Preservation commission to hold walking tour; aims to adopt downtown historic-district boundary this fall

Members of the Westfield Preservation Commission discussed advancing a downtown historic-district map and a walking tour to refine boundaries and identify significant sites. Commissioners proposed conducting the walking tour in October and using the commission's November meeting to adopt a boundary to send to city council; staff said council adoption would likely follow a two-meeting process with an introduction and a public hearing.

Commission members and staff discussed whether the preservation scope should be limited to the downtown historic district or expanded to other historically significant properties across Washington Township or within city zoning. Staff noted existing work from a national nomination that could be edited to add missing properties; participants named candidate places including the Anti-Slavery Cemetery, the Lindley House (Lindley Farm), the Barker Cabin (recently discovered under a barn), and historic family homesteads such as the Roberts property.

The commission discussed inviting local historical-society members (named in the meeting as Jim and Diana Payton) to present inventories and help identify properties if the group pursues a township-wide or phased approach. Staff suggested that the mitigation fund under the road project's MOA could, if agreed with the advisory team, provide small grants to support preservation projects and specialist consultants if the commission lacks budget for studies or boundary work.

No formal votes were taken; members agreed to pursue a walking tour and to continue work on a draft boundary with the aim of adopting a downtown map in November and advancing council review thereafter.