Progress

Facade grants enhance downtown

LEWISTOWN -- When Amanda Moeller decided to pull the trigger on a construction project at her downtown Lewistown office building, she got more than she bargained for.

Moeller, the owner of State Farm Insurance located at 28 E. Third St., planned to tear down a dilapidated garage to make way for additional parking.

After learning about Downtown Lewistown Inc.'s Facade Improvement Program from Rhonda Kelley, executive director of the Juniata River Valley Chamber of Commerce, Moeller decided to expand the scope of the work to include additional renovations.

"I was able to do more now instead of doing it little steps," Moeller said. "With everything that Rhonda and the chamber have done to bring people in, it's really starting to revitalize our downtown."

Moeller was one of nine downtown Lewistown business owners that completed rehabilitation projects using funding from the program.

Moeller hired contractors to install four new awnings, paint the building's shutters and doors. She also had a new patio and window installed, along with landscaping work.

"It's totally like night and day," Moeller said.

That work made a huge difference on the exterior, but it also came with a hefty bill of $10,639. Fortunately, Moeller qualified for a $5,000 reimbursement grant from DLI.

"These reimbursement grants are intended to utilize a minimal amount of public funding to leverage significant, long-lasting, visible and appropriate improvement to commercial and mixed-use properties in the downtown," said Jim Zubler, executive director at DLI.

As a stipulation of the grant and in compliance with Lewistown Borough, when the project is completed, the exterior of the property must meet code.

DLI provided a maximum $5,000 matching grant for each facade improvement project. DLI's reimbursements matched the investment of the business or property owner. These projects were made possible in part by a $50,000 allocation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community and Economic Development and support from DLI's Board of Directors.

Mifflin County Wireless, located at 101 E. Market St., was another business that took advantage of the funding.

Cody Wian, president of Mifflin County Wireless, wanted to purchase and install a new sign as well as LED lighting and paint the overhang of the business. That bill came to $11,800.

"The reimbursement of $5,000 was able to help us focus money into development of other areas of our Internet service for rural residents," Wian said.

Work was also completed at the Monument Square Center, 3 W. Monument Square. The exterior of the building was repainted, along with painting over of graffiti on the wall and downlighting was repaired.

"It is so exciting to observe the renaissance currently taking place in downtown Lewistown," Kelley said. "After the closing of the Bon-Ton and the vacating of some other key buildings, it seemed as though our downtown was on a downhill slide. It is a joy to see it gradually regain its footing.

"There have been several contributing factors to this resurgence, one of which is the many facade improvements," she added. "Local investors have taken advantage of facade grants offered through Downtown Lewistown Inc., with funds received from the Keystone Communities Program, and have made improvements to structures, many of which were vacant for years."

This was the first round of the program. Now, that work has been completed, Zubler hopes other business and property owners might utilize the available funding to make improvements.

"There was a flurry of activity to end the program," Zubler said. "That was concluded at the end of April. We have applied for funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for additional funding of facade rehabilitation.

The funding is only applicable to work completed on the front of the building, Zubler said. Some facade projects, which are still in various stages of completion, were not approved because "they were not able to complete all of the requirements," Zubler said. "They still substantially improved the property.

"We are taking very comprehensive looks at the properties within the downtown and this particular program is also aimed at properties that border Valley Street, which is a gateway into the residential neighborhood, East Third Street and Chestnut Street," he added.

A maintenance agreement is also required for applicants ensuring compliance with property maintenance and retention of the improvements proscribed by the program.

"It's also an incentive for the property owners to boost their investments," Zubler said. "We heard from a number of property owners that because the facade program was available, they extended what they intended to do."

Regardless of the work, the downtown and its businesses benefit from the lasting improvements.

Along with code enforcement, the property owners must adhere to guidelines established by the Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation to "respect the historic character of the properties," Zubler said. "Property owners must follow these guidelines and we are working with them to bring about major impact."