Spotlight on Downtown

Several downtown buildings in Orange County’s oldest community are getting a facelift this summer. Inspired by the town’s 2015 bicentennial, Orleans officials launched a number of improvement projects, including a $1.1 million rehabilitation of the town’s 1915 Carnegie library.

The Orleans Public Library unveiled the updates in late July, including a new architecturally compatible addition designed by the New Albany-based Michell Timperman Ritz. The addition almost doubles the library’s square footage, housing a computer lab, teen and children’s areas, a new circulation area, offices, restrooms, and storage space. The original Arts and Crafts-style building received new paint, carpet, and lighting, and updates to convert the lower level to classroom and meeting space.

Just a block away, a new façade improvement project focuses on buildings around the town’s historic Congress Square. Guided by Ball State University in a community visioning process, the town determined that rehabbing historic buildings and improving newer infill construction should be a key element of downtown development. In collaboration with the Orange County Economic Development Partnership, the Town of Orleans, Hoosier Uplands, Radius, and the Orleans Chamber of Commerce, the town established a program to award grants up to $10,000 for façade improvements. So far, more than 25 projects within the National Register-listed downtown have received funding.

“We are very excited about this opportunity and feel this important project will enhance our hometown of Orleans for years to come,” says Robert F. Henderson, Orleans Town Clerk and Executive Chamber Director. Orange County Economic Development Director Lloyd Arnold agrees, “This is just the beginning, and it’s a perfect example of what can happen when a community comes together and everyone is on board with bringing about positive change.”F