Business fronts can get facelifts

[ Originally published on: Friday, June 22, 2007 ]

GREENFIELD -- The town is creating a program to help downtown building owners repair and restore facades with matching federal tax dollars.

The program would target Main Street, as well as part of Federal and Hope streets.

Steven Herzberg, the town's grants administrator, hopes the state will approve the use of federally funded Community Development Block Grant funds for the project.

If it is approved, the town plans to match, dollar for dollar, up to $15,000 to each building owner for projects that cost up to $30,000.

''If an owner wants to continue a project and spend more than the $30,000, he or she would have to pay 100 percent of the extra cost,'' said Herzberg.

Eligible work includes brick re-pointing and repair, replacement or repair of unique architectural detailing and existing windows, doors and entryways, handicapped access improvements and removal of more recent facade additions that hide the original building's exterior.

Owners who want to enhance or restore the historic quality of facades would also have to agree to a preservation restriction that will be placed on the building to prevent alteration to a facade for a specified number of years. The preservation restriction will have to be recorded at the Registry of Deeds.

Work that substantially alters an existing facade would require consultation with the town's Historical Commission and written approval by the Department of Planning and Community Development. Simple repair work will only require approval of the planners.

Herzberg expects the town will receive some $800,000 in grants in July.

''Until the current year, we've received about $600,000,'' he said. ''I'd like to be able by July to apply to the state to have some of the money go toward this project,'' he said. ''This is a good deal.''

Herzberg said nothing about the project is written in stone at this point.

''We sent more than 90 letters to owners and we're waiting for input,'' he said. ''We've heard from six who have expressed some interest.''

Not all business owners and merchants plan to take the opportunity the town is offering.

''I don't think something like this is going to bring us any more business,'' said John Roberts, co-owner of Home Furnishing Co. ''We've actually been doing a lot of work on our building over the past seven or eight years.''

Home Furnishing Co. owns the building it is located in at 122 Main St.

''I do think there are buildings that could use this program,'' said Roberts. ''Then again, if building owners kept up their buildings, a program like this wouldn't be necessary. I think it would make more sense to put a stronger police presence in the downtown if you want to encourage people to shop here.''

Simon P. Alciere, president of Simon's Stamps, agrees. He does not own the building where is business is located.

''It's hard to turn down $15,000, but as a Massachusetts citizen I'm wondering why the money isn't going to schools or libraries or police and fire.''

Alciere rolled his eyes as he continued, ''Fixing up the front of my store, painting or installing a new awning, isn't going to draw customers. People aren't coming to the downtown because they're getting parking tickets or can't find parking. Local merchants have to compete with malls and big boxes and the Internet. You don't get parking tickets when you go to one of those.''

Antha Smith, owner of World Eye Bookshop, said the building could use a little ''sprucing up,'' but doesn't think it's one of the worst on Main Street. Robert Cohn owns the building. He could not be reached for comment.

If Herzberg can submit the application to the state by July, he expects work could begin on one or two facades by fall.

''All we need is one or two high-profile buildings to be done and I think that would generate more interest,'' he said. ''Then we could apply again next year.''

Herzberg says he'd like building owners to let the town know whether there are other program designs or incentives they'd like brought to the project. There are low-interest amortized or deferred payment loans, varying match ratios or sliding interest rates that could be explored by the town.

Community Development Block Grants are often used for road reconstruction, privately owned, low to moderate income housing rehabilitation, social services programs and preventing or eliminating slums and blight, said Herzberg.

''This project falls under the latter category,'' he said.

''We want to prevent 'blight' along these main streets.''

State-mandated restrictions to the project include paying prevailing wages for labor and the $30,000 limit.

You can reach Anita Fritz at: afritz@recorder.com or (413) 772-0261 Ext. 280

 

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