2024 Quality of Place Conference

Richmond Columbian Properties, 

William G. Scott House

2024 Quality of Place Conference

Vacancy and blight are troublesome issues in older historic neighborhoods. In Richmond, many of the six National Register Historic Districts have been allowed to decline because of disinvestment and apathy. The Starr District itself is listed on the 10 Most Endangered List compiled by Indiana Landmarks. This is an issue facing many communities.

We have three presenters who will examine this topic. Carla Bruni is the Preservation and Resiliency Specialist at the Chicago Bungalow Association. She is also a lecturer at the School of Art Institute of Chicago. She has a long career in historic preservation and neighborhood reinvestment. She will talk about grassroots efforts to develop neighborhoods in Chicago and how art creates engagement in the community. Carla Bruni’s presentation is free to the public.

Our keynote speaker is Michael Hicks, the Director of the Ball State University Institute for Economics and Business. Mike is a noted authority on economics and has written several articles and papers on the subject. He will talk about the housing shortage.

Jake Sipe is the Director of the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority. He will explain how Community Housing Development Organizations (CHDO) work to create affordable housing and raise the quality of life in poverty-stricken neighborhoods.

This year the conference is a fundraising event to support our mission and the preservation of the William G. Scott House. We had to replace the heating and air conditioning system in the First Bank Gallery Hall, so we need the money. The cost is $35.00 which includes lunch. If you can’t make the conference a tax-deductible contribution to Richmond Columbian Properties would certainly be appreciated. Reservations can be made on eventbrite.com or mail your conference fee to Richmond Columbian Properties P.O. Box 294 Richmond, Indiana 47375. Student Scholarships are available, and a discounted rate of $20.00 for, Wayne County HYPE members (contact Matt at 765/993-1217).

Date and time: Thursday, April 25 · 9:30 am - 2:30 pm EDT

Location:  William G. Scott House 

204 North 10th Street Richmond, IN 47374

Agenda: 9:30 A.M. Registration, 10:30 A.M. Carla Bruni, 11:30 A.M., lunch with Michael Hicks, 1:00 P.M. Jake Sipe, 2:30 P.M. Conference ends.

Our Partners: Wayne County Foundation, Van Vleet Insurance, 

Artist’s Retreat Guest House, Indiana Landmarks