November 9, 2008
By Robin Kaminski/The Daily Item
An innovative program designed to breathe new life into old buildings across the city is in the works.
The Façade/Signage Improvement Program is geared toward offering business owners and tenants an opportunity to renovate or restore exterior signage, lighting or commercial building frontage through use of federal funds to improve the overall physical appearance of the area.
Economic and Community Development Director James Marsh is teaming up with the Chamber of Commerce to identify a section of the city to do a test run of the program.
“The program will be the exact same thing that Raw Arts did,” he said. “It’s designed to bring the building itself back to life using only a small amount of money.”
Roughly 10 years ago, Marsh said the city implemented a similar program for facades with Bedon Hardware as an example of a business that took advantage of the program.
On Wednesday, Marsh met with the Cambridge Community Development office, which implemented a façade program, which offers up to $35,000 for their businesses.
“We intend to model our program after theirs, although the amount will not be as much to start,” he said. “It will be a pilot program of sorts to start, but I’d like to re-institute the program and expand it to signage, lighting, and facades.”
Marsh said his office is currently working on the specifics of the program including a possible match requirement, specifics on how a consulate or landscape architect will be utilized to ensure code, historical preservation, and handicap accessibility.
The program is expected to take shape in 2009.
The program encourages restoration of details in historic buildings, window display areas, functional and visually appealing awnings or canopies, removal of elements that cover architectural details.
Marsh said the city is looking into the possibility of hiring a consultant to work on the project.
“In addition to the antique poles installed downtown, new sidewalks and tree plantings, these improvements will contribute to the smaller quality of life things,” Marsh said. “We don’t want to lose sight of the small things that complement the big things.” |
