La Porte HPC discusses replacing worn historic-district signs on Indiana Avenue

The La Porte Historic Preservation Commission discussed replacing an aging historic-district sign on Indiana Avenue near the George Wood Allen House and agreed to survey existing signage before selecting replacements.

Commissioners said the existing sign is in poor condition and that a coordinated signage program — including boundary signs for National Register districts and additional markers at neighborhood entry points — would present a more cohesive look across the city. Members proposed collecting photos, mapping current sign locations and documenting whether each should be replaced “in kind” or upgraded.

The commission discussed funding options, including grant-writing and local fundraising, and noted the work could be timed to tie into the city’s comprehensive plan process so preservation recommendations are included in consultant reviews. Members discussed placing at least one sign at each end of key avenues and adding banner or light-pole elements where appropriate as streetscape upgrades occur.

Commissioners proposed a small working group to produce cost estimates at several pricing levels (for example, two signs versus a dozen) and to recommend which neighborhoods or National Register districts should be prioritized. They also discussed avoiding downtown light-pole attachments that would conflict with seasonal operations on the streetlight system.

Next steps identified were a field survey of existing signs (photographs and mapped locations), a cost-analysis at multiple scales, and preliminary grant- or fundraising plans to cover design and installation costs. The commission noted the comprehensive-plan consultant may perform an independent survey to confirm their findings.

The sign-replacement conversation was part of broader discussion about improving the city’s historic-preservation branding and wayfinding ahead of future infrastructure updates on Indiana Avenue.