Westfield’s 19th‑century “Green Building” is about to take a short trip, as crews this week lift the structure off its foundation and slide it out of the way of a major State Road 32 rebuild. The lime vinyl siding has already been peeled off, and workers plan to move the wooden frame to a nearby city lot before it is set on a new permanent foundation near City Hall. The tightly choreographed move is expected to bring a one‑day closure and temporary parking clampdown along downtown Union Street.
Move schedule and safety details
The City of Westfield says the relocation is scheduled to start around 8 a.m. on Thursday, March 5, with the intersection of Union Street and State Road 32 set to close at 4 a.m. and expected to reopen by about 5 p.m., according to a city news release. No parking will be allowed on North Union Street from March 4 through March 5 so crews and heavy equipment have a clear path. Hadley Park, at the northwest corner of State Road 32 and Union Street, has been designated as the public viewing zone, and the city is steering spectators to park at Westfield City Hall at 130 Penn Street. The move could be bumped to Friday if the weather does not cooperate. City of Westfield.
A building with a long downtown history
Locals know it simply as the Green Building, but the wooden structure dates back to the 1830s and has worn a lot of hats in downtown Westfield. Over the years it has been a drugstore, the town’s post office in the 1870s and a rotating cast of shops and restaurants. One of its most beloved roles came in 1958, when Pickett’s Cafeteria opened and drew big weekend crowds until it closed in 2002. Local reporting has documented that long history, along with an earlier on‑site relocation of the building in 2024. IBJ.
Restoration and preservation plans
Preservation advocates note that the lime‑colored vinyl siding is a modern layer, not original to the 1800s, and say plans call for the historic clapboard to be restored or recreated once rehabilitation is finished. “It’s not going to be a green vinyl‑sided building. It will be restored back to what it looked like in the early 1800s,” Westfield Preservation Alliance board member Linda Naas told local TV. Naas and other supporters say they hope the building eventually comes back to life with an active commercial tenant, such as a grocery, drug store or restaurant, after the city issues a request for proposals. The Indianapolis Star.
Why the city is moving it
The move is one piece of the broader 32Connects effort, which is widening and rebuilding State Road 32 through downtown Westfield in multiple phases in partnership with INDOT. The goal is to cut traffic congestion and improve safety for people on foot. The project’s planning documents spell out a series of phased closures, detours and construction milestones that make this temporary relocation necessary now, while underground utilities are installed. City and state officials describe the move and rehab work as mitigation that preserves the landmark structure while still allowing the road upgrade to go forward. 32Connects.
How to watch or avoid the delays
Anyone hoping to see the building inch down the street is asked to use Hadley Park as the viewing spot and follow safety instructions on site, since the immediate work zone will be an active construction area. Drivers should stick to the detours laid out by the city and 32Connects and avoid parking on Union Street during the closure window so crews have room to work. For up‑to‑the‑minute timing, weather‑related changes and traffic alerts, the city plans to post updates on its website and social media channels. City of Westfield.
