About 26 downtown Atlantic business owners and a handful of City officials attending a Downtown Facade Revitalization meeting Wednesday evening, at the Historic Rock Island Depot.

Alexsis Fleener w/SWIPCO

Alexsis Fleener, Community Development Team Leader with SWIPCO (Southwest Iowa Planning Council), explained the purpose of the meeting was to determine how many business owners would be interested in participating in an application for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) specifically for downtown facade restoration or revitalization.

Fleener said if enough businesses commit to filing the application through SWIPCO, the organization would apply for a $500,000 grant to the City, that requires a 50-percent local match. Twenty-five percent would come from the City of Atlantic, if they agree to participate, and 25-percent from the building owners who decide to participate.

There must be at least 10 building applications in order for the full fund amount to be received. The chances of getting the full grant increases if there are at least 12 building facades in the program. The maximum number of facades for the current grant period, she said, would be 14. The total project budget is One-million dollars. Fleener said with a CDBG, there are no concerns about building owner income limits.

She said from the State’s perspective, if a building is contributing to the historic nature of the district, there will be a contribution from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). Fleener said every building owner who applies, will contribute the same percentage amount. The building owner receives the added benefits of free architectural services and construction management.

Facade improvements would include the first two-feet of a building front, restoration, rehabilitation and replacement (as necessary). It may cover (depending on need), the Cornice, Transom, Upper Story Windows, Awning, doors and bulkhead. The building owner may also realize increased energy efficiency when the work is complete.
The CDBG application from Swipco is due April 2019. In the interim:

• SWIPCO will conduct a “Slum and Blight” survey, narrow down building owner interest and participation, to define the target area. If there is enough interest, the City of Atlantic and SWIPCO would hire an architect to discuss the scope of work and budget.
• The architect would provide participating buildings with renderings and a cost estimate.
• Participating Building owners will review the renderings and costs.
• The building owner will deliver a refundable deposit to secure participation in the program.
• SWIPCO will complete the full application and submit it to the Iowa Economic Development Authority
• Award announcements are expected in July 2019.

Fleener said from the time the grant is approved to the time the projects are finished, will be between two to three years.