Revamping façade

For downtown Portland property owners, the window to get help paying for building improvements will now be open year-round.
In its sixth year, Portland’s façade funding program has dropped its May 1 “letter of interest” deadline and will accept applications at any time.
The previous system was implemented mostly because when the program started in 2010 consultant Kristi Sturtz of Sturtz Public Management Group, based in Fort Wayne, was serving as its administrator. But Jay County community development director Ami Huffman took over in 2014 and decided in her first year running the program that there was no reason to keep that structure.
“A lot of it comes about because of the availability of Ami Huffman, who can manage these projects full time,” said Joe Johnston, a member of the façade funding committee. “Now … we can really take requests year round. … So we’re really trying to make it easier for the property owners downtown.”
The program offers 50-percent matching grants of up to $15,000 for those making improvements to the façade — “the principal front that looks onto a street” — of buildings located in the city’s historic preservation district. It has $50,000 in funding for 2015, with half coming from the city economic development income tax (EDIT) funds and half from Portland Redevelopment Commission.

In order to receive the funding, applicants must get two estimates and be up-to-date on property tax payments. Projects such as exterior building improvements, new or renovated signs, exterior lighting and awnings are eligible for the grants, while new construction, decorative fencing, landscaping and interior renovations are not.
Applicants must also follow Portland Downtown Historic District design guidelines, with which Huffman hopes she can be helpful. She plans to meet at her office in Community Resource Center in Portland with those interested in the funding, review their plans and help make sure they fall within the rules.
“I can help walk them through so there’s no surprises,” Huffman said. “Everything’s kind of laid out …
“We’re trying to build that relationship and to foster that growth. Hopefully this will help all the way across the board for everything.”
Fifteen properties have been improved with façade funding grants since the program launched in 2010, with six of those coming in the first year. The most recent improvements, in 2014, were to Corle Insurance and The Ritz Theatre, both in the 200 block of North Meridian Street.
The Ritz improvements, which are still in process, include a new marquee as well as masonry repairs. Corle Insurance, owned by Travis Pond, added a new awning, main sign and window signs.
Pond, who also owns Chatt Insurance Center in Rockford, Ohio, is a fan of the program, and said he believes offering more flexibility will make it more attractive to property owners.
“I think that would be a good opportunity for people,” he said. “Sometimes when the opportunity presents itself that’s not a great time for matching of funds.”
Huffman noted that she often hears area residents talk about how much they like the look of the downtown areas in towns such as Farmland and Brookville. She believes the façade funding program is one of the tools that can help Portland’s downtown get similar recognition.
“These are the steps that it takes to get there,” she said. “That’s why we have this, so we start moving in the right direction. And it’s not going to be fast, but nothing is. You have to do everything a little bit at a time.”
Other projects completed with the help of façade grants were to Portland Tire Center, Inman Insurance, Jay County Community Corrections, White Linen Hall (now Harmony Café) and Kessler’s Sport Shop (now BSN Sports) in 2010; Fisher Realty and Auction, Jay County Community Corrections and Jay Community Center in 2011; and Takats Insurance, Evans Fine Jewelry, Harmony Café and Spencer Apartments in 2013.
“I think it’s been very positive so far,” said Johnston. “It’s always kind of a slow start to get these things going, but over the past couple of years we’ve seen some real marked changes for the better downtown. I hope that spurs interest …
“We’re committed to fund the program every year if the interest is out there.”