The Walls family, including Rocky and Jessica Walls and their children, the Downs family, including Zach and Britney Downs and their children, Kurt Meyer, NPA Board Member Joshua Mason, NPA Board President Katie Nurnberger, NPA Board Member Rina Neeley, NPA Executive Director Joshua Glassburn-Ruby, and NPA Board Member Dennis Smith. (Photo provided by Rocky Walls)
Noblesville residents Rocky Walls & Zach Downs enter agreement to purchase historic building for community arts use
Rocky Walls and Zach Downs, alongside their families, have entered into a purchase agreement for the historic building at 1274 Logan St., Noblesville, marking a new chapter for the longtime community arts space.
The property, stewarded by the Noblesville Preservation Alliance (NPA) since 2019, has undergone a major exterior restoration, served as a convening space for NPA and its members, and hosted local arts and cultural events. Walls and Downs plan to continue and expand that legacy by activating the building as a gathering place to celebrate community arts, storytelling, film screenings, and more.
“This building has always felt like a space meant for bringing the neighborhood together,” said Walls, who lives directly across the street.
Downs added, “We are incredibly grateful to NPA for preserving it and creating a foundation for what it can become. Our hope is to build on that stewardship and open the doors even wider for our community.”
Walls emphasizes that the transition represents not only continuity, but a philosophy.
“I believe preservation and activation go hand in hand,” he said. “Whether we’re talking about stories or buildings, humans have an innate drive and a responsibility to preserve and pass along our heritage. But preservation works best when what’s being preserved can be seen, felt, and experienced. Our hope is that this space becomes something the community isn’t just aware of, but actively embraces, and that its impact resonates far beyond the walls of the building.”
NPA Executive Director Joshua Glassburn-Ruby explained the broader legacy behind the transition.
“The board members who came before us gave Noblesville more than a building,” Glassburn-Ruby said. “Their legacy will continue as NPA reinvests a portion of the sale proceeds into programs that preserve our history and strengthen our entire community. As an organization, we are thrilled to pass the torch of stewardship to Rocky and Zach, so that they may carry it forward in new and exciting ways.”
NPA Board President Katie Nurnberger said, “Our goal has always been to ensure this space remains vibrant and community-focused. We believe this next chapter honors the spirit of the building while positioning it for long-term sustainability.”
Walls and Downs and their families are known locally for their involvement in community-focused ventures such as documentary film company, 12 Stars Media, and the small-batch, from-scratch Debbie’s Daughters Bakery Cafe – projects that blend successful private enterprise with creative and civic engagement. Their families will play an active role in shaping the next season of 1274 Logan St. as a welcoming cultural gathering place.
The transaction was brokered by Kurt Meyer of F.C. Tucker Company.
Additional details about future programming and community engagement will be announced in the coming months.
