Guidelines for Moving Buildings

This material is presented for informational purposes only. Herron-Morton Place holds no liability for inaccuracies that may be contained herein. Individuals are urged to contact the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission for complete guidelines as may apply to your project.

Buildings existing in Herron-Morton Place cannot be moved to other locations in Herron-Morton Place. The moving of an historic structure should only be done as a last resort to save a building. Moving a building strips it of a major source of its historic significance: its location and relationship to other buildings in the district. The existence of relocated buildings, especially in significant numbers, confuses the history of the district. The following guidelines are meant to assist in determining the appropriateness of moving a building.

The building to be moved should be in danger of demolition at its present location or its present context should be so altered as to have lost significance.
The building to be moved should be compatible with the architecture surrounding its new site relative to style, scale, materials, mass and proportions.
The siting of a building on a new site should be similar to its previous site.
After a building is moved, there should be covenants attached to the deed detailing the type of work necesary for minimum proper restoration.
A plaque describing the date of the move and the original location should be provided in a visible location on the building.

NOT RECOMMENDED

A building should not be moved if its loss will have a negative effect on its original neighborhood.
Buildings within the district should not be moved. The existing location and relationship of buildings is a part of the neighborhood's history and gives us knowledge of historic life styles, development patterns, attitudes, and neighborhood character.