Submitted
Mike Corbett has five key principles driving his campaign for mayor. Each week he takes a deep dive in to each of the five principles. Last week he tackled transparency.
The second key principle of the Mike Corbett for Mayor campaign is a plea to reconsider the value of historic preservation in economic development efforts.
Corbett
“It’s a change of mindset,” said Corbett. “Historic preservation is harder than building new, so city leaders often find it easier to just bulldoze historic properties rather than going to the trouble of fixing them up. But that’s a mistake.”
Corbett cites Noblesville’s Courthouse Square as an example.
“Ask anyone what they find appealing about our city and inevitably the courthouse square comes to mind,” he said. “It has that sense of place that makes it special. So, it’s important that we recognize what is appealing about the square; preserve it, nurture it and expand upon it.”
Corbett says the old buildings have intrinsic appeal because of their scale, design, workmanship and materials. These buildings are very accessible and appealing in a way that new buildings aren’t. They create an atmosphere that is welcoming, friendly and maybe a bit nostalgic. That is unique enough that it appeals to visitors and residents alike, encouraging them to spend their time and money at downtown businesses. That’s economic development, he says.
Historic buildings have the added benefit of often being fully amortized, which means landlords can afford to charge lower rents.
“Entrepreneurs and artists seek out historic buildings, not just for their natural appeal,” he said, “but because they are often affordable for people protecting their cash flow as they launch new businesses. That’s also economic development.”
City leaders often perceive preservationists as impediments to progress, says Corbett, but that’s not the case.
“Preservationists aren’t opposed to change,” he said. “They’re opposed to bad change, change that destroys the character of a place, or alters the landscape in a way that detracts from what makes it appealing to begin with.”
It’s been said many times, and Corbett agrees, that other communities are trying to emulate what Noblesville has.
“You could build a new city with buildings on this exact same footprint,” he said, “but they wouldn’t have the same appeal, the same sense of place and the same authenticity that our downtown has. Time has a way of exerting its own unique imprint on things, and there is no substitute. You can’t re-create it, though many have tried. You can only try to preserve what you have. Every time we tear down another building, we destroy the very thing that makes our community so appealing. That has to stop.”
Background
Mike Corbett has been involved in Noblesville affairs for more than a decade as a citizen, volunteer and business owner. He’s a member of the boards of directors for Noblesville Main Street and Noblesville Preservation Alliance and a former director for Hamilton County Area Neighborhood Development (HAND) and Promising Futures (Hamilton Centers Youth Service Bureau). He’s a current member and former president of the Noblesville Midday Rotary Club and serves on the Southwest Quad Action Team.
Corbett is a graduate of the Hamilton County Leadership Academy and the Noblesville Schools Ambassador Program. He was honored last year as one of United Way’s 100 Heroes. He holds a BA in Broadcast Journalism and an MBA.
Corbett’s company, Hamilton County Media Group, publishes the Hamilton County Business Magazine and the Welcome to Hamilton County Community Guide.
Corbett is married to Joni Corbett, a REALTOR®, and has five grown children. He spends his free time renovating historic houses, volunteering with nearly a dozen local civic groups and riding his Fuji 12-speed bicycle.
For more information, please visit mikecorbettformayor.com. Connect with Mike on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.