote or said a few years ago a statement that would define the word “Hoosier.” According to this urban legend, a Hoosier is somebody dribbling a basketball around the Indy 500 while eating a fried, morel mushroom. It did not define me, at the time.
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EDITORIAL: Insult to an independent press
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
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READERS' FORUM: May 17, 2013
Hinduism doesn’t deserve ridicule — Shefali Purohit, Terre Haute
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RONN MOTT: Israel’s Air Force
Recently the Israeli Air Force bombed and rocketed a convoy leaving Syria going to Lebanon with rockets that were going to be used to attack Israel. It did not get there. It was destroyed.
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EDITORIAL: Noteworthy in the news: Dashing finish for the Sycamores
It’s always thrilling to see Indiana State University’s athletic teams do well in high-level competition, and two specific teams rose to impressive heights last weekend in the Missouri Valley Conference outdoor track and field championships.
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Readers' Forum: May 16, 2013
Moving Deming folks sounds ‘nuts’
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Readers' Forum: May 15, 2013
Participants rise to the challenge: I would like to write a letter congratulating all the Wabash Valley Roadrunners that competed in the One America Indianapolis Mini Marathon.
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RONN MOTT: Media merry-go-round
Round and round it goes, where it stops nobody knows. That isn’t a unique phrase to this writer or to this era in time. But, when it comes to the musical chairs of broadcasting, it certainly applies.
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LIZ CIANCONE: Courts see a different appearance than cops
Have you ever noticed the transformation between the arrest of an accused lawbreaker and the first appearance in court?
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READERS' FORUM: May 14, 2013
ISTEP failure exposes flaws
Community hasn’t changed its spirit
Egregious threat to nation’s defense
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READERS' FORUM: May 13, 2013
• Women’s group criticizes Bucshon
• Let’s hope this doesn’t come true
• Many get thanks for fest success
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MARK BENNETT: Life at face value: Mom’s simple advice still presents a valuable daily challenge
Most moms don’t base their advice on scientific research.
(Unless, of course, your mother is a scientific researcher. If so, carry a No. 2 pencil and take good notes.) -
EDITORIAL: Better monitoring needed to prevent local environmental messes
The nasty, hazardous messes lurking in the community raise a bottom-line, red-flag question. Could these environmental problems have been monitored and, thus, prevented?
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RONN MOTT: Ernie Pyle
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New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access
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Today in History May 24
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
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