July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Grant projects reviewed
Portland Historic Preservation Commission
Several projects that could improve the look of historic downtown buildings through the use of grant funds cleared the first set of hurdles Wednesday night.
Members of the Portland Historic Preservation Commission reviewed seven different projects property owners are seeking to partially fund through the Downtown Façade Funding Grant program. Two more projects will be reviewed at a future meeting.
The total amount of matching grant funds that is being requested is $56,852.50, with project costs totaling $175,986. A total of $50,000 in grant funding is available.
Proposed projects include improvements to the historic Fraternal Order of the Eagles building, and a façade restoration for Portland Tire Center.
Commission members approved Certificates of Appropriateness for all seven projects reviewed Wednesday. The Downtown Façade Funding Grant Committee will make the final decision on which projects will receive matching grant funds and for what amounts.
A total of $50,000 in matching grant funds is available, with $25,000 coming from economic development income tax funds and $25,000 from tax increment financing (TIF) funds.
Kristi Sturtz, who serves as an advisory member of the commission, said façade grant committee members could decide to approve the use of more than $50,000 in matching grant funds. Sturtz said that if the grant committee decides to award more than $50,000 in grant funds - or more than the cap of $10,000 for each project - the committee would have to ask for more funding.
On Wednesday, historic preservation commission members voted to issue Certificates of Appropriateness for the following projects:
•Todd Penrod and Mitch Sutton, Jay County Community Corrections and DJ Bail Bonds, 120 N. Commerce St., replace 14 windows and roof.
•Kevin Inman, Inman Insurance, 305 N. Meridian St., restoration of the façade.
•Mike Wangler, Portland Tire Center, 421 N. Meridian St., two-phase façade restoration.
•Mike Wangler, Portland Tire Center, 113 E. Race St., roof replacement.
•Fraternal Order of the Eagles, restoration of the front balcony and painting of the north and east portions of the building.
•Larry and Sandy Bubp, White Linen Hall, 121 N. Meridian St., replacement of existing windows or restoring six windows and installing storm windows.
•Larry and Sandy Bubp, Kesslers Sport Shop, 216 N. Meridian St., repairing masonry, caulk windows and replace awning.
One of the applications the matching grant funds was withdrawn. The applications not reviewed by the commission on Wednesday were from Brian and Shelly Rippy, for B & S Excursions, 113 N. Meridian St., and Manor's Foot Care Shop, 115 N. Meridian St. The couple wants to replace the storefront windows and doors at both properties. The applications will be reviewed March 31 at 5:30 p.m. The review of the applications by the Rippys was delayed because they could not attend Wednesday's meeting.
Before commission members voted, grant applicants explained their projects.
The most extensive projects appear to be Inman Insurance, the Eagles Lodge and the Portland Tire Center.
Plans for the Tire Center include replacing garage doors, removing siding and restoring the brick, removing an awning, repairing masonry, installing a new front door, replacing a roof, adding new windows and possible restoration of a sign. This project is planned in two phases. Commission members approved Certificates of Appropriateness for both phases, as long as Wangler continues to communicate with the commission on the project.
Sturtz suggested that if the grant review committee decides to only fund one phase of Wangler's project, the next phase could be included in the next grant round.
Matching grant funds to replace or repair a roof have a matching cap of $5,000.
The next major project is the restoration of the balcony at the Eagles lodge. This building - constructed in 1883 - once served as the Merchant's Hotel, a barbershop and a harness shop. The exterior has been in a state of disrepair for quite some time and was offered for sale. The building is now off the market.
Zeb Sutton, president of the organization, said he would like to restore the balcony and paint the north and east sides of the building.
Jerry Boxell, who plans to do the work, said replacing the railing and banisters could be quite expensive, depending on the shapes and sizes. Restoring the balcony to its original state would mean some elements would have to be hand-turned, he said.
Commission members agreed that the balcony doesn't need to be restored to its original state, since the balcony is probably 50 or 60 years old.
"I think a close replica would be appropriate," said Joe Jarzen, who serves as an advisor to the commission.
Sutton said the organization has paid off all of its debt.
The other large project is an addition to the façade of Inman Insurance.
The entrance of the building currently angles away from the street. The façade will be brought flush with the sidewalk, and new storefront windows and a new mahogany entry door will be added. Columns will be added along with a new sign.
Two of the façade grant applications were amended on Wednesday night.
Penrod and Sutton decided to add a roof replacement to their application. The cost for replacing the 14 windows and sashes will be about $14,500. The match amount would be $7,250, so that would leave $2,750 the two could get in grant funding for the roof work.
Penrod originally had not planned to include the roof replacement, but changed his mind during the meeting. In a previous meeting, Penrod approached the commission about replacing the roof. Sturtz suggested that he include the roof replacement. "I recommend ... you do both together," she said.
The other project that changed Wednesday is an awning at Kesslers Sport Shop. Sandy Bubp had originally asked to repair and clean the masonry and to add a vinyl cover to the awning. The awning is a dome shape, which is discouraged in the Downtown Portland Historic Preservation District Guidelines.
Commission members encouraged her to go ahead replace the entire awning, instead of just recovering it. Commission members suggested that she replace the awning with a vinyl awning that has a 45-degree slope. Bubp said she would get a cost estimate for a new awning and submit the new estimates.
The commission will review the awning at the March 31 meeting at John Jay Center for Learning.
Jarzen said the Downtown Façade Funding Grant Committee will meet some time after March 31.
In other business Wednesday, commission members heard an update on the replacement of a sign at Franklin's Electrical Service, 304 and 306 N. Meridian St.
Greg Franklin has not yet submitted more detailed plans for the project since the commission met in February. Sturtz said she spoke with Franklin on Wednesday and he told her that the existing sign is Masonite, and he wants to replace it with the same material. Commission members tabled the request.
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Members of the Portland Historic Preservation Commission reviewed seven different projects property owners are seeking to partially fund through the Downtown Façade Funding Grant program. Two more projects will be reviewed at a future meeting.
The total amount of matching grant funds that is being requested is $56,852.50, with project costs totaling $175,986. A total of $50,000 in grant funding is available.
Proposed projects include improvements to the historic Fraternal Order of the Eagles building, and a façade restoration for Portland Tire Center.
Commission members approved Certificates of Appropriateness for all seven projects reviewed Wednesday. The Downtown Façade Funding Grant Committee will make the final decision on which projects will receive matching grant funds and for what amounts.
A total of $50,000 in matching grant funds is available, with $25,000 coming from economic development income tax funds and $25,000 from tax increment financing (TIF) funds.
Kristi Sturtz, who serves as an advisory member of the commission, said façade grant committee members could decide to approve the use of more than $50,000 in matching grant funds. Sturtz said that if the grant committee decides to award more than $50,000 in grant funds - or more than the cap of $10,000 for each project - the committee would have to ask for more funding.
On Wednesday, historic preservation commission members voted to issue Certificates of Appropriateness for the following projects:
•Todd Penrod and Mitch Sutton, Jay County Community Corrections and DJ Bail Bonds, 120 N. Commerce St., replace 14 windows and roof.
•Kevin Inman, Inman Insurance, 305 N. Meridian St., restoration of the façade.
•Mike Wangler, Portland Tire Center, 421 N. Meridian St., two-phase façade restoration.
•Mike Wangler, Portland Tire Center, 113 E. Race St., roof replacement.
•Fraternal Order of the Eagles, restoration of the front balcony and painting of the north and east portions of the building.
•Larry and Sandy Bubp, White Linen Hall, 121 N. Meridian St., replacement of existing windows or restoring six windows and installing storm windows.
•Larry and Sandy Bubp, Kesslers Sport Shop, 216 N. Meridian St., repairing masonry, caulk windows and replace awning.
One of the applications the matching grant funds was withdrawn. The applications not reviewed by the commission on Wednesday were from Brian and Shelly Rippy, for B & S Excursions, 113 N. Meridian St., and Manor's Foot Care Shop, 115 N. Meridian St. The couple wants to replace the storefront windows and doors at both properties. The applications will be reviewed March 31 at 5:30 p.m. The review of the applications by the Rippys was delayed because they could not attend Wednesday's meeting.
Before commission members voted, grant applicants explained their projects.
The most extensive projects appear to be Inman Insurance, the Eagles Lodge and the Portland Tire Center.
Plans for the Tire Center include replacing garage doors, removing siding and restoring the brick, removing an awning, repairing masonry, installing a new front door, replacing a roof, adding new windows and possible restoration of a sign. This project is planned in two phases. Commission members approved Certificates of Appropriateness for both phases, as long as Wangler continues to communicate with the commission on the project.
Sturtz suggested that if the grant review committee decides to only fund one phase of Wangler's project, the next phase could be included in the next grant round.
Matching grant funds to replace or repair a roof have a matching cap of $5,000.
The next major project is the restoration of the balcony at the Eagles lodge. This building - constructed in 1883 - once served as the Merchant's Hotel, a barbershop and a harness shop. The exterior has been in a state of disrepair for quite some time and was offered for sale. The building is now off the market.
Zeb Sutton, president of the organization, said he would like to restore the balcony and paint the north and east sides of the building.
Jerry Boxell, who plans to do the work, said replacing the railing and banisters could be quite expensive, depending on the shapes and sizes. Restoring the balcony to its original state would mean some elements would have to be hand-turned, he said.
Commission members agreed that the balcony doesn't need to be restored to its original state, since the balcony is probably 50 or 60 years old.
"I think a close replica would be appropriate," said Joe Jarzen, who serves as an advisor to the commission.
Sutton said the organization has paid off all of its debt.
The other large project is an addition to the façade of Inman Insurance.
The entrance of the building currently angles away from the street. The façade will be brought flush with the sidewalk, and new storefront windows and a new mahogany entry door will be added. Columns will be added along with a new sign.
Two of the façade grant applications were amended on Wednesday night.
Penrod and Sutton decided to add a roof replacement to their application. The cost for replacing the 14 windows and sashes will be about $14,500. The match amount would be $7,250, so that would leave $2,750 the two could get in grant funding for the roof work.
Penrod originally had not planned to include the roof replacement, but changed his mind during the meeting. In a previous meeting, Penrod approached the commission about replacing the roof. Sturtz suggested that he include the roof replacement. "I recommend ... you do both together," she said.
The other project that changed Wednesday is an awning at Kesslers Sport Shop. Sandy Bubp had originally asked to repair and clean the masonry and to add a vinyl cover to the awning. The awning is a dome shape, which is discouraged in the Downtown Portland Historic Preservation District Guidelines.
Commission members encouraged her to go ahead replace the entire awning, instead of just recovering it. Commission members suggested that she replace the awning with a vinyl awning that has a 45-degree slope. Bubp said she would get a cost estimate for a new awning and submit the new estimates.
The commission will review the awning at the March 31 meeting at John Jay Center for Learning.
Jarzen said the Downtown Façade Funding Grant Committee will meet some time after March 31.
In other business Wednesday, commission members heard an update on the replacement of a sign at Franklin's Electrical Service, 304 and 306 N. Meridian St.
Greg Franklin has not yet submitted more detailed plans for the project since the commission met in February. Sturtz said she spoke with Franklin on Wednesday and he told her that the existing sign is Masonite, and he wants to replace it with the same material. Commission members tabled the request.
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