Bona Thompson Memorial Center
The 1903 former Butler library at 5350 University Ave, now the Irvington Historical Society's exhibit space.
Irvington · Indianapolis, IN
A curvilinear 1870 suburb with full historic design review
Irvington is Indianapolis's first planned suburb — winding streets, mature trees, and 2,373 contributing buildings across 545 acres. It is also an IHPC-regulated historic area, so exterior work here needs a Certificate of Appropriateness before a permit can be issued.
History & architecture
How Irvington was built
Platted in 1870 by Jacob Julian and Sylvester Johnson with curvilinear romantic-era streets, and named for Washington Irving.
Butler University occupied Irvington from 1875 until it moved to Fairview Park in 1928; the 1903 Neoclassical Revival Bona Thompson Memorial Library is the only surviving campus building.
The original plat expanded through additions such as Woodland Park in 1873, filling in as a streetcar suburb along the National Road before and after annexation into Indianapolis.
The 545-acre Irvington Historic District was listed on the National Register in 1987 with 2,373 contributing buildings, spanning Queen Anne, American Foursquare, and Craftsman bungalow stock.
- Typical era
- 1870s–1930s
- Lot sizes
- Varied — curvilinear plat produces irregular and often deep lots
- Common types
- Queen Anne, American Foursquare, Craftsman bungalow, Tudor Revival
- Design review
- Certificate of Appropriateness required from IHPC
Landmarks & shared spaces
Places that anchor Irvington
Ellenberger Park
42-acre park established in 1903 with a pool, rink, and tennis courts.
Irvington Historic District
545 acres of curvilinear streets and 2,373 contributing buildings, listed in 1987.
Original Butler University campus site
The 1875–1928 campus grounds, largely redeveloped but still legible in the street pattern.
East Washington Street / the National Road
The historic US 40 corridor forming the neighborhood's commercial spine.
Businesses & districts
Where Irvington gathers
East Washington Street
The historic commercial spine along the National Road — shops, restaurants, and the Irvington business district.
South Audubon Road
Small-scale neighborhood retail and services just off Washington Street.
University Avenue
Commercial and civic cluster around the Bona Thompson Center.
Zoning & overlays
Common zoning codes in Irvington
These are the base districts and overlays we see most often on Irvington lots. Always confirm your parcel's district and overlays on the Metro zoning map before design decisions get expensive.
D-5Dwelling District, medium-high density
The common close-in urban district: 5,000 sq ft minimum lot, 40 ft width, front yard set by the established block-face average (typically 20–25 ft), 5 ft sides, 20 ft rear, 35 ft height, 40% coverage.
D-4Dwelling District, medium density
Older single-family blocks: 6,000 sq ft minimum lot, 50 ft width, 25 ft front, 5 ft sides, 20 ft rear, 35 ft height, 35% coverage.
D-3Dwelling District, medium-low density
Larger established lots: 7,500 sq ft minimum, 60 ft width, 30 ft front, 6 ft sides, 25 ft rear, 35 ft height, 35% coverage.
Overlays that apply here
IHPC
Irvington Historic Area
A locally designated historic area regulated by the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission, layered over the base dwelling districts. This is what triggers Certificate of Appropriateness review.
NRHP
Irvington Historic District (1987)
National Register listing covering 545 acres. It confers recognition and tax-credit eligibility, not regulation — the local designation does the regulating.
Permitting path
- 1Confirm on the city's historic districts map whether the parcel sits inside an IHPC-regulated historic area or conservation district. National Register listing on its own carries no restriction on private exterior work — the local designation is what triggers review.
- 2Inside an IHPC area, a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) is required under IC 36-7-11-10 before exterior alterations, additions, new construction, demolition, fences, and signage. The Department of Business and Neighborhood Services will not issue the building permit without it.
- 3IHPC runs three tracks: administrative staff approval for routine, guideline-compliant work; a hearing officer for intermediate cases; and a full Commission public hearing for new construction, large additions, and demolition. The Commission meets monthly at the City-County Building.
- 4Reviews are measured against the district's adopted Historic Area Preservation Plan plus IHPC's citywide design Policies, last readopted January 8, 2025.
- 5The base dwelling district still applies underneath the overlay — lot coverage, side and rear setbacks, and the 35 ft height cap are all still enforced by zoning review.
Why it matters
Irvington's place in Indianapolis
Irvington is the city's most intact planned Victorian suburb and one of the largest historic districts in Indiana by area.
Its Halloween Festival draws tens of thousands of visitors and has made the neighborhood a recognizable brand well beyond the east side.
Because the whole district is regulated, it's the Indianapolis neighborhood where design review most often shapes the outcome of an addition.
Events & festivals
What happens in Irvington
Historic Irvington Halloween Festival
Late October
Week-long festival drawing 80,000-plus attendees, the neighborhood's signature event.
Irvington Winter Luminaria
December
Candlelit walking event organized by the Irvington Community Council.
Irvington Historical Society tours
Seasonal
Walking tours from the Bona Thompson Center covering the 1870 plat and its architecture.
Designing here
What this means for your Irvington project
- Plan for the COA on the schedule, not at the end. Routine, guideline-compliant work can be approved by staff, but additions and new construction go to a monthly Commission hearing.
- Additions read best when they step back from the primary facade and sit lower than the main ridge — the standard IHPC expectation is that new work is compatible but distinguishable from the original.
- Original wood windows are the most common point of friction. Repair and storm windows are far easier to approve than wholesale replacement.
- The curvilinear plat produces irregular lots, so the block-face front-yard average matters more here than a nominal setback number.
- Detached garages and ADUs are generally workable at the rear, but their scale, roof form, and siding get reviewed alongside the house.
FAQ
Questions about Irvington
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