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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5. FILP Maintenance Standards CITY OF SHAKOPEE Memorandum CASE NO.: NA TO: Shakopee Economic Development Authority Mark McNeill, City Administrator/EDA Executive Director FROM: R. Michael Leek, Community Development Director SUBJECT: Discussion of Use of Fayade Improvement Loan Program (FILP) MEETING DATE: May 19,2009 INTRODUCTION: Recently, the EDA approved a fayade improvement loan for the Scott County Historical Society for sealing and painting of the Maurice Stans House (Stans House). The Stans House .is not used as a residence, but as one of the Society's historical exhibits. In discussing the Society's application there were questions about how the request differed from other requests that had not been approved for businesses (e.g. replacement of windows for a commercial building and a motel in the First A venue Corridor. DISCUSSION: Underlying the establishment of the program was the realization by the City that ".. . restoring and improving historic buildings is often expensive given the materials and craftsmanship involved." The FILP was originally established to provide deferred loans in the Downtown/B-3 Zone to; "Projects that restore or enhance a street-facing fayade and meet the standards established in the "Downtown Shakopee Guidelines." (Underlining added; see attached brochure) I The Guidelines deal in detail with restoration and maintenance of materials (glass, metal, wood, etc.) used in historic buildings in the Downtown. The brochure itself cites the following examples of project activities; . Restoration or replacement of Windows & Doors . Removal of Vinyl Siding, Artificial Brick or other modern coverings . Restoration and Repair of Brick Facades, Wooden Trim and Moldings . Purchase of New Awnings or Signage. H:\CC\2009\05-19\FILP maintenance.doc 1 In short, the FILP as originally established; . Focused on historic structures in the Downtown; . For historic structures, seems to have intended to support activities (like painting of wood elements, tuck-pointing of brick and removal of more modern materials) that would preserve or enhance historic structures. The implicit questions posed by Council are 1) whether maintenance activities are maintenance activities independent of whether the building is historic or not, and 2) whether maintenance activities should/should not be funded under the program whether a building is historic or not. The work that went into the initial FILP and the Guidelines would suggest that the initial conclusion was that some maintenance activities could be crucial to the long-term survival of a historic structure, which makes a unique architectural contribution to the community. That might seem to be less the case for a more modern structure. When the FILP was expanded to the First A venue Corridor, the focus for loans in that corridor seemed to be on projects that made structures more consistent with the historic character of other buildings, rather than on maintenance activities. AL TERNA TIVES: 1. Do not make any changes in the FILP. 2. Make changes in the FILP that restrict the use of loans for maintenance activities as described above for historic structures. 3. Make changes to the FILP to allow the use of loans for maintenance activities for non-historic structures. 4. Table the matter for additional information. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Because staffbelieves that there is merit to encouraging maintenance to historic structures in the Downtown and First Avenue Corridor, and because renovation projects for non-historic structures that enhance the historic look and feel of these areas of the City, staff recommends Alternative no.!. ACTION REQUESTED: The EDA is asked to provide staff with direction regarding changes it may wish to be made to either 1) exclude use of the program for maintenance activities like painting for historic structures, or 2) expand use of the program for use of maintenance activities for buildings that are not, per se, historic. dd;~ R. Michael Leek H: \CC\2009\05-19\FILP maintenance. doc 2 Downtown Shakopee Eligible Improvements The City of Shakopee is proud of its historic Projects that restore or enhance a street- downtown and would like to encourage prop- facing fayade and meet the standards estab- erty owners to maintain and invest in their lished in the "Downtown Shakopee Design CITY of SHAKOPEE properties in order to preserve downtown Sha- Guidelines." Examples include: kopee as a profitable business district and at- tractive community destination for years to . Restoration or Replacement of Win- come. dows & Doors DOWNTOWN . Removal of Vinyl Siding, Artificial At the same time, the City understands that Brick or other modern coverings FA<;ADE restoring and improving historic buildings is . Restoration and Repair of Brick Fa- often expensive given the materials and crafts- eades, Wooden Trim and Moldings IMPROVEMENT manship involved. . Purchase of New Awnings or Signage PROGRAM That is why the City of Shakopee is making To Apply deferred loans available through its Downtown Application materials, including copies of Fayade Improvement Program. the "Downtown Shakopee Design Guide- lines, " are available online at: Deferred Loans for the Deferred Loans Restoration and Enhancement of Through the City's Economic Development www.ci.shakopee.mn.us Shakopee's Downtown Authority, Shakopee is offering deferred loans Commercial District to fund up to 50 percent of the costs of a resto- Interested property owners are encouraged tl ration or enhancement project, up to a maxi- apply now. There is no application deadline; mum of $25,000 per property. The loans are however, funds are limited and will be forgiven on a sliding-scale over a five-year pe- awarded to qualifying applicants on a first- riod if the property owner does not sell the come, first-serve basis. Program funding property during that time. will be made available to other portions of ~ the city if not utilized within the downtown Eligible Properties core by September 1, 2006. The loan program is open to commercial prop- SHAKOPEE erties in Shakopee's historic downtown com- For more information, please contact: COMMUNIIY PItIDE SINCE lIE" mercial area (see map on reverse). This in- cludes properties that are commercial on the Kris Wilson, first floor and residential on the upper floors. Assistant to the City Administrator City of Shakopee Eligible Applicants 129 S. Holmes St., Shakopee, MN 55379 Applications must be submitted by the prop- (952) 233-9312 / kwilson@ci.shakopee.mn.u erty owner(s), or the owner(s) and tenant to- gether.