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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Downtown Facade Grant for 214 Main Street RESOLUTION NO. 23-280 RESOLUTION APPROVING DOWNTOWN FACADE GRANT FOR 214 MAIN STREET 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. The City Council has annually budgeted $50,000 as matching funds for eligible projects. The program has allowed for up to $15,000 of dollar-for-dollar matching funds per front facade and up to $1,000 for additional architectural services. This program is available to property owners within the area generally described as from 61h Street to the railroad tracks,Duff Avenue to Northwestern Avenue,and along Kellogg Avenue to Lincoln Way; and, WHEREAS, the program requirements include a prerequisite of a ground floor use of office or retail trade. 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 to 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. Proposed improvements are intended to have a significant positive visual impact on the building and the overall district.If grant requests exceed the available funding,the program criteria for front facades includes preference for facades that have not received funding in previous rounds; and, WHEREAS,the program is designed to operate with two application cycles. The first cycle is typically in the summer. If there are funds remaining after first round awards, then a second application round occurs in the winter/spring. The summer grant round is intended to provide funding for new projects with one grant per building. The second round is intended to fund both new projects and potentially second facades for properties that have previously received a grant; and, WHEREAS, this application is for the two-story building at 214 Main Street. The facade of the building looks as it did when it was put on during the period of significance. The current facade replaced an original Victorian facade. The applicant proposes to install transom windows where the opening has been filled with plaster. The transom will have four windows to fill the space with a medium tone gray color. The transom windows will be opaque and not transparent in order to obscure the material located behind the transom. Unfortunately, the space does not open up into the main floor area of the building where a transparent transom would be desirable. Staff will work with the applicant to have the framing match that of existing frames on the building to avoid a disjointed appearance. The overall design of the facade will remain the same; and, WHEREAS, the applicant has recently completed other work, including replacing the windows on the second story and replacing the plate glass on the ground level. The property is owned by Adventure Investments, LLC, which owns several buildings in Downtown Ames. The ground level is currently occupied by RenuYou MedSpa and was previously home to Ames Spine and Sport. The building was constructed in 1880. At some point during the period of significance for Main Street (1920-1950), the original fagade was removed and the current one erected. Little about the current fagade has since changed since it was installed. The building is a contributing structure to the National Register Ames Main Street Historic District; and, WHEREAS, the total estimated cost for 214 Main Street is $10,000 of eligible work. The applicant is not requesting reimbursement for design services. At the time of reimbursement, the applicant will need to provide cost breakdowns to ensure only eligible activities are funded with the fagade grant; and, WHEREAS, this round of grant application solicitation resulted in one request involving one building in the amount of$10,000 in total costs. City staff has determined that the proposed Downtown Fagade Improvement project for the building at 214 Main Street complies with the design requirements of the program.There is adequate funding available for the request as no other competing applications were submitted. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that resolution approving Downtown Fagade Grant for 214 Main Street is hereby approved. ADOPTED THIS 9th day of May, 2023. e4w- / ze i::::� Renee kall, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor Introduced by: Betcher Seconded by: Rollins Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Junck, Rollins Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 9th day of May, 2023.