A majority of property owners within the proposed Central Batesville Historic District must be in favor of being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in order for city leaders to submit an application, Kent Abraham told about 10 meeting attendees Dec. 9.

The Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana southeastern field representative observed, “You have a traditional Main Street. Like all Main Streets in the Midwest and across the country, it is challenged with its uses. Having a tool like this in place is, I think, paramount. It's not the magic bullet, but one arrow in the quiver to meet those challenges.”

To be classified as a historic district, Batesville’s area must be at least 50 years old, be significant either because of architecture or because a famous person lived or stayed there and exhibit integrity.

The register contains two types of listings: an individual site, such as the recently-approved Versailles courthouse; or a designated district of residential, commercial or a mix of structures with boundaries, such as areas within the river towns of Rising Sun, Aurora and Lawrenceburg.

Abraham found it "kind of odd" that so far no Batesville buildings appear on the register at all.

Indiana maintains a state register that mirrors National Register of Historic Places listings, he reported.

If the effort moves ahead, the State Historic Preservation Office would be the lead agency in helping Batesville get the designation.

A nomination would be drafted in 2010, probably by a private consultant. “It will take some professionalism to get a district done,” Abraham advised.

To pay for the extra help, the city has applied for a matching 50/50 federal grant administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology.

SHPO would then review and comment on the draft before its citizens review board would make hopefully a favorable recommendation to the National Park Service, which oversees the National Register. If all goes well, Batesville could have an approved historic district in 2011.

The map of the proposed district is "not very nice and neat," he admitted. The area would include the two blocks bordered by East Pearl and South streets and Park and Eastern avenues; two blocks surrounded by Park Avenue and Catherine, Main and George streets; and an odd-shaped area that includes some, but not all properties within Main, Catherine and Vine streets and Boehringer Avenue plus the Snikkers & Peanuts and Gibson Theatre buildings.

It excludes Batesville Shopping Village, which no longer contains older structures.

Could the designation be financially lucrative? While “there is no pot of gold,” the field rep added, “It sets the table for opportunities that may come along in the future.”

For example, an investor could receive a 20 percent federal tax credit for substantial rehabilitation, such as a factory converted to another use. “These must be income-producing properties ... that's the whole point, to keep properties on the tax rolls.”

It also could improve chances for the local government and nonprofits to gain federal grants.