Historic Resource Survey Project
A top priority for Indiana Borough residents is to "preserve the buildings and outdoor spaces that make it great, while encouraging adaptive reuse and context sensitive new development," and to achieve that goal, an inventory of those special spaces and places needed to be completed.
Upon this realization, Indiana Borough sought and received funding from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission for a Keystone Historic Preservation Grant. These funds were used to help identify key historic landmarks with end goal of creating a protected Historic Core within the Borough.
Indiana Borough has partnered with Practical Preservation to complete the Historic Resource Survey Project which began in late 2024. The team is nearly wrapped up with this project and we look froward to sharing the findings with you!
What is a Historic Resource Survey?
Historic Resource Surveys are planning tools for identifying and understanding a community’s historical buildings, structures, sites, and objects. Survey information will enable informed planning decisions around a community’s preservation goals and objectives, and provide a deeper understanding and appreciation of the historic built environment.
What will be done with this information?
The findings from the Historic Resource Survey will be compiled into a recommendation for a National Historic Core. The inventory and eventual designation will help to determine design standards to preserve and enhance our community! Eventually, this information will assist in the formation of a Historical Architecture Review Board (HARB) that will function to maintain the Borough's character and charm.
Why this project?
Indiana Borough residents mentioned this topic throughout our comprehensive plan outreach and engagement phase, so so much though that it formed it's own system - Natural & Built Environment. See the goals and strategies for the Borough's Natural & Built Environment below.
Natural & Built Environment - Goals
Indiana will be a place that preserves the buildings and outdoor spaces that make it great, while encouraging adaptive reuse and context sensitive new development.
1. Create Balanced Land Use Controls
3. Spur Development Activity
The Borough is a complex community with different functional areas. We believe that these areas can be used as a basis for land use approaches that balance the residential, commercial and institutional needs while enhancing the quality of life within the Borough at large.
Strengthening the community’s tax base is essential to long term success. In targeted areas, there are opportunities to leverage old and new tools designed to encourage and assist the development envisioned.
2. Protect the Historic Built Environment
4. Build a Cohesive Parks and Open Space System
The preservation of Indiana’s historic built environment (buildings) is crucial to the future vitality of both downtown, and the residential neighborhoods.
Planning for parks and open space in the Borough has been limited. This planning is critical to developing, managing, and protecting parks and open space in ways that improve the quality of life for residents and visitors alike.