Across Indiana, communities are growing, infrastructure is evolving, and new development continues to reshape the landscape. At the same time, many projects intersect with buildings, bridges, and landmarks that carry decades of history. Preserving those places requires a thoughtful balance of experience, planning, and respect for the past.
At DCCM, our historic preservation team helps communities maintain that balance every day. We support federally funded projects through historic resource evaluations and guide local governments through surveys, documentation, and Section 106 compliance. Our specialists ensure progress moves forward while protecting the character and heritage that make each community unique.
Through detailed research, GIS mapping, and nationally recognized preservation standards, our team works to revive historic structures, preserve cultural landscapes, and safeguard the stories that define Indiana’s towns and cities. Whether restoring a century‑old bridge, preserving mid‑century architecture, or helping communities better understand their historic assets, our work connects the past to safe, forward‑thinking development.
In this Q&A, DCCM Indiana historical preservation experts Kyle Boot, MSHP, and Hannah Hall, MSHP, discuss the importance of integrating historical preservation into modern development.
What are some specific ways DCCM promotes the importance of historic preservation and balancing progress with preservation?
The historic preservation team at DCCM evaluates historic resources that could be affected by any federally funded projects, as well as providing historic preservation commissions, communities, and city governments with resource surveys, advisory roles, and resource data organization and management.
For federally funded projects, our experts, Kyle Boot, MSHP and Hannah Hall, MSHP consider which resources are adjacent to the specific project area, the level of work being performed, and the potential impacts on the historic resources. They assist local preservation communities in surveying their resources and organizing their existing data into a more navigable format to aid their future preservation endeavors. Kyle and Hannah’s work includes mapping historic resources in GIS, surveying historic properties adjacent to a project, conducting research on properties, determining National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligible resources, and guiding local preservation groups through the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Their additional work includes Section 106 compliance under the National Environmental Protection Act (NHPA) and aiding local communities in their preservation efforts.
This work is incredibly important because it evaluates the impacts of projects on historic properties, helps the public protect their existing resources, and preserves the physical history of many towns, cities, and communities.
What are some specifics about the historic preservation project process that many may not know about?
Historic preservation has various procedures based on project type and clientele. A prominent example of this would be how Section 106 projects follow regulations provided by the federal agency overseeing the project, in adherence with the NHPA guidelines. This typically includes coordination with local residents and government agencies, preparing historic property reports, and assessing the overall effects of the project.
Local projects vary per need; for advisory roles, our team offers guidance on best practices for preserving historic properties and districts. Survey roles include comprehensive surveys that include GIS mapping, photographs, and detailed documentation of each resource.
How does DCCM prioritize projects related to historic preservation?
DCCM’s primary objective when completing projects related to historic preservation include thoroughly following Section 106 regulations for clients. Our team is committed to protecting historic resources and supporting local preservation efforts, regardless of how complex the process can be.
Whenever a project requires removing historic resources, DCCM mitigates any potential issues through a documentation process; this preserves the record for future generations even if the physical record is lost. An example of this was the documentation of a historic limestone drainage structure and brick and iron steam tunnel that were buried under an existing roadway. Our preservationists photographed, drew, and mapped these features to be placed in the state archives.
What are your thoughts regarding the future of historic preservation, the obstacles you are currently encountering in your work, and the challenges you anticipate in the coming years?
Historic preservation holds the key to honoring the past while the world continues to modernize and change; however, various obstacles threaten these incredibly important services and the valuable lessons our team fights to preserve. A few examples include:
- Lack of necessary funding.
- Lengthy Section 106 work and reviews, such as ongoing coordination, multi-document preparation, and various agency reviews. These efforts can take an extensive amount of time based on the project type and number of historic resources. These longer timeframes can cause delays in the overall environmental clearance process.
- Evaluating historic resources and determining the best treatment can be subjective.
- Trade and skilled labor experienced in historic materials or technology can be difficult to secure, as well as costly.
- Guidance is relatively new and starting to be explored for mid-century era properties and districts. This can create discrepancies when determining best preservation practices and what is considered eligible for the National Register.
What are some significant projects completed, and any challenges addressed during these projects?
Nowland Avenue Historic Bridge | Indianapolis, IN
The Nowland Avenue bridge is a unique Luten-design bridge built in 1903 that contributes to the Indianapolis Park and Boulevard System. The City of Indianapolis Public Works Department recommended DCCM because of our vast experience with historic bridges. Our team designed and engineered the project in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation to restore the closed bridge, revive Brookside Park, and allow for continued use as a pedestrian bridge for the Pogues Run Trail. The client planned to restore the bridge with 100% local funds but received CDBG funds during the design process; therefore, our team shifted gears to gain Section 106 clearance through the Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology (DHPA). The DHPA concurred with the restoration plans without comment, confirming the restoration conformed with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation.
Pagoda Drive over Pleasant Run Bridge | Indianapolis, IN
DCCM replaced this historic bridge carrying Pagoda Drive over Pleasant Run and rehabilitated the associated stone walls and dam remnants in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation. Our team completed the preservation and Section 106 services, including the historic property report, historic bridge alternatives analysis, consulting party meeting and consultation, effect finding documentation, and NEPA documentation. Our efforts resulted in successfully preserving and recreating historic features while also providing additional access to the historic Garfield Park and the Indianapolis Park and Boulevard Historic District.
West Lafayette Historic Surveys | Lafayette, IN
Our team had the opportunity to partner with the City of West Lafayette on a three-phase architectural and historical structure survey update. The main objective for the project was to update the inventory of historic structures and help the City better understand how to preserve them amid redevelopment pressures. The surveys documented each property’s materials, construction dates, and architectural styles, and included photographs. This information was provided to the City with updated property cards and maps, which show the location and ranking of each historic property by significance. The City of West Lafayette is now able to plan and properly advise their historic districts on their future preservation efforts, and residents can learn more about their historic resources.
Thomas Pendleton House Preservation | Pendleton, IN
DCCM developed a detailed preservation plan for the historic Thomas Pendleton House in Pendleton, IN. The plan assists with the maintenance, rehabilitation, and fundraising for the continued use of the building. Our team documented both interior and exterior architectural features, prepared a preservation priority list, coordinated with designers to develop a cost estimate, and recorded a detailed history of the property. Extensive coordination was required with architects and engineers to provide a well-rounded preservation plan for the South Madison Community Foundation.
276th Street Road Rehabilitation | Atlanta, IN
Kyle Boot was responsible for writing the Historic Property Report for DCCM. He conducted a site visit of the Area of Potential Effect (APE) and documented all resources at least 50 years of age within the APE at the time. The Roberts Settlement, one of Indiana’s oldest African American communities, was part of this process. Kyle’s work renewed interest in the rural African American community of Hamilton County, IN. An Indiana Historic Bureau marker was later placed at the Roberts Chapel.
Gregg Park Shelter | Vincennes, IN
Through a historic preservation grant, Kyle and Hannah worked with the DCCM architecture team to restore the shelter house true to its original 1938 design. This structure was part of the New Deal stimulus program during the Great Depression. Meticulous work on the limestone included replacement, patching, and tuckpointing, and has been updated to meet modern standards while retaining the original charm.
Historic Preservation Team
Kyle Boot, MSHP
Kyle is Senior Architectural Historian with more than 15 years of experience in historic preservation, research, documentation, and cultural resource management. His expertise in all aspects of Section 106 and NEPA compliance is vital to DCCM's cultural resources team of qualified professional historians. Kyle leads the team and coordinates archaeological investigations with the project team. His strong relationships and continual coordination with INDOT Cultural Resources Office (CRO) ensure Section 106 is advanced as quickly as possible because it can be the critical environmental path. Kyle’s team has completed Section 106 coordination and documentation at all levels with numerous historic property reports and effects determinations across the state. His team maintains Historic Architecture and Section 106 scores over five times the average INDOT cultural resources consultants.
Hannah Hall, MSHP
Hannah is an architectural historian with a master’s degree in historic preservation and bachelor’s degree in history. She has more than four years of experience in cultural resource management, historic resource surveys, National Register of Historic Places determinations and evaluations, preservation plans, NEPA compliance, and Section 106 documentation. Hannah works as a team with senior architectural historian, Kyle Boot and other DCCM team members to follow national and state preservation guidelines. She utilizes her expertise from creating preservation plans, conducting large historic resource surveys, and writing historic property reports to continuously meet project requirements while maintaining preservation compliance.
