Press release
This spring, the City of Athens implemented a new program called the Downtown Façade Improvement Program. The program is designed to help improve the aesthetic qualities and preserve historic structures in the Athens downtown area, which includes the nine blocks of downtown, Athens Alley, and several other areas adjacent to the square. The program allows for 80:20 grants (80% contributed by the City of Athens, 20% from the property owner) with a grant maximum of $12,500 per façade and $25,000 per project. All funding for the program is made available exclusively from the City’s Hotel Occupancy Taxes. Applications for 2017 were due at the beginning of April.
“We want to extend a huge thank you to all of the downtown property owners who took the time to submit an application” said Cultural Resources Coordinator, Adrianna Hinds. “We were very pleased to receive ten applications for this exciting new program and based on an administrative review, are able to fund six of them. I feel certain that in addition to other downtown improvements that the City of Athens is initiating, this worthy investment in our downtown area properties will keep downtown revitalization efforts progressing forward and increase awareness regarding the need for historic preservation.”
Grant applications were awarded exclusively on merit and were graded against the following evaluation criteria: proposed façade improvements and design (45%), historic significance (25%), overmatch (20%), and location (10%).
The following downtown property owners’ applications were chosen for funding for the 2017 fiscal year:
- Jon Garrett will receive $12,500.00 from the City of Athens for his property located at 114 North Palestine Street.
- Robert A. Gould, Sr. will receive $3,500.00 from the City of Athens for his properties located at 220 and 224 North Prairieville Street.
- Kimble Kubiak will receive $15,760.00 from the City of Athens for his property located at 221 East Tyler Street.
- Mark and Sharon McCain will receive $5,000.00 from the City of Athens for their property located at 115 East Tyler Street.
- Ogburn Land Management, LLC. (Jim and Maria Ogburn) will receive $5,000.00 for their property located at 203 North Prairieville Street.
- Perryman LaRue Building, Inc. (Chip Perryman) will receive $8,240.00 from the City of Athens for his property located at 100 East Corsicana Street.
Congratulations to this year’s recipients!
For questions regarding the Downtown Façade Improvement Program, please contact City Hall at 903.675.5131 or e-mail Adrianna Hinds at [email protected].