Historic review board approves Madison amphitheater COA, clears multiple property projects and tables vinyl privacy‑screen dispute

The Madison Historic District Review Board on May 26 voted to grant a Certificate of Appropriateness to the City of Madison for a proposed amphitheater in Bicentennial Park and approved a series of property projects ranging from utility sheds to garage additions.

Chair Chris Cody opened the meeting and said the amphitheater, which has been part of the Madison destination plan, had received regional support. Tony Steinhardt, deputy mayor and director of economic redevelopment, said the project aims to build a flexible, year‑round venue "for 2026 standards and expectation for both patrons and performers," to improve accessibility and add permanent electrical and audio‑visual infrastructure.

Designer Jeff DeSmit described site changes that include reconfiguring parking, reusing about 75% of the park's existing pilasters, a main accessory building with expanded restrooms (eight fixtures per side plus a family restroom and two additional accessible fixtures), and a raised stage. "We've raised the actual stage elevation itself to 5 feet…to provide easy load in and load out," DeSmit said. He also described a stage frame with a proscenium and permanent rigging points; the top of the structure he described is roughly 50 feet above grade.

Board deliberations were uniformly favorable. Chair Cody said, given Madison’s status as "Indiana's Music City," upgrades to the park were "very welcome and appropriate." After discussion the board voted on a roll call to grant the COA to the City of Madison.

The board also approved a set of private projects: a conditional COA for a 10x20 utility shed at 820 Walnut (approval conditioned on standing‑seam metal roofing and T1‑11 lap siding), a new garage at 526 Jefferson, a deck and shed at 205 Saint Michael’s Avenue, reopening fixed windows on a porch at 745 West 3rd Street, a bakery addition at 215 West Main Street, an ADA entrance modification at 117 West Main Street, and a new residence design at 1020 East 1st Street (approved with a condition to use traditional corner trim rather than a log‑style corner).

A contentious hearing over a privacy screen at 317 West 3rd Street ended in a motion to table. Sandy Deirdorf, the applicant, told the board the black privacy panels were attached to an existing wrought‑iron fence with removable fasteners and said the screens were needed for privacy during cancer treatment. Neighbor Mike Pittman and others argued the screens obscure historic ironwork and risk permanence despite being installed with zip ties. The board asked for a formal opinion from the city attorney on whether the installation is a temporary alteration (staff purview) or a permanent one requiring board review; the board tabled the application pending that opinion.

The meeting concluded with a brief staff report and adjournment.

What’s next: The City of Madison may proceed with design refinements for the amphitheater and applicants from the tabled and conditional approvals must meet the board’s material conditions or await the city attorney’s guidance on impermanent alterations.