Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Approving 2020 Downtown Facade Grants RESOLUTION NO. 20-254 RESOLUTION APPROVING 2020 DOWNTOWN FACADE GRANTS FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA WHEREAS, the Downtown Fagade Grant Program was introduced in 2000 to facilitate private improvements to Downtown retail and other commercial storefronts; and, WHEREAS, the City Council annually budgets $50,000 as matching grants for eligible projects; this Program is available to property owners within the area generally described as from 6`' Street to the railroad tracks, from Duff Avenue to Northwestern Avenue, and along Kellogg Avenue to Lincoln Way; and, WHEREAS, the Program includes up to $15,000 of dollar-for-dollar matching funds per fagade and up to $1,000 for additional architectural services; and, WHEREAS, the Program requires compliance with specified Design Guidelines, and the Program requirements include a prerequisite of a ground floor use of office or retail trade; and, WHEREAS,additionally,grant eligibility includes a requirement for proposed improvements to retain the historic fagade or for the removal of non-compliant elements consistent with the guidelines or pursue eligibility under the other fagade guidelines; and, WHEREAS,the Program is designed to operate with two application cycles: the first cycle is typically in the summer, and if there are remaining funds after awards in the first round, then a second application round occurs in the winter; and, WHEREAS, the summer grant round is intended to provide funding for new projects with one grant per building; the second round is intended to fund new projects and potentially second facades for properties that have already received a grant; and, WHEREAS, the City solicited applications for this first round and received requests involving three properties; the total requested grant funding is approximately$61,000; and, WHEREAS,two projects from FY 2018/19 did not proceed with their improvement plans, and these two projects are 210 Main Street (The Frame Shop) and 212 Main Street (London Underground); and, WHEREAS, each project was awarded$16,000 in May of 2019; and, WHEREAS, the 210 Main Street location chose not to move forward with the project after receiving a notice to proceed,while 212 Main Street did not complete the notice to proceed process and has not responded to staff inquires on their interest to proceed with a project; and, WHEREAS, the first round of applications contains three grant requests for two properties that have common ownership, but are separate buildings and properties; and, WHEREAS, the 330-51'' Street location last housed an electronics store and was originally a gas station and service station; and, WHEREAS, the 412 Burnett Avenue location most recently housed a pet shop and was originally constructed for automobile repair; and, WHEREAS,the building on the corner,330-5t1i Street is eligible for two grants in a second- round application cycle, one for each front facade as it is the corner property, and, WHEREAS,the property owner of 330-5t1i Street and 412 Burnett Avenue intends to renovate the buildings and is seeking a grant to replace windows, install new windows, place windows in original garage door openings, add canopies, and install additional facade elements; and, WHEREAS, this grant-eligible work will be done in conjunction with other cosmetic changes,painting of the brick, a new cornice, and brick facade maintenance; and, WHEREAS,the second grant application is for the two-story property at 404 and 406 Main Street, and the applicant proposes to remove the closed-in windows that appear as shutters on the second story and replace them with new glazing that mimics the pattern of the original sash windows; and, WHEREAS,the applicant intends to develop the properties as a unified structure,although it is designed as two separate tenant spaces. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that the Downtown Facade Improvements grants totaling up to $61,000 are hereby approved as follows: a) 330-5`' Street and 412 Burnett Avenue in the amount of the estimated eligible costs up to$46,000 for three eligible facades;b)404 and 406 Main Street in the amount of estimated eligible costs up to $15,000. ADOPTED THIS 26`'' day of May, 2020. Diane R. Voss, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor Introduced by: Betcher Seconded by: Beatty-Hansen Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Junck, Martin Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 26'day of May, 2020.