HUNI's advocacy is rooted in historic preservation. Saving old places carries extraordinary advantages to our shared society, including economic, environmental, social and cultural, and more!
A common misconception is that preservation stands opposed to development and progress—where in reality, they work hand in hand.
There are many reasons why we save historic places. For some the beauty of a structure remains paramount, for others it is because of a personal connection to a landscape. Increasingly we save historic places to acknowledge and document our full history, while in other cases it is a part of the call to action in response to a changing climate. The reasons are wide and varied, serving as a reminder of why historic places and the work of preservation are so important to communities all around the country.
Enacted in 1966, the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) is a foundational statute that establishes the foundational framework for historic preservation in the United States.
Among other things, it:
If it seems like only last year that HUNI joined others, including the Holy Cross Neighborhood, in advocating for the protection of the namesake Church of the Holy Cross ("Holy Cross Church"), you're not alone.
In April 2024, the Holy Cross Church was designated as a historic site by the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission, thus sparing it from the wrecking ball.
Update: April 18, 2024
On Wednesday, April 17, 2024, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission (MDC) voted in favor of designating the church a historic site.
Update: March 28, 2024
On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission (IHPC) voted unanimously in favor of both Declaratory Resolutions 2024-R-01 and 2024-R-02.
