Terre Haute committee recommends withdrawing historic preservation ordinance after public debate

A Terre Haute city council committee voted to recommend that the full council withdraw General Ordinance 2 20 25, an enabling historic preservation ordinance, after a lengthy public-comment period and debate among committee members.

The recommendation, made by Councilman John Azar and seconded by Councilwoman Michelle Thompson, passed on a voice vote; the committee indicated the ordinance, as written, should be withdrawn and revised before moving forward.

Why it matters: The ordinance would have created a local historic preservation commission and an enabling framework for design review and local historic-district designation. Supporters said the change is a modest enabling step that would help preserve neighborhoods such as Farrington’s Grove. Opponents argued the draft is too broad, lacks clarity on appointments and staffing, and could impose costs on homeowners and landlords without funding or enforcement guarantees.

Public comments ran more than an hour and a half and included both neighborhood residents and representatives of city bodies. Margaret Herdlich, immediate past president of Farrington’s Grove Historical District Inc., urged the committee to adopt the ordinance, saying it…