Plymouth's Balcony Block Building has been awarded preservation money through the Historic Renovation Grant Program.
Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs today announced 10 properties will be awarded $728,671 through the Historic Renovation Grant Program. The program is designed to preserve and rehabilitate historic properties to further incentivize downtown economic development across Indiana.
JGM Properties has been awarded $45,162 to restore the Michigan Street façade and replace the roof of the Balcony Block Building. The building is located at 113-115 North Michigan Street in Plymouth.
This Italianate building is a contributing resource in the Plymouth Downtown National Register District. The building is home to Wild Rose Moon, a performing arts and education venue, and soon to be Aldridge Internal Medicine & Family Practice, a professional business. Both businesses contribute substantially to the economic activity in the historic downtown.
The second floor of this building contains two recently renovated urban loft apartments and one recently renovated small office space.
“As we advance as a state, it is important to reflect on our past,” said Crouch. “Thanks to the Historic Renovation Grant Program, these 10 properties will be around to inspire generations of Hoosiers for years to come.”
Eligible properties for this grant program must be at least 50 years old and either listed on the register of Indiana historic sites and structures, be listed or eligible for listing to the National Register of Historic Places, or be listed as a contributing resource in a National Register District. Awarded properties will receive funding for the renovation and preservation of exterior features.
“The Historic Renovation Grant Program has already created an ongoing positive impact in a number of communities,” said OCRA Executive Director Denny Spinner. “This grant round will help these 10 communities to preserve their Hoosier history while fueling economic development.”
From 2021 to 2022, the Historic Renovation Grant Program received more than 80 applications with requests totaling over $5 million. While applicants must provide at least a dollar-for-dollar cash-match, the program continues to leverage significantly more than the State’s investment into these projects, resulting in a greater economic impact for awarded communities.
Applications were scored based on appropriate historical criteria, extensive support from local residents, and the economic impact the project would have on the greater community and the State of Indiana.
For more information, visit in.gov/ocra/historic-renovation-grant-program.
