We’re not giving up.  The Westfield Preservation Alliance (WPA) has stayed engaged in a long and arduous battle to preserve Westfield’s Historic Downtown and its status on the National Register of Historic Places, but that status is in jeopardy and we need your help.

Eleven buildings and one bridge on the south side of State Road 32, recognized by the Federal government and the State of Indiana for their historical significance for their age and architecture, face demolition due to three development projects.  

To be abundantly clear, this is not an effort to stop those projects but rather, an effort drafted in the spirit of compromise, understanding, and negotiation that pays respect to and maintains the cultural and historic resources in Westfield.

WPA has spent the better part of three years conferring with, testifying in front of, and meeting with city leaders and engineers, Indiana Landmarks, INDOT, the Indiana Historic Preservation Review Board, the State Historic Preservation Officer, and Indiana Department of Natural Resources to ensure the stories of these buildings and the structures themselves, Westfield’s heritage, remain a part of our lives today. 

The National Trust for Historic Places says in part, Westfield’s historic sites are irreplaceable.  From icons of architecture, historic sites are physical reminders of the diversity of our experiences and the history we share.  They can celebrate triumphs or challenge us to confront the harsh realities of our past.  But Westfield’s historic places can’t be replaced once they are destroyed.  We want to empower you to campaign for threatened historic sites in our own community.

Therefore, we have created a new petition to be presented to the Indiana Historic Preservation Review Board during an upcoming meeting on April 14th at Westfield City Hall (at 1 pm) opposing the demolition of these buildings.  The Board has been asked to grant a Certificate of Approval of the city’s planned widening of State Road 32, but we fervently believe there are other alternatives which can create a symbiosis that will alleviate the corridor mobility problems without destroying our historic resources which will ultimately cause the removal of Westfield’s Historic Downtown from the National Register of Historic Places. 

It’s not too late to act!  Please sign and SHARE, SHARE, SHARE and be sure to leave your comments or favorite memories of downtown Westfield!

Thanks for your support!