Loading...
13 - Facade Grant UpdatesItem No. 13 Memorandum TO: Grayson Path, City Manager FROM: Andrew Mack, Director of Planning and Development Cheri Bedford, Historic Preservation Officer SUBJECT: Facade Grant updates DATE: June 1, 2023 BACKGROUND: The Paris Historic Preservation Commission provides incentives for facade grants for historic structures. The purpose of the grant is to assist property owners with rehabilitation of the historic structures in the Historic Districts. The current grant amount given is $2,500.00 for commercial property, and $1,000.00 for residential properties. In the 2022/2023 fiscal year budget, the City Council approved additional funds for the facade grants to be given to property owners. This benefited the historic districts property owners with incentives in the residential historic districts, and with the institution of the vacant property ordinance in the HD -2 Church ST residential district, we hoped to assist those who might need help meeting the criteria of the VPR. In addition, the HPC expanded the historic districts in Paris, nominating the Pine Bluff/Fitzhugh National Register District as having a local historic district overlay. This effort was met with support in the two town hall meeting held with the residents, one in July 2022 at City Council chambers, and one in April 2023, at a church in the neighborhood. With these changes, additional funding for facade grants is anticipated. Given the recent resurgence of the downtown, and the cost of construction in general, the commission is recommending the increase in the amount of the grant to property owners. STATUS OF ISSUE: A subcommittee was formed to review current guidelines and review current grant amount. The subcommittee members included HPO Bedford, Commissioner Long, Commissioner Matthews, Council Liaison Knox, Asst. City Manager Vine, Planning and Community Development Director Mack, Sherrie White, and Maureen Hammond. The first subcommittee meeting held on February 20, 2023, was to review what other cities were doing, and discuss what would be beneficial for property owners. Ms. Bedford had prepared a matrix of other city facade grants and requirements. After the first meeting an application was prepared and the subcommittee met again on March 6, 2023, to discuss and finalize a recommendation to the Historic Preservation Commission. The subcommittee recommendations are as follows: 1. Provide information on the importance of our National Registered Historic District in the community. 2. Double the amount of the current grants. 3. Applicants must apply for design assistance for appropriate signage. 4. Improve the explanation of procedural requirements. At the April 12, 2023, meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission the subcommittee made a presentation. After review of the information, the commission voted to make the recommendation to City Council to adopt the facade grant application and the procedures created, with a few corrections in the documents. The grant application and explanation will be available online on MyGov, in the coming months. Cities reviewed were: Grapevine, Abilene, Belton, Denison, Roanoak, LaGrange, Marshall, Rockwall, Vernon, Royce City, Seguin and Georgetown. BUDGET: Use budgeted funds for the fiscal year, no additional funds requested. RECOMMENDATION: Beginning immediately Increase the amount of the Facade Grants: Commercial: from $2500 to $5000 Residential: from $1000 to $2000 Increase frequency of application Addition of Signage grant: $1000 with design assistance from Texas Main Street Design staff. Approve recommendations from the Historic Preservation Commission to increase the amount of the fagade grants Commercial: from $2500 to $5000, Residential: from $1000 to $2000, and increase the frequency of application with the creation of an additional signage grant: $1000 with design assistance from Texas Main Street Design staff. City of Paris Historic Preservation Facade Grant One of the most notable visual features of the downtown Historic District is the historic facades. A majority of these buildings are circa 1916-1918 and contributing to the National Register of Historic Places, a designation granted by the Federal Government. In addition to the commercial district, the City of Paris has two residential Nationally Registered Historic Districts and several standalone local landmarks. The history of these areas has produced significant historic, architectural, archaeological, and cultural resources unique only to Paris. The purpose of this grant is to assist property owners with the protection, preservation, and enhancement of districts and landmarks. Whether a longtime residents or first time visitor, people marvel over the distinctive architectural elements in Paris Texas. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE TYPES OF GRANTS AND MAXIMUM AMOUNTS AVAILABLE: - Commercial Historic District Grants: 50/50 matching basis with a maximum of $5000. - Residential Historic Districts Grants: 50/50 matching basis up with a maximum of $2000. - Commercial HD Signage Grants: 50/50 matching basis with a maximum of $1000 Applicant must contact the City of Paris Historic Preservation Officer (HPO) located at City Hall Annex for a pre - application consultation prior to submission of the facade grant application. Please call 903-784-9293 or email mainstree.- a �aristexas.,go,v to set up an appointment. Property or business owners must apply for grant before any restoration or renovation work has begun. A Historic Preservation Commission Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) must accompany the facade grant application. Both the COA and facade grant applications can be submitted simultaneously for review. The COA ensures the project complies with the design, scope, and expectations set forth by Design Standards of the Paris Historic District which include, but are not limited to, approval of project colors. The COA and Design Standards can be found online at www, f aristexas. oy. A hard copy can be check out from City Hall Annex, 150 SE I" ST, Paris Texas. The meeting is held on the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 4:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers, located at 107 E. Kaufman, Paris, Texas. All work to be performed on the grant recipient's building must comply with City of Paris ordinances, codes, and regulations. It is the sole responsibility of the grant recipient to obtain any and all zoning clearances, variances, permits, and approvals. Contact should be made with the City of Paris Planning Department to determine if any zoning clearances, variances, permits or approvals will be required for the project. Free design assistance for signage and commercial facades are available from the Texas Main Street Design team through an application submitted to the City of Paris Main Street Coordinator with a turnaround for design assistance of up to 45 days. Having discussions early in the planning phase of the facade project can be extremely helpful. In the case of signage grant a licationµ. desiun assistance is,.reouired„for L�rant consideration,. Work must commence within two months, and be completed within 6 months of the grant approval. Incomplete projects result in a forfeiture of funds. Grant recipients may request a thirty (30) day extension, but are not guaranteed an extension. Extensions may be approved by the Historic Preservation Commission if substantial progress is demonstrated. To request an extension, a written letter and photo(s) of progress must be submitted to the City Hall Annex before the l” of each month, requesting to be placed on the HPC agenda for consideration. It is the responsibility of the applicant to request the extension of the grant before the expiration date. Applicants are required to represent their request for extension at the regularly scheduled Historic Commission meeting. Grants will be awarded as a 50/50 match based upon the project presented. Property owners may apply for additional facade grants one year after each project is completed and the property owner has received reimbursement. Facade Grant Application Submission Procedure: Submit the grant application by the 1 st of each month to be placed on the agenda of the Historic Preservation Commission. The meeting is held on the 2" d Wednesday of the month at 4:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 107 E. Kaufman, and Paris, Texas. ❑ The facade grant application must include the following: ❑ A Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) approved Certificate of Appropriateness. In the event the applicant has submitted a Certificate of Appropriateness to be reviewed by the commission simultaneously, the Certificate of Appropriateness will undergo a review prior to the facade grant review. ❑ Photo of existing facade —A full street view ❑ Photo of proposed project area ❑ Photo, Illustration, or Sketch or Architectural Renderings of proposed project ❑ Estimate for project cost from contractors ❑ Letter of permission from building owner (if you are not the building owner) A representative of the project must appear in person to discuss the project at the meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission when the application is being reviewed. If approved, the applicant will be notified, in writing, the date of the approval, and the expected time frame of completion. Work may begin only after Acceptance of Terms has been signed by the applicant, and the facade grant application is approved by the Historic Commission. Any work not approved will not be eligible for the grant reimbursement. Facade Grant Reimbursement Procedure: Applicant must notify in writing the Historic Preservation Office no later than the 1St day of the month after the project is complete and ready for review. Submissions must include photos of the work complete and verification of payment. The following documentation is required for verification of payment of public funds: ❑ Copies of contractor invoices with names and addresses of business ❑ Receipts/invoices from store(s) for construction materials, with address of the project ❑ Proof of payment for all invoices/receipts, either o Cancelled checks front and back matching amounts to invoices, or o Credit card statement matching the amounts of invoices Projects are inspected and approved for payment by the Paris Historic Preservation Commission in regularly scheduled meetings. The City of Paris Building Official, HPO or Historic Preservation Commission will review photo documentation and in some cases conduct site visit to ensure compliance with the approved Certificate of Appropriateness and the established Design Standards. The project reimbursement request will be placed on the HPC agenda for review when all documentation is received. The City of Paris will pay the approved amount to the grant recipient within 10 days after the approval of the project has been completed by the Historic Preservation Commission. Grants will be administered on a first come first serve basis until available funds are depleted. NOTE: A photo with the HPC and building owner receiving their Facade Grant in front of the property may be taken for use by the Historic Preservation Office as needed for a record, publicity or promotion of the incentive.