A new board chairman of Indiana Landmarks has been named with ideas on how to create a historic district in Elkhart.

Tim Shelly was recently appointed to serve as chairman for the state's largest nonprofit historical preservation group.

Shelly has been on the board with Indiana Landmarks for years but was recently assigned chairman.

One project that serves as an example of their work is just blocks away from his office in Elkhart.

It's called the Sage House. It's an old funeral home that's been preserved, restored and now sold to a family. It's one of many projects the association has been working on recently.

“The quality of materials aren't quite the same,” says Indiana Landmarks board chairman. “But if you are willing to live with the building, I find old houses like this are just great places to live.”

Other recent projects the association has been working on include the Rushton and the Kizer House both on West Washington in South Bend. Shelly says he hopes to create a historic corridor similar to South Bend’s in Elkhart.

Also the Lerner Theater was recently honored by the association for its renovations.