MONROE - The Monroe Historic Commission approved two facade grant applications at a meeting Tuesday.
The Facade Grant Program provides funding of 50 percent of a project up to $10,000 for business or property owners to repair and restore building fronts in the downtown historic district. Another 25 percent of project costs, up to an extra $10,000, is granted for the next $40,000 spent, for a maximum total of $20,000.
The Monroe City Council will take up the issue at its Aug. 5 meeting.
Portraits by Dawn on the Square received approval for up to $10,000 with permission to return to the commission for advice on how to proceed once a Swiss-style roof facade has been removed from the building.
The Monroe Professional Center Condominium Association/Barrett's Brick Cafe also was approved for $9,450, pending signage on the building meeting guidelines set up by the Historic Preservation Commission. The building sits on the corner of 18th Avenue and 10th Street and has two frontages.
The two applications have passed through the Monroe Main Street Board of Directors for approval and the city accounting office, which verifies funds available for each grant.
After the Historic Preservation Commission approves applications, they are sent to Dave Powers, city building inspector, for issuance of building permits.
When a facade project is finished and inspected, applicants submit their bills for the project to receive their funds.
Monroe Main Street Director Barb Nelson is responsible for application submissions and their progress through the various boards.
Two previous applications already have been approved: the dental office of Dr. Scott Patterson in the 1500 block of 11th Street and Fehr-Graham & Associates in the 1100 block of 16th Avenue.
According to Nelson, Fehr-Graham has been working on its facade "fast and furious" and will be completed by next week. Patterson is trying to convince his building partner to apply for a grant in order to create a unified look for their building. Applicants have one year after approval to finish facade work in order to receive grant funds.
Funds for the grants come out of the Tax Increment District (TID) #7. City Accountant Casey Bradley said the TID has had "more growth than anticipated" and thus projects can be done faster. The TID fund has $222,000 in tax revenues for 2008, but Bradley told the commission that $140,000 already has been earmarked for expenditure.
The facade grant program, budgeted for $22,000, has $40,000 in requests approved. Included in the $140,000 is $8,900 in general expenses, $37,000 for surveying downtown for the Master Plan and another $55,000 approved for purchase of a vacant lot on 11th Street and 16th Avenue.
The Facade Grant Program provides funding of 50 percent of a project up to $10,000 for business or property owners to repair and restore building fronts in the downtown historic district. Another 25 percent of project costs, up to an extra $10,000, is granted for the next $40,000 spent, for a maximum total of $20,000.
The Monroe City Council will take up the issue at its Aug. 5 meeting.
Portraits by Dawn on the Square received approval for up to $10,000 with permission to return to the commission for advice on how to proceed once a Swiss-style roof facade has been removed from the building.
The Monroe Professional Center Condominium Association/Barrett's Brick Cafe also was approved for $9,450, pending signage on the building meeting guidelines set up by the Historic Preservation Commission. The building sits on the corner of 18th Avenue and 10th Street and has two frontages.
The two applications have passed through the Monroe Main Street Board of Directors for approval and the city accounting office, which verifies funds available for each grant.
After the Historic Preservation Commission approves applications, they are sent to Dave Powers, city building inspector, for issuance of building permits.
When a facade project is finished and inspected, applicants submit their bills for the project to receive their funds.
Monroe Main Street Director Barb Nelson is responsible for application submissions and their progress through the various boards.
Two previous applications already have been approved: the dental office of Dr. Scott Patterson in the 1500 block of 11th Street and Fehr-Graham & Associates in the 1100 block of 16th Avenue.
According to Nelson, Fehr-Graham has been working on its facade "fast and furious" and will be completed by next week. Patterson is trying to convince his building partner to apply for a grant in order to create a unified look for their building. Applicants have one year after approval to finish facade work in order to receive grant funds.
Funds for the grants come out of the Tax Increment District (TID) #7. City Accountant Casey Bradley said the TID has had "more growth than anticipated" and thus projects can be done faster. The TID fund has $222,000 in tax revenues for 2008, but Bradley told the commission that $140,000 already has been earmarked for expenditure.
The facade grant program, budgeted for $22,000, has $40,000 in requests approved. Included in the $140,000 is $8,900 in general expenses, $37,000 for surveying downtown for the Master Plan and another $55,000 approved for purchase of a vacant lot on 11th Street and 16th Avenue.