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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Downtown Facade Grant for 100 6th Street RESOLUTION NO. 15-447 RESOLUTION APPROVING DOWNTOWN FACADE GRANTS FOR 2015/16 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 6th 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 fagade 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 allows one year to complete the project after signing a grant agreement; and, WHEREAS, in addition, the program includes preferences for facades that have not had previous funding for front facades and for facades along Main Street; and, WHEREAS, the Downtown Facade Grant Program has a carryover balance of$22,423 in unencumbered funds remaining from FY14/15 and an additional $50,000 for FY2015/16, and the available combined funds total $72,423 for fagade grants in FYI 5/16; and, WHEREAS, the City solicits a first round of grants applications in the spring for award in the summer of each year, and if there are remaining funds, the City solicits for a second round of application in the winter for a spring award of grants; and, WHEREAS,the City requested applications in April of 2015 for award in July 2015,and an invitation for grant applications was sent to all eligible property and business owners and was also publicized by the Main Street Cultural District; two property owners submitted applications for multiple building facades for consideration by the Council; and, WHEREAS,the first grant application is for the property at 100 6th Street for the Freidrich Realty building requesting $15,000 in grant funds and an additional $1,000 in design fees; and, WHEREAS, the grant application for the project at 100 6th Street consists of a renovation to the northwest corner of the building to install two new windows into the entry lobby(one on the north facade and one on the west fagade); and, WHEREAS,the project also includes a raised roof parapet over the northwest corner of the building,new stone pilasters on the north and west facades, a new front sidewalk and planter area at the east side of the entry door, and new signage for the building, and the grant request is for the 6th street facing fagade; and, WHEREAS, this fagade grant request is being made under the non-historic criteria of the Grant Guidelines,and the non-historic guidelines have only been applied on one other occasion;and, WHEREAS, the Grant program for non-historic buildings allows for grant funding for "improvements to select portions or features of a fagade when it is not feasible to do an entire fagade renovation," however, the proposed project has addressed some of the guideline requirements but has complications when trying to match the existing brick colors of the building to include other architectural features described in the guidelines; and, WHEREAS, therefore, the focus of the work has been on the northwest corner entry area, including the two new windows and stone pilasters and parapet,and the new landscape planter with sidewalk walls to bring the project in compliance with the guidelines for the grant; and, WHEREAS,. Staff has requested and the applicant agreed to wrap the improvements around the corner of the building to the west to meet more of the interests of the guidelines; and, WHEREAS, City staff recommends approving the 6th Street fagade request with the condition that includes the west fagade improvements as well as the planter and landscape enhancements with the 6th Street facade; and, WHEREAS,the applicant is requesting a$15,000 grant with an additional$1,000 grant for design fees for a total of$16,000, and the total project cost for the project is estimated at$77,846. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that the Downtown Facade Grant for 100 6"' Street in the total amount of $16,000 is hereby approved. ADOPTED THIS 14"' day of July, 2015. Diane R. Voss, City Clerk Ann H. Campbell, Mayor Introduced by: Goodman 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 14"'day of July, 2015.