Facade grants aid renovation
BY LESLIE RICHARDSON, STAFF WRITER
- REPUBLICAN & Herald
04/02/2007
MAHANOY CITY - Patrice K. Radar, executive director
of Upper Schuylkill Downtowns, announced a new Design Challenge Grant
Program on Tuesday.
The Pennsylvania Regional Main Street Program provides
funding to local property and business owners to encourage restoration
projects of building facades. The program is designed to enhance the
building's overall exterior appearance to help create an improved
central business district.
All six communities under the Upper Schuylkill umbrella,
Ashland, Frackville, Girardville, Mahanoy City, Ringtown and Shenandoah,
are eligible to participate in the program. A total of $90,000 split
evenly between the communities will be available for the improvements.
According to Radar, Upper Schuylkill offers reimbursement-matching
grants through Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development's
Main Street Program funding. Design Challenge Grant funding must be
matched dollar-for-dollar by the property/business owner.
"The Design Challenge Grant Program is designed
to stimulate private investment in downtown properties, foster an
attractive shopping environment and preserve the architectural heritage
of downtown," Radar said.
According to Radar, Upper Schuylkill has a comprehensive
publication of design guidelines to serve as a reference guide. It
offers basic information about physical improvements, which have proven
to be effective in the revitalization of other central business districts
throughout Pennsylvania.
The design guidelines also establish a set of principles
to ensure that the improvements are consistent with the scale, character
and history of each community's central business district.
"An attractive and energetic central business district
is essential to the success of the Upper Schuylkill Downtown Revitalization
program and the communities in which it serves," Radar said.
"Implementation of the Upper Schuylkill Design Challenge Grant
Program will result in a more competitive and economically viable
downtown in each of our six great towns."
According to Radar, the total reimbursement per applicant
will not exceed 50 percent of the total project cost up to a maximum
of $5,000 per storefront or as otherwise noted in the Upper Schuylkill
Design Guidelines. The grant cannot be used to pay for work that is
currently in progress or completed.
Eligible projects include signs and awnings, murals,
exterior painting and restoration, additions and architectural elements,
exterior lighting and corner, stand-alone, or end-of-row buildings.
The reimbursement dollar amounts for the project can
be found in the Design Guidelines, which were developed by Radar and
staff and approved by DCED.
Interested applicants are required to meet with the
Design committee of their local downtown organization to discuss their
project prior to completing the application process.
According to Radar, the local design committee reserves
the right to recommend projects that make the most impact in their
downtown areas for design assistance. Consideration will be given
to the number of properties that can be assisted. For maximum impact,
the central business district boundaries can be reduced by the local
downtown board of directors and design committee to include a portion
of the Main Street target area.
Radar said applications will be accepted for review
at any time throughout the year. The awarding of grants is dependent
on funding from DCED and is based on the allocation of funds for the
Upper Schuylkill Design Challenge Grant Program from DCED.
Applicants are required to meet all codes and ordinances
of their borough and real estate taxes must be paid.
For more information and to schedule an appointment
to discuss your project contact:
Ashland Downtown Inc. Greg Fisher, Main Street Manager
875-3571 or Lou Radar 875-4861
Frackville Downtown Patty Domalakes 874-1766
Girardville PRIDE Kathy Centiole-Martone 875-2764
Mahanoy Downtown Inc. Eric Lieberman 622-1988
Main Street Ringtown Julian Milewski 889-5123
Eligible Communities and central business districts:
Ashland: Centre Street from First Street to 13th Street
Frackville: Lehigh Avenue from Catawissa Street to Spruce
Street; Oak Street from Middle Street to Balliet Street
Girardville: Main Street from Richard Street to Third
Street; North Second Street from Main Street to Mahanoy Street
Mahanoy City: Centre Street from Second Street to Catawissa
Street; Main Street from Railroad Street to Maple Street; Mahanoy
Avenue from Main Street to Locust Street
Ringtown: Main Street from Fourth Street to 12th Street
Shenandoah: Main Street from Washington Street to Laurel
Street; Centre Street from Jardin Street to White Street.
Ashland: Centre Street from First Street to 13th Street
Frackville: Lehigh Avenue from Catawissa Street to Spruce
Street; Oak Street from Middle Street to Balliet Street
Girardville: Main Street from Richard Street to Third
Street; North Second Street from Main Street to Mahanoy Street
Mahanoy City: Centre Street from Second Street to Catawissa
Street; Main Street from Railroad Street to Maple Street; Mahanoy
Avenue from Main Street to Locust Street
Ringtown: Main Street from Fourth Street to 12th Street
Shenandoah: Main Street from Washington Street to Laurel
Street; Centre Street from Jardin Street to White Street.
© The REPUBLICAN & Herald
2007
< Back to News
