Meridian Street Preservation Commission

Preserving the Historic North Meridian Street Neighborhood in Indianapolis

In 1971, the Meridian Street Preservation Act (Indiana Statute PL 260-1971) was passed.  It requires any owner in the North Meridian Street Preservation Area (both Primary and Secondary Areas) to secure the approval of the Meridian Street Preservation Commission (MSPC) for any proposed change in land use (rezoning) or zoning variance. See the Preservation Area Plan. In addition, the owners of properties on North Meridian Street in the Primary Preservation Area must have proposed modifications of exterior features of their house and property through construction, reconstruction, alteration or demolition approved by the MSPC prior to beginning any work.

Meridian Street Preservation Commission Logo

View a map of the Meridian Street Preservation Area
View as a web page on the Meridian Street Foundation website
View map as an an Acrobat (pdf) document
View an address range document Acrobat (pdf) document

The Design Guidelines document, the MSPC Chair, and the area’s neighborhood organizations can provide guidance.

To get an overview of the application process to secure approval, refer to the “Application Approval Process Chart.” For written instructions for filing, refer to the “Application Packet and Instructions” below. The Commission hears and votes on applications and petitions as specified in State Statute IC-7-36-11.2.”

Deadline for filing an application is 30 days before the meeting date (see the MSPC Hearing Schedule for dates of upcoming hearings and for dates that all documents are due from applicants).

If you are concerned about activity in the North Meridian Street Preservation Area and are concerned that proper MSPC approval may not have been obtained, please contact the MSPC.  If you observe work on a property in the North Meridian Street Preservation area that you are sure has not obtained approval, please contact the Mayor’s Action Center at 317.327.4622 (ask for the Mayor’s Neighborhood Advocate for the property address in violation), or contact the MSPC.

The Commission

Commission members are appointed by the Mayor of the City of Indianapolis and the Governor of Indiana. Meetings are held monthly.

Meeting Schedule

4:00 p.m. on the 3rd Tuesday
Meridian Street Methodist Church
5500 North Meridian Street
Indianapolis, IN  46208
(printable meeting schedule)

Commissioners

The MSPC consists of a nine-member board tasked with upholding the Meridian Street Preservation Act.
(printable list of commissioners)

Contact Information

200 East Washington Street, Ste 1842
Indianapolis, IN 46204
connect@mspconline.org
(printable contact list)

The Meridian Street Preservation Commission is chaired by a representative from the City of Indianapolis Department of Metropolitan Development (see IC 36-7-11.2-19 through IC 36-7-11.2-26 of State Statute).  A representative from the State of Indiana Attorney General’s Office serves as counsel.  See Indiana State IAC Rules Title 925 (as a web page, as a document) for additional rules that have been adopted to help the Commission administer the State Statute and govern the procedures of the Commission, applicants, and interested parties (e.g., supporters and remonstrators of an application).

Blank Applications

All documents open in a new tab.

Application Approval Process Chart
Application for Cert. of Appropriateness
Application for Rezoning
Application for Variance

Miscellaneous Documents

All documents open in a new tab.

Boundary Map of Preservation Area
image | pdf document | address range document
Case Filing Map (Cases Prior to 11.16.2010)
Design Guidelines
Frequently Asked Questions
Meridian Street Preservation Area Plan
Municipal Code for the City of Indianapolis
2020 Indiana State Rules Readoption
Resolution: Time Limit for Beginning Work
Resolution:
Parking Pad Restriction in Front Yard (Primary)

Commission Ballots

All documents open in a new tab.

Cert. of Appropriateness
Sample Ballot
Rezoning Sample Ballot
Variance Sample Ballot

You’ve got questions?

We’ve got answers. You’ll find a few answers here, in our Frequently Asked Questions document. Also, make sure you check out our Application Process chart. If you don’t find what you are looking for, just contact the commission.

Meeting Agenda Archive

The Meridian Street Preservation Commission is scheduled to meet at 4:00PM on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at Meridian Street United Methodist Church, 5500 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208; the hearing is located in the Conference Room on the first floor.  Current Hearing Schedule is here.

MSPC Filings Archive

Certificate of Appropriateness and Zoning Variance filings.

Certificate of Appropriateness (by Year and Case Number)

Certificate of Appropriateness (by Address)

Application for Prior Approval of a Variance

MSPC Contact Information

Contact the MSPC by filling out the form below.

    MSPC Primary Contacts

    Mailing Address:

    Meridian Street Preservation Commission
    200 East Washington Street, Suite 1842
    Indianapolis, IN 46204

    MSPC Chair, Petition Packets, and Submittal

    Shannon Norman
    Shannon.Norman@indy.gov
    317-327-7834

    (printable contact info)

    Neighborhood Association Contacts

    Butler-Tarkington Neighborhood Association (BTNA)
    Land Use Committee
    Neil Bloede, Chair
    317.414.4934
    neil.bloede@hotmail.com

    Meridian-Kessler Neighborhood Association (MKNA)
    Land Use Committee
    Eileen Hack, Chair
    eileen.hack@gmail.com

    Meridian Street Foundation (MSF)
    Land Use Committee
    Jason Sciortino
    317.372.4777
    jsciortino@talktotucker.com