Fa?ade grant becomes available for revitalization of six downtown businesses

by Peter Jakey– Managing Editor

The City of Rogers City will be able to offer funding to six Rogers City businesses, which have expressed an interest in making physical improvements to the outside of their buildings. The funding, made available through the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), will be used for downtown improvement projects designed to financially assist communities that have targeted key downtown properties in need of improvements. The Third Street businesses include Domaci Gallery and Treasures Forever, Nowak Building, Rogers Theatre, Grulke Hardware, A-P Super Service, and The Painted Lady Gallery. The price range for improvements, which was gathered at a Design Michigan fa?ade clinic earlier this year, range from $21,000 to $87,500. The business would be required to pay half the cost, with the grant money picking up the rest of the tab.

ON OCTOBER 10, Gov. Jennifer Granholm announced that more than $2.3 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding has been offered to 15 Michigan downtown communities across the state. ?It certainly will make our town look better,? said city manager Mark Slown Monday afternoon. He doesn?t anticipate construction work to begin until late next spring, but it will be part of a big year for the Nautical City. One of the events Slown highlighted was the premiere of the Bradley video next November. ?2008 is going to be a big year,? he added.

The fa?ade initiative has some restrictions. Owners would be required to repay the grant money if they sell their business within a five-year period. Additionally, funding can only be used for what was designated in the application. Slown said this round of fa?ade grants is ?closed,? and is only for the owners who made a commitment back in March. Another round could be considered if at least two business owners express an interest in the program. The fa?ade program will be administered locally and by MSHDA?s Community Assistance team. ?Michigan?s heart and soul is reflected in our unique downtown areas, whether big or small,? said Granholm in an October 10 press release. ?This funding will help create opportunities for new development and economic growth in these downtowns.?

THE COST estimates and some of the higher priced items are as follows:

? Nowak Building (100 East Erie), total cost $21,000; place painted fiber cement shingle siding on the side upper wall areas, $8,400; replace both pairs of windows on the south side with taller units, $2,200.

? Domaci Gallery & Treasures Forever, total $63,700; restore leaded stained and prismatic glass transoms above both storefronts, $19,000; replace second floor windows with new double-hung units, $9,000; point deteriorated mortar joints in all brick masonry as needed, $7,500.

? Rogers Theatre, total $87,500; install single-ply membrane roofing system on entire building; replace defective concrete masonry units and point deteriorated mortar joints on north side wall at base and parapet, $12,100; re

store original pigmented structural glass in lower storefront using substitute spandrel glass to replicate original, $10,500.

? Grulke Hardware, total $22,500; jack-up and repair wood framing and siding of exterior second floor stair, $5,500; construct and install new projecting sign, $3,800, repair fiber single roofing, $2,500.

? A-P Super Service, total $32,500; remove existing front canopy and side awning/replace with new awning extending across front and around corner and just beyond side opening, $11,500; install new low-E insulated glass and aluminum frame glazing system in front display windows, $4,200.

? The Painted Lady Gallery, total $29,803; 320 square feet of Brick-it-type material, $2,880; new windows and labor, $2,000.

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