Facade work funded

A local committee couldn't quite fund all projects under a local façade grant program, but hopes to do so soon.

Members of the Downtown Portland Façade Funding Committee held their first meeting Monday, voting to award grant funds to the six top-ranked downtown projects, and seek additional funding for the remaining three.

The committee - made up of Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier, Brooke Aker, Joe Johnston, Christy Corle and Pat Sheffer - voted to award grant funds to the projects that ranked 1-6, based on a scoring system. Those projects were awarded grants on a 50-50 match basis up to $10,000.

Although $50,000 is available for the grant program, the amount of grant funds requested is $55,593.63.

On Monday, committee members also voted to ask for up to $20,000 in additional funding from the Portland Redevelopment Commission to fund the remaining three projects. Also, with this amount requested, additional funds could possibly be awarded to the more extensive projects - such as the work at the Eagles Lodge, the Portland Tire Center and Inman Insurance.

The $50,000 is made up of $25,000 from the redevelopment commission (tax increment financing funds) and $25,000 in Portland Economic Development Income Tax funds. When the TIF district was mapped out, downtown Portland was included in it. The intention was for funds generated in one area of the district to be used to improve the downtown area.

Here is how the projects for which grant funds were requested are ranked:

1. Portland Tire Center, 421 N. Meridian St., restoring the façade to how it looked when it was the Sinclair Station. (Grant awarded, $10,000; total project, $33,925.08.)

2. Fraternal Order of the Eagles, 320 N. Meridian St., restoring the front balcony and painting the north and east sides of the building. (Grant awarded, $10,000; total project, $35,600.)

3. Inman Insurance, 305 N. Meridian St., a completely new façade. (Grant awarded, $10,000; total project, $30,170.)

4. Jay County Community Corrections and apartments, 120 N. Commerce St., replacing 14 windows and replacing the roof. (Grant awarded, $10,000; total project, $31,195.)

5. White Linen Hall, 121 N. Meridian St., cleaning and repairing the masonry, and restoring six windows. (Grant awarded, $7,374.50; total project, $14,749.)

6. Kessler's Sport Shop, 216 N. Meridian St., replacing awning, cleaning and tuckpointing masonry and caulking windows. (Grant awarded, $2,479.13; total project, $4,958.25.)

7. B&S Excursions, 113 N. Meridian St., replacing storefront windows and door. (Project cost, $2,590.)

8. Manor's Foot Care Shop, 115 N. Meridian St., replacing storefront windows and a door. (Project total, $2,590.)

9. Portland Tire Center, 113 E. Race St., adding a new roof to the warehouse for the business. (Project total, $6,300.)

The projects were ranked by several criteria - including location, extent of the project, the overall impact to downtown, the property's use and how historic the building is. All of the projects have been awarded a Certificate of Appropriateness by the Portland Historic Preservation Commission.

Committee members were pleased with how many grant applications they received for this first round of grants.

"I was really astounded that we had this many applications the first time out ... it's just terrific," Johnston said.

"It really looks like you've all given this a lot of thought," Aker said to the property owners who attended the meeting.

Hosier said the redevelopment commission is expected to meet sometime in the next two weeks. He said the funding request could be put on the agenda for that meeting.

Also Monday, committee members:

•Selected Aker as chair for the committee, and Corle as secretary.

•Approved a contract with property owners for the grant program.

The grant funds do not have to repaid if the property owner retains ownership for at least five years. If the property is sold within that period, funds must be repaid on an annual basis, with 20 percent forgiven each year.[[In-content Ad]]