Officials make last-ditch effort to save historic Cannelton building
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The Perry County city of Cannelton and nonprofit preservation organization Indiana Landmarks are seeking developers to save a historic downtown building.
The two-story, Italianate commercial building at 201 Washington St. will be torn down by the end of the year because of its condition if a new owner isn’t found, Indiana Landmarks said.
“We’d really like to save this piece of our community’s history, but if we can’t find a partner to do it, the building will have to be demolished,” Cannelton Mayor Morris Graves said in a news release. “We have a $20,000 grant for demolition that expires Dec. 31, 2024. We’re seriously hoping to find an alternative and reallocate the grant for something lasting and sustainable.”
In addition to the $20,000 grant from the city, the building is eligible to receive federal rehabilitation tax credits as an income-producing property, the organization. Located on State Road 66, part of the Ohio River National Scenic Byway, the building is classified as a contributing structure in the Cannelton National Register Historic District.
Indiana Landmarks named the town’s downtown to its 10 Most Endangered Places list in 2018, and it has remained on the organization’s watch list since. Cannelton is about 45 miles east of Evansville.
Developers must commit to a timely and sensitive rehabilitation of the building for mixed commercial and residential use consistent with the city’s Downtown Revitalization Plan, according to Indiana Landmarks.
Proposals are due by Dec. 9. Contact Graves at 812-547-8994 or Greg Sekula at Indiana Landmarks at 812-284-4534 for more information.