
Preservation with teeth
Protected downtown’s historic buildings
Working with residents and business owners, Aaron wrote local preservation standards so that anything larger than a two-car garage in the downtown core now goes through a public process before it can come down.
The problem
A historic building near downtown could come down with a routine permit. Unfortunately, once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Aaron’s approach
Bring residents and business owners together to write rules that require a public say, then keep strengthening them for the next generation of homeowners.
The results
- A public process before any building larger than a two-car garage near downtown comes down.
- Amendments to count partial demolitions, stop demolition by neglect, and make penalties match the violation.
- The last brick alley downtown restored with the Noblesville Preservation Alliance in 2021.






