by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

One of Hamilton County’s oldest homes will be preserved while surrounding acreage is developed with 237 new homes in a somewhat unusual cooperative effort involving the developer and local historians.

Many times in our rapidly developing county, landmark structures are lost in the tide of new construction. But, in the case of Hull-Brennan house near Keystone Parkway and Smoky Row Road, history and development will both win if current plans succeed.

The house involved started as a pioneer log cabin in 1834. The William Wilkinson family members later added a large two-story brick house to the cabin in 1853.

The property was owned and occupied by members of the Hull and Brennan families for more than 100 years. William Hull died there about three years ago, and Brennan heirs placed the property for sale.

Old Town Companies, headed by Carmel native Justin Moffett, will purchase the 60-acre parcel, assuming re-zoning is granted. Old Town plans 103 single family homes and 134 condominium units, and will save the historic house probably for use as a “community gathering space.”

The re-zone request goes to the Carmel Plan Commission at their September meeting. Members of the Carmel Clay Historical Society, who brought the house to the attention of local officials, have indicated approval of the development plans. The historical society called upon Indiana Landmarks Inc. for assistance in documenting the historic value of the project house.

The new development will be named The Overlook, and three acres of the site will be devoted to the pioneer homestead, which was once part of a 630-acre tract received by William Wilkinson in an 1822 land grant from the federal government.