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La Porte commission discusses ‘at‑risk’ properties list, train station designation and outreach steps
Summary
Commissioners proposed creating a short list of at‑risk historic properties to raise awareness and discussed pursuing formal designation for the train station before a public candlelight tour; members emphasized notifying private owners and coordinating with city staff and local partners.
Commissioners for the La Porte Historic Preservation Commission spent a substantial portion of their Aug. 19 meeting compiling candidates for a short “at‑risk” list of historic properties and discussing outreach and designation steps for the train station.
The commission suggested an initial list of properties for follow‑up research and outreach, including Saint John’s School (address noted in meeting), 1001 Madison Street, 322 Lincolnway (a former service station and later a newspaper office), 1206 Jackson Street (Walker District), the former Coca‑Cola bottling plant and a former power plant/light and electric building behind Ludwig. Commissioners said they will gather photographs and background information and return in a future meeting with a narrowed list of five properties to publicize.
Several commissioners urged care in public notice to private owners. Commissioner Drew (last name not specified) recommended notifying property owners in advance of any public “at‑risk” announcement: “I would hesitate to put out a list with homes or private owners without them knowing that it’s coming first,” Drew said, and suggested a pre‑notification letter explaining the commission’s reasons and options for designation. The commission agreed that outreach language should include steps owners could take, including how to pursue local historic designation.
Commissioners also discussed the downtown train station, which the commission plans to open as part of the city’s candlelight tour this year and would like to pursue for historic designation. Staff said the commission can make a recommendation at a regular meeting; that recommendation would then go to the city council for action. Members noted a target timeline: if the commission makes a recommendation in September, the designation process could proceed to council and be completed before December, assuming required notices and hearings are scheduled.
Other business during the meeting included planning for the Sunflower Fair booth, distribution of a new historic‑themed coloring book to schools, and discussion about educational workshops on materials and defensible motions for commission decisions. The commission asked staff to collect basic research on the nominated at‑risk properties so members could prioritize five for a future public notice or advocacy effort.
No formal votes were taken on the at‑risk list or designation steps during the Aug. 19 meeting.
