Title
HLC#21-003: Consideration of the Historic Mansfield Façade Grant Program
Description/History
In preparation for the Hotel/Motel Tax applications in July, Staff recommended that the Commission consider changes to the preservation grant program to complement the City Council’s proposed economic incentive program for the historic downtown. Attached is a draft of the new Historic Mansfield Façade Grant Program. To fund the grant program, staff recommends that the Commission request $100,000 from the Hotel/Motel Tax.
The new grant program focuses on the visual improvement of the historic downtown through the repair and restoration of commercial storefronts on North Main Street. Grants will be considered for the historic buildings on Blocks 1 and 2 of the Original Town.
The grant is a single payment reimbursement to property owners on an 80/20 matching basis up to $100,000 from City funds. For example, for a project costing $100,000, the City will reimburse the application $80,000 from city funds; the applicant must provide $20,000 in private funds. The City Council may waive the matching requirement at their discretion.
As discussed at the last meeting, Staff has revised the program to include a process to reimburse a property owner for emergency repairs made prior to filing a grant application. Emergency repairs are repairs that, if not made in a timely manner, will likely result in immediate and substantial damage to a historic building or structure.
Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the grant program and requests that the Commission authorize the Chairman to sign the Hotel/Motel Tax application.
Attachment
2021 Preservation Grant Program