Preservationists and commission split over Wholesale District renovation and large-scale rebuild plan; case continued

Representatives for a proposed Old Red restaurant and performance venue outlined an extensive restoration-and-rebuild plan for three adjoining buildings in the Wholesale District at 229–235 South Meridian Street and asked the commission to approve significant facade and structural work.

Owner's representative Mike Balog said the project would "revitalize these historic buildings" and that the project team proposes to replace failing floor and roof systems, remove and then rebuild the deteriorated south wall "like in kind," and restore operable wood-clad windows and the cast-iron storefront. Preservation architect Ashley King described structural deterioration from water, termite damage and deferred maintenance and said engineers judged the existing floor systems technically and economically infeasible to repair.

Indiana Landmarks representative Mark Delosse urged caution, calling the proposal effectively a demolition behind retained facades: "History is not made in a facade," he said, and suggested additional structural study and that the commission continue the item. Several commissioners expressed both excitement for downtown reinvestment and serious reservations about precedent and the standards for demolition; Commissioner David Baker presented alternatives, including retaining front halves of the buildings and siting new construction on underused adjacent land. After extended debate the commission voted to continue the case to July 1 to allow the applicant to provide additional analysis and for staff and preservation groups to confer.

Next step: the commission continued the case and invited the applicant and Indiana Landmarks to explore alternatives and to provide additional structural analysis or design changes by the July meeting.