Item Coversheet
Board/Committee Agenda Item
 

MEETING DATE:  1/13/2020

SUBJECT:  Business Facade Grant Program Application: A request by Sue Wright, applicant and property owner, of Music Junction on Main Street for Project improvements to a building located at 14515 Main Street

PREPARED BY:  Lindsay Rizzo, Community Redevelopment Agency Coordinator

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Staff recommends that the Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board: (1) Find the Business Façade Grant Program Application submitted by Sue Wright of Music Junction on Main for improvements to a building located at 14515 Main Street to be consistent with the Business Façade Grant Program Policies and Procedures; and, (2) Transmits the application to the City of Alachua Community Redevelopment Agency with a recommendation to approve, upon making the following motion:

 

Based upon Staff’s recommendation, this Board find the Business Façade Grant Program Application submitted by Sue Wright for improvements to buildings located at 14515 Main Street to be consistent with the Business Façade Grant Program Policies and Procedures and transmits the application to the City of Alachua Community Redevelopment Agency with a recommendation to approve.

 

Summary

This application is a request by Sue Wright of Music Junction on Main, applicant, requesting the approval of a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Business Facade Grant Application for Project improvements to a building located at 14515 Main Street. The Project improvements proposed by the applicant include the following: replace glass in windows and doors on west wall to match existing.

Resolution CRA19-01 established the Business Facade Grant Program (the Program) as well as the Program’s Policies and Procedures. The general purpose of the Program is to provide assistance to rehabilitate the facades of commercial buildings within the Community Redevelopment Area. In order to be eligible for the Program, projects must improve the aesthetics of the exterior façade of a commercial building and facilitate redevelopment consistent with the CRA Community Redevelopment Plan. Project improvements must also be compatible and complimentary to buildings located on either side of the street in the area surrounding the Project building.

Staff has reviewed the application and supporting materials submitted by the applicant, and finds that the application meets the requirements of the Business Façade Grant Program Policies and Procedures, including applicant and property eligibility; property and occupant requirements; project requirements; and the minimum requirements for applications and supporting materials. The application and supporting materials are attached to this agenda item.

Additionally, the Program Policies and Procedures establishes a Funding Priority Rating Sheet (the Rating Sheet). In order to be eligible to receive Program funding, a Project must receive a minimum of 30 points. Staff has reviewed and rated the Project improvements proposed by this application. Based upon Staff’s evaluation, the Project earned 85 points and is therefore eligible for participation in the Program. Staff’s rating for the Project is attached to this agenda item for the CRA’s reference.

The Program provides a 50% matching grant between $500 and $5,000 for actual Project costs. The total estimated Project cost is $3,725 therefore, the maximum grant award is $1,862.50.

 

 
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Business Facade Grant Application - Wright
Facade Grant Funding Agreement- Wright
Funding Priority - Wright
Presentation for Wright Application