99-164 Resolution No. 99-164
RESOLUTION
ADOPTING AN AMENDED ELGIN FACADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ELGIN,
ILLINOIS, that it hereby adopts an amended Elgin Facade
Improvement Program dated June 17, 1999 for the improvement,
renovation and restoration of buildings to the original
architecture of the building, a copy of which is attached.
s/ Ed Schock
Ed Schock, Mayor
Presented: June 23 , 1999
Adopted: June 23 , 1999
Vote : Yeas 7 Nays 0
Attest :
s/ Dolonna Mecum
Dolonna Mecum, City Clerk
June 17, 1999
ELGIN FACADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Introduction
The City of Elgin has committed itself to revitalization of its
center city. This commitment manifests itself in implementation of
the Center City Master Plan, a blueprint for redevelopment of Elgin' s
center core area . A vital component to the success of this redevelop-
ment effort is the involvement of private property owners . The City
hopes to encourage private investment in commercial buildings of the
financ
area through a program which offers ualitvcofttheirtstorefronts .
businesses to improve the appearance and q
The Elgin Facade Improvement program is designed to promote improve-
ments to storefronts itowners or business center cre,
Improvement Program, property
apply for g rants equal to 35 percent of
target area are eligible to
the cost of improving their storefronts r building facades . These
grants are provided in recognition of the positive impact
individual facade renovations can have on the overall appearance and
quality of their storefronts .
Target Area
' s target area is presented as Exhibit A.
A map indicating the program
tance through the Facade Improvement Pro-
The building for which assis
gram is sought must be located in the target area .
Type of Assistance
Pr operty owners or business owners who install at least $1to0035Of
improvement under this program will i receive
percent of the cost of the work.
It is not the purpose of the program
buildina?seregulargmainter.ancets
which may be considered part
of the g r ram only once.
Each eligible improvement will be funded by the p_og
However, the applicant may present the project in phases with
completion scheduled within two
phase
facade improvements not base .
Rebates may then be approved for each p
Facade renovations of upper floors may be eligible if first floor
improvements are included in the project or if the existing ground
floor is compatible with the original building architecture as
determined by -the City' s staff architect .
Ownership
Eligible applicants may be the ownthe°tar et area. Businessgownerse
owner of a commercial business in g planned must
who are tenants of a building for which improvements are
provide written consent from the building owner for all proposed
improvements . The tenant applicant mustuhave thelprogramfive-year
lease at the location in order
- 1 -
Eligible Improvements
The Facade Improvement Program is geared to facade improvements
ranging from minor repairs and painting to complete facade renovation.
Eligible improvements include brick cleaning and tuck pointing,
painting, signs , window display area remodeling, exterior lighting,
window and/or door replacement, awnings , restoration of original
architectural features and other improvements visible from the street
and have a positive appearance of the building . Sandblasting of
brick will not be funded under the program nor will the program
participate in any project which includes sandblasting.
Awnings and canopies may be used as a design element if those
features are compatible with the original building design and
complement the building' s architectural features . Mansard roofs and
fixed shingle canopies will not be an eligible cost under the program.
Detailed architectural design work is an eligible cost under the
program.
All facades generally visible from a public right-of-way, including
front, sides and rear of building, are eligible for the Facade
Improvement Program.
In addition to the financial assistance, applicants will receive a
conceptual design and an outline work specification prepared by an
architect under contract with the city.
2 -
The Facade Improvement Application Process
Application and Administrative Procedures
1 . Merchants or property owners will receive a copy of the Elgin
Facade Improvement Program guidelines and application form.
The completed application should be submitted to the Program
Coordinator for processing along with a $50 . 00 non-refundable
application fee . If more applications are received than
current funding levels will allow, the City reserves the right
to prioritize the applications on the basis of the location of
the project, the extent of the work, the level of private
funding and the relative impact of the proposed improvements
on the area .
2 . All application materials will be forwarded to an architect
selected by the City. The architect will prepare a conceptual
design plan and an outline work specification. On-site
inspections or personal interviews with the applicant will be
conducted by the architect .
3 . The Department of Code Administration, at the request of the
Program Coordinator, shall make an inspection of all exterior
improvements and file a written report with the Program
Coordinator regarding any corrections to be included in, the
facade improvements .
4 . After the conceptual design and outline specifications are
completed, the applicant will meet with the Program
Coordinator, Historic Preservation Specialist and
Rehabilitation Specialist to discuss the proposed improvements
and cost estimates .
S . Applicant may then choose one of the following courses of
action: 1) the applicant may elect to proceed with the
application based on the general concept developed by the
architect, or 2) the applicant may decide to withdraw from the
program at this time .
6 . The Elgin Heritage Commission will review the application and
provide comment . The application and accompanying materials
will be provided to the Secretary of the Commission who will
notify the Commission members of their availability. The
Commission will be allowed one week to review the application
materials . The Secretary will pass along all comments to the
Program Coordinator. Heritage Commission comments are
advisory in nature .
7 . The application materials, design drawings and Heritage
Commission comments will be reviewed by the Program
Coordinator, Historic Preservation Specialist and
Rehabilitation Specialist . The application will be approved
or disapproved after considering the following: 1) the
compatibility of the proposed improvements with the overall
architectural design goals for the area; 2) the relationship
between the proposed improvements and the general character of
the streetscape and other buildings in the area; 3) the
overall impact of the improvements on the appearance and
marketability of the building; 4) the relationship between the
improvements and the original architecture or historic
significance of the building or area; and 5) the
recommendations of the City staff and/or the architect
regarding any of the above and compliance with City codes .
8 . After the application is approved, and if no further
architectural or engineering plans are required, the applicant
may begin to solicit bids from contractors of his or her
choice. However, if more detailed drawings or specifications
are required, the applicant has the following options : 1) the
applicant may retain the services of the architect who
prepared the conceptual drawings, or 2) the applicant may
choose to hire a design professional of his or her own choice .
9 . After the applicant has received at least two bids for each of
the approved work items, the applicant shall notify the
Program Coordinator as to the contractor selected, the
contract amount, and the anticipated date of construction.
Copies of all bids and proposals shall be submitted promptly
to the Program Coordinator. The applicant may not serve as
his/her own contractor except in those instances where the
applicant is an owner or partner in a company regularly doing
business as a building contractor and in the opinion of the
city such company has the capacity and skill to perform the
proposed improvements .
10 . Upon City approval of the contractor, a Facade Improvement
Program Agreement will be drafted and will require that all
improvements must be completed within 180 days of the date of
the Agreement, unless otherwise authorized by the City; and
further stipulate that property owners shall be responsible
for properly maintaining such facade improvement for a period
of five (5) years without alteration unless such changes are
submitted for review and approval by the Program Coordinator.
A copy of the signed contract for work to be performed shall
be made a part of this Agreement .
11 . Required building permits must be obtained before the work
begins . Questions regarding permit requirements should be
directed to the City' s Department of Code Administration.
Permit fees for facade improvements under the program will be
waived.
12 . After all necessary permits have been issued, work may
proceed. All change orders must be approved by the Program
Coordinator in writing.
13 . Upon completion of the project, copies of all bids, contracts,
and invoices must be submitted to the Program Coordinator.
City staff will inspect the work for compliance with City
codes and conformance with the design plans approved for this
project .
14 . If all of the requirements listed above are satisfied, a check
will be issued from the City to the applicant for 35 percent
of the total project cost . Note : payment will be issued only
upon completion of all work items as originally approved.
Major changes or elimination of certain items in the approved
design plan must be approved by a City staff review team.
15 . In the event that an application is not approved, the
applicant may appeal the decision to the City Council . The
applicant shall notify the Program Coordinator, in writing,
with a request to appeal within ten working days of receiving
notice of the disapproved application. The City Council will
hear the appeal and review the arguments from both the
applicant and staff . The City Council may vote to uphold or
reverse the staff decision.
Ineligible Improvements
The following improvements are ineligible under the Elgin Facade
Improvement Program:
1 . Substantial reconstruction, expansion, or major structural
repairs .
2 . Interior remodeling (except window display areas) .
3 . Purchase of furnishings, equipment, or other personal property
which does not become a part of the real estate .
4 . Improvements completed or in progress prior to notification of
approval .
Definitions
FACADE The front or main face of a building or other
exterior wall which is visible from a public
street .
STOREFRONT Generally, a storefront can be defined as a 30-foot
front measured along the street .
Correspondence
All questions and comments regarding this Program shall be directed
to .
Program Coordinator - Facade Improvement Program
City of Elgin
150 Dexter Court
Elgin, IL 60120-5555
Facade Improvement Program
Partial Restoration Component
Purpose
The purpose of this component is to provide the participant with an
alternative to undertaking a comprehensive exteriorwrestoration
ready
project . This program will allow a prop
for a full restoration project to make significant positive
improvements to the property.
Eligible Improvements
The following are eligible activities under the partial restoration
program:
1 . Brick Cleaning
2 . Tuck Pointing
3 . Brick Replacement
4 . signage
5 . Awning
6 . Window Replacement (second story and above only) '
7 . Building Lighting
g . Painting for Peeling Paint
- colors to be approved by City
- a choice of recommended colors will be offered
9 . Replacement of specific architectural features , such as cornice,
lintels , etc .
10 . Landscaping - reviewed on a case-by-case basis
Ineligible Activities
The following activities are ineligible for rebate under the program:
1 . Roofs
2 . First floor window and door replacement
3 . Bulkhead replacement - unless no further storefront work is
needed
4 . Creation of new and/or incompatible architectural features
5 . Repair or replacement of architectural features incompatible with
original architecture of structure, such as mansard roofs .
6 -
Application
Interested persons shall complete a program application, including a
non-refundable $50 . 00 application fee . Applications shall be
submitted to :
Director, New Century Partnership for Elgin
150 Dexter Court
Elgin, IL 60120
Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis .
Project Assessment an
upon receipt of application and fee, the Cihew�pDlicantnrelative to
architect to review the repairs desired by * he applicant
a ant relative
list
the subject property. The arTamtstaffllthe architect and applicant
of recommended repairs . Program
will meet to discuss and agree upon repairs to be undertaken.
Rebate
A er bate of 35 percent of the total project cost, to a maximum of
$5 , 000 . 00 is allowed.
Rebate will be made upon completion of the project and upon providing
City staff with copies of paid invoices and all contractors ' waivers
of lien.
Type of Assistance
A property owner may participate in the partial restoration
on a one-time basis . However, the property owner may p
the comprehensive restoration program at a later time .
Contract with City of Elgin
The applicant will enter into a contract with the City of Elgin in
order to formalize participation in the program. The contract will
set forth the terms of participation.tcontract haslbeen executedteunless
project shall commence until
approved by the City.
7 -
'.FACADEIM.PRO/TEXT081/NEWCENTU.Ry
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City of Elgin Agenda Item No.
June 15, 1999
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Joyce A. Parker, City Manager
SUBJECT: Amendment to Facade Improvement Program Guidelines
PURPOSE
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information to
the Mayor and City Council members to consider amendments to
the three Facade Improvement Program guidelines currently
offered by the City of Elgin.
BACKGROUND
The City of Elgin currently offers three building improvement
programs that provide funding assistance to building owners
or tenants for exterior enhancement to the buildings . The
three programs are :
1) Facade Improvement Program
2) State Street Facade Program
3) Neighborhood Business Improvement Program
Eligible improvements include brick cleaning and tuck point-
ing, painting, window display area remodeling, exterior
lighting, window and/or door replacement, awning, restoration
of original architectural features, signage and landscape and
parking improvements .
The guidelines for the Facade Program and Neighborhood Busi-
ness Improvement Program contain the provisions that "the
applicant may not serve as his/her own contractor" . This
provision does not appear in the State Street Facade Program.
The presence of this provision in two of the program guide-
lines and its absence in the third has recently caused some
confusion with regard to the application provision prohibit-
ing a building owner to serve as the contractor on a Neighbor-
hood Business Improvement grant . Two of the three applicants
for Neighborhood Business Improvement funds have been from
owners who were also involved in the building trades and were
interested and qualified to perform the authorized improve-
ments to their buildings . Mistakenly, one applicant was
approved to construct the improvements to his building.
• 'Amendments to FIP Guidelines
June 15, 1999
Page 2
Recent experience has indicated that investors purchasing a
building in the downtown area that requires significant
interior and exterior improvements tend also to be involved
in the construction trades.
Address Owner
1 . 150-154 East Chicago Street Kresmery
2 . 168 East Highland Avenue Kresmery
3 . 168-172 East Chicago Street Shales
4 . 21-29 South Grove Avenue PanCor
5 . 384 Division Anderson
6 . 801-805 Dundee Avenue Schroeder
Schroeder and Anderson were the low bidders on the improve-
ments for their properties . Seagren/Shales is the low bidder
for the project proposed by Marlene Shales. Kresmery and
PanCor did not participate directly under any city-structured
facade program, but received significant city funding assis-
tance and were not limited by any city prohibition relating
to performing direct work on their projects .
Due to the significant interest in building ownership and
improvement by individuals and firms involved in the construc-
tion field, staff would recommend that all parties be operat-
ing under consistent standards. Thus, staff would suggest
that the requirements in the Neighborhood Business Improve-
ment and the Facade Program prohibiting applicants from
serving as their contractor be modified. Staff would suggest
that the following language be added to the three impacted
improvement programs:
"The applicant may not serve as his/her own contractor
except in those instances where the applicant is an
owner or partner in a company regularly doing business
as a contractor and in the opinion of the City such
company has the capacity and skill to perform the pro-
posed improvements . "
COMMUNITY GROUPS/INTERESTED PERSONS CONTACTED
None .
t FINANCIAL IMPACT
\1v
None.
- 'Amen'dments to FIP Guidelines
June 15, 1999
Page 3
LEGAL IMPACT
None .
ALTERNATIVES
1 . Change guidelines as proposed.
2 . Retain current guidelines .
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the program guidelines for the Facade
Program and the Neighborhood Business Improvement Program be
amended to allow applicants that are owners or partners in
companies regularly doing business as contractors to serve as
contractor for their project (s) .
Resp tfully submitted,
Jo e A. Parker
City Manager
RHM:amp