Speakers agree: Preservation and business can co-exist

If anyone had any doubts that preservation and economic development could co-exist, they only needed to attend the Hobart Historical Society’s annual dinner Oct. 26. The program took place in a former funeral parlor and later a Mexican restaurant.

The Palazzo Room was the dinner site, as guests received a tour of Wild Wood’s, A Gathering Place and the adjoining courtyard. The growing businesses are owned by John and Toni Chitwood, with the latter, along with historic preservationist Tiffany Tolbert, addressing the dinner.

Tolbert, who wears many hats statewide and nationally on historic preservation, chairs the Hobart Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). The commission is the city’s official body for identifying, protecting, and promoting historic property. The HPC’s work includes receiving design proposals, issuing permits for work in historic districts, and ensuring compliance with preservation standards.

The HPC’s board members include Paula Isolampi and Chris Kosovich, both Hobart Historical Society officers.

Tolbert, a Hobart resident who also chairs Indiana Humanities, said preserving local history, including the HHS Museum, provide the public with a place to gather around a shared history.

Historic preservation, Tolbert continued, is a local issue – people organizing and working with community leaders. The HPC works with merchants and local businesses, offering grants to maintain and improve their buildings while retaining the original look.

Preservation, Tolbert noted, is an investment in the business community.

“Preservation and economic development can work together,” Tolbert said, warning of ongoing cuts on preservation at the federal level. She encouraged her audience to know their community’s history and support that history.

Chitwood, who with her husband purchased the former Epperson Furniture building seven years ago, confessed, “I just love these buildings.”

She added, though, that it has been a learning process, going through building permits, historic preservation, working with contractors, complying with codes, and the challenge of converting a former retail business into an event venue. Over time, Chitwood said, she learned to “take each hurdle as it comes.”

The Chitwoods have taken on another challenge – purchasing the former McGee’s Health Club at 301 Center St. They plan to develop four residential apartments upstairs, with three commercial spaces on the ground floor.

Toni Chitwood sees this latest venture as an opportunity to preserve the building, while also giving it new life. The McGee’s building dates back to 1910; Wild Wood’s goes back to 1929.

As with Tolbert, Chitwood views historic preservation as an investment in the downtown business district, while preserving the nature of the downtown area for generations to come.