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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Approving 2021 Downtown Facade Grants RESOLUTION NO. 21-400 RESOLUTION APPROVING 2021 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 6th 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 facade 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 facade or for the removal of non-compliant elements consistent with the guidelines or pursue eligibility under the other facade guidelines; and, WHEREAS, the Program does not allow for maintenance activities or replacement of compliant elements with new in-kind elements as eligible activities on their own,and any proposed improvements are intended to have a significant positive visual impact on the building and the district overall; and, WHEREAS,if grant requests exceed the available funding,the program criteria include preferences for facades that have not received previous funding, for front facades; 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 proj ects and potentially second facades for properties that have already received a grant; and, WHEREAS,there was one application approved in the first round during the fall of FY 2020/21 and the current applications under review were solicited in late spring and are considered second round applications for FY 2020/21; and, WHEREAS,the City solicited applications for this round in June 2021 and received four eligible grant requests for four properties; and, WHEREAS, total requested grant funding is $62,000 and the available funding for this second round of FY 2020/21 is $53,001; and, WHEREAS,one grant request was for a single-story facade at 108 Main Street,which most recently housed Cyclone Barber; and, WHEREAS,this building is the easternmost in a series of seven shallow buildings at the east end of Main Street and several of these buildings have already been awarded facade grants(110, 116,and 122); and, WHEREAS, the applicant is proposing to continue with the unified design proposed for 122, completed in 2013; and, WHEREAS,two grant requests were received for a two-story building at 209 and 211 Main Street; the applicant proposes to create a new unified facade on the ground level with a single entrance including a vestibule at the property line(the second story of the historic facade remains unaltered); and, WHEREAS,the storefronts currently contain a hair and nail salon(Heroic Hair at 209)and a tattoo parlor(Heroic Ink at 211),and the applicant is proposing to restore the window openings on the second story of 211; and, WHEREAS,this project is eligible for two grants as there are two separate buildings,although they will share a common entrance; and, WHEREAS, the fourth grant was for a replacement canopy and sign for the Sheldon-Munn apartment building at 301 Main Street; and, WHEREAS,the new canopy would replace the existing one on the Kellogg Avenue facade with a historically appropriate design emulating the art deco canopy found in photographs from the period of significance for the Historic District; and, WHEREAS, canopies can be an eligible item for a grant,but signage and lettering is viewed as a temporary improvement and not eligible for a grant; and, WHEREAS, the intent of the canopy project is to mimic the art deco style seen in historic photographs; the City's design guidelines for canopies require canopies to be metal compared to awnings that are fabric; and, WHEREAS,the applicant has not indicated detailed materials to ensure this design intent will be met as depicted and conform to guideline definitions. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames,Iowa,that the Downtown Facade Improvements grants totaling up to$53,001 are hereby approved as follows:a)108 Main Street in the estimated eligible costs up to $15,000 for a facade to match the existing facades already approved for the series of buildings;b)209 and 211 Main Street in the amount of estimated eligible costs up to $31,000 for window replacement and a new, unified facade on the ground level; and c) 301 Main Street in the amount of estimated eligible costs up to$7,001 for a replacement canopy on Kellogg Avenue, subject to staff review and approval of materials for a metal canopy meeting the design guidelines and historic intent. ADOPTED THIS 13'h day of July, 2021. )ian�iW. Voss, City Clerk o n A. Haila,Mayor Introduced by: Corrieri Seconded by: Gartin Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen,Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Junck,Martin Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 13`h day of July, 2021.