Projects moving forward

Four exterior projects on downtown Portland buildings have moved one step closer to receiving matching grant funding.
The Portland Historic Preservation Commission gave its approval to applications for four applicants for a downtown façade grant program.
The Portland Downtown Façade Funding Committee, which has final approval on the applications, is expected to meet in May.
On Wednesday, certificates of appropriateness were approved for a building at 120 N. Commerce St.; Inergy Propane (Blue Flame), 224 N. Meridian St.; Jay Community Center, 115 E. Water St.; and a building at 111-113 W. Main St. The projects are expected to cost a total of $39,985, so the total amount of grant money requested would be $19,992.50. A total of $50,000 in matching grant funds is available.
The COA means that the commission agrees that the proposed projects meet guidelines in Portland’s downtown historic preservation district.
Commission president Christy Corle said Wednesday that some of the applications for the grant program were withdrawn after the Feb. 28 flood, due to the cost of flood cleanup. There originally were seven applications, said Joe Jarzen, who serves as an advisor to the commission.
The most extensive project discussed by the commission is for work at Fisher Real Estate and Auction and Dish Solutions Unlimited on West Main Street.
Randy Fisher said Wednesday he would like to have all exterior brick tuck-pointed, to install insulated glass storefront windows, paint the north side of the building, caulk around the windows and make several repairs to the front doorway. Also, front knee walls will be replaced so they can support the weight of the new, heavier windows.
Jarzen questioned whether the original wood framing of the windows would be kept intact. He said the guidelines for changes to the façade of buildings in the downtown historic district recommend that windows be framed by wood.
Fisher said he planned to use a concrete composite material that looks like wood.
“This stuff looks like wood shingles and if this stuff looks like wood” he doesn’t have a problem with it being used, said commission member Barry Hudson. The other commission members agreed.
Fisher also said that he would like to remove the flowerboxes on the front of the building. Jarzen said he needs to see a historic photo of the building to determine if the flowerboxes are part of the original building design. If the flowerboxes are original, the guidelines would recommend that they not be removed.
Fisher also questioned whether he could replace a galvanized gutter and downspout with white aluminum. Commission members approved the COA application, subject to further information on the flowerboxes, gutter and downspout.
Also Wednesday, the commission reviewed an application for a COA for a new electronic message sign.
Carolyn Carducci of the Jay Community Center said the new sign would replace an old one that no longer functions and would be costly to repair. The sign is used to announce upcoming events at JCC.
“I don’t understand how that’s appropriate,” Hudson said of the sign being erected in the historic district.
“The guidelines say it’s not recommended but it would be on a non-contributing structure,” Jarzen said. The sign would be placed on the new addition to the community center. Since the building addition is new, the sign would not impact the character of the historic part of the building, he said.
Also Wednesday, an official with Blue Flame said the project at that business has been scaled back because of the amount of damage caused by the flood. Now, company officials just plan to repair the masonry at the rear of the building, said manager David Winningham.
Todd Penrod and Mitch Sutton plan to also do masonry work at their building, which currently houses Jay County Community Corrections across from the Jay County Courthouse.
Penrod said all of the brick on the east side of the building will be re-mortared.
In other business Wednesday, commission members learned that COAs were recently approved by Jarzen for the following projects:
• Christina Bishop and Josh Hall to do framing work, to add a window and to add a door at 212 N. Meridian St. The building will house a tattoo shop.
•Fred Bailey to secure second-story windows at 205 W. Main St.
•Inman Insurance to put up a temporary sign and a permanent sign at 305 N. Meridian St., and to put up a temporary sign at their temporary location at 108 E. Main St.
•Corle Insurance Agency, 207 N. Meridian St., to repair mortar damaged by floodwaters.[[In-content Ad]]