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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - 2013/14 Second Round and 2014/15 First Round of Downtown Facade Grant Applications RESOLUTION NO. 14-345 RESOLUTION APPROVING DOWNTOWN FACADE GRANTS -2013/14 SECOND ROUND AND 2014/15 FIRST ROUND AWARDS FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA WHEREAS, the City Council annually budgets $50,000 for the Downtown Fagade Grant Program, and this program has an eligibility requirement for projects to be within the downtown area,which is generally described as from 6t' Street to the railroad tracks and from Duff Avenue to Northwestern Avenue; and, WHEREAS, the program includes up to $15,000 of matching funds per facade and allows up to $1,000 for architectural services; and, WHEREAS,the program requires compliance with specified design guidelines,ground floor use of office or retail trade, and historic fagade removal of non-compliant elements, and further allows one year to complete the project after signing a grant agreement; and, WHEREAS, in addition, the program includes preferences for fagades that have not had previous funding for front fagades and for fagades along Main Street; and, WHEREAS, in August 2013, the City Council awarded three Downtown Fagade Improvement grants totaling$56,000 from the program budget for the 2013/14 fiscal year and from unspent funds carried over from the previous fiscal year; and, WHEREAS,the project at 328-330 Main Street(Town Centre)is underway,and the projects at 122 Main(Computers &More) and 402 Main(The Spice)will proceed soon; and, WHEREAS,the program still has$9,423 in 2013/14 funding that was not committed during the first round of grants last August, and a second round is typically offered in the spring for the remaining funds; and, WHEREAS, due to the late April timing of requesting grant applications, staff is recommending that grant awards be made for both the remaining FY2013/14 fagade grant funds and for the FY2014/15 grant funds with the available combined funds totaling $59,423; and, WHEREAS, on April 4, 2014, an invitation for grant applications was sent to all eligible property and business owners and was also publicized by the Main Street Cultural District; and, WHEREAS,the total requested amount of$64,000(see Resolution No. 14-348)exceeds the combined FY2013/14 and FY2014/15 amount of$59,423; and, WHEREAS, the following grant applications were received: Address Business (or Building Name) Amount Requested 400 Main Street Lucullan's 15,000 Design fees 1,000 323 5t' Street Triplett Building 15,000 Design fees 1,000 537 Main Street Ames Insurance Company 15,000 Design fees 1,000 WHEREAS, City staff has determined that the proposed Downtown Fagade Improvement projects for the Triplett Building and Lucullan's are consistent with the Downtown Design Guidelines; and, WHEREAS, the grant scoring group agreed that these two projects have sufficient visual, financial impact, and extent of improvements to warrant support of the fagade grant program; and, WHEREAS,City staff and the scoring committee concluded that the improvements proposed to the office building at 537 Main do not provide a great deal of visual or economic impact due to the location, building type, and minimal scope of improvements other than expansion of the front porch; and, WHEREAS,with no other pending interest that staff is aware of,City staff supports awarding FY14/15 first round funds at this time, rather than delaying consideration for two months, and by combining the FY13/14 second round funding with FY14/15 first round funding, $59,423 will be available for matching grants funds at this time. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that the Downtown Fagade Improvement Grants for the first two projects listed above,and utilizing $48,000 of the available balance in the program, leaving $11,423 dollars for a second round in the Spring of 2015, are hereby approved. ADOPTED THIS loth day of June, 2014. _ /4. J/F. 6,' .,AAq#J Diane R. Voss, City Clerk Ann H. Campbell, Mayor Introduced by: Corrieri Seconded by: Nelson Voting aye: Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Goodman,Nelson, Orazem Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this IOt'day of June, 2014.