La Porte Historic Preservation Commission keeps officers, names downtown design-review representative

The City of La Porte Historic Preservation Commission voted Jan. 22 at La Porte City Hall to retain its 2024 officers and to appoint commissioner Jean Raphi as the commission’s representative to the downtown design review committee. The commission also welcomed new member Christa Hurley King and discussed outreach events and a state senate bill affecting disclosure by real estate professionals.

The votes keep leadership continuity as downtown development and infrastructure projects approach, commission members said. The commission discussed workshops planned for 2025, preservation-markers work and a recent uptick in certificate-of-appropriateness activity for building changes downtown.

At the start of the meeting the commission approved minutes from its Dec. 17 meeting on a motion by Fonda Owens, seconded by Peter Steele. The commission then moved to maintain its current officers for 2025 — the chair nominated them to continue and Jean Raphi seconded — and approved the slate by voice vote. Later the commission nominated and approved Jean Raphi to continue serving as the commission’s member on the downtown design review committee.

The commission welcomed Christa Hurley King, who begins a three-year term. Christa Hurley King said she is a registered landscape architect and has “a degree in architecture and urban design as well,” and described past local projects including Plaza 618 and work on a boardwalk project. Members said they expect King’s experience with adaptive reuse and design to inform future review and outreach work.

Members discussed outreach and education plans for the year. The commission noted a paint workshop in February organized by Preserve Historic La Porte with Indiana Landmarks members charged $10 to attend; the commission plans to select and calendar additional workshops next month. The commission suggested a workshop on preparing historic homes for infrastructure work (for example, plumbing replacement related to planned work on Indiana Avenue) and discussed pursuing historical markers and signage to promote heritage tourism.

David Heinhold, the city planner, provided a brief recap that the commission had a “pretty active year” on certificates of appropriateness and that most downtown review matters in the past year were minor, staff-approved changes; only a few projects advanced to the committee level previously, including Union Hall and the Lowe’s building. Absent commissioner Deb Parcel was noted to be attending a town-hall meeting regarding the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City.

During announcements the chair noted an email about a bill in the state senate that would require broader disclosure by real estate professionals; the chair said members expect the measure to help with communicating historic-designation status and available tax incentives to potential buyers, which could affect National Register neighborhood outreach.

Votes at a glance: - Approve minutes of Dec. 17, 2024 — motion by Fonda Owens; second by Peter Steele; outcome: approved (voice vote; counts not specified). - Maintain 2024 officers for 2025 (chair, vice chair, treasurer) — motion to maintain slate nominated by the chair; second by Jean Raphi; outcome: approved (voice vote; counts not specified). - Appoint Jean Raphi as commission representative to the downtown design review committee — motion nominated by the chair; seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote; counts not specified). - Adjourn meeting — motion by Jean Raphi; second by Christa Hurley King; outcome: approved.

The commission adjourned at 5:46 p.m. The commission plans to select its full schedule of workshops at its next meeting and to continue outreach on historic markers and paint/color guidance for downtown properties.