Report to: Development Services Committee                          Report Date: December 2nd 2008

 

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program 2008

PREPARED BY:               Peter Wokral, Heritage Planner ext. 7955

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the following applications for the Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program be approved subject to the applicants obtaining the necessary approvals, and entering into Grant Agreements with the Town:

 

Address                                                                                  Grant Amount Requested

159 Main St. Unionville                                                            $15,000.00

5 George St. Markham                                                 $15,000.00

 

AND THAT the requested grant of up to $15,000.00 to re-roof, paint and remove the asbestos siding from the north side of 136 Main St. be approved subject to the applicant obtaining the necessary approvals, entering into a Grant Agreement with the Town, and provided that Heritage Staff determine that the original siding is incapable of being restored, and subject to the applicant obtaining the necessary approvals, and entering into a Grant Agreement with the Town;

 

AND THAT the requested grant of $15,000.00 for the replacement of the existing windows of 96 Markham Main St. N. be approved provided that:

 

  • the existing windows are donated to a recycling facility (eg. Habitat for Humanity) to divert them from landfill;
  • the replacement windows are single or double hung wooden windows with true divided lights or exterior adhered muntin bars in a pattern matching the pane divisions of the historic windows when the building was originally constructed;
  • the applicant obtaining the necessary approvals, and entering into a Grant Agreement with the Town;

 

AND THAT the requested grant of $15,000.00 to replace the historic wooden windows of 116 Markham Main St. N. be approved provided that Heritage Staff determine that the existing windows are structurally incapable of being restored and subject to the applicant obtaining the necessary approvals, and entering into a Grant Agreement with the Town;

 

THAT an amount of $17,500.00 be pre-approved from the capital budget account (9059) for the purpose of supporting these 2008 grant requests;

 

AND THAT the grants be funded through the following Development Services Planning Capital Accounts:

 

 

 

                        $50,000.00 from the 2008 Façade Improvement Program (80-6150-8025-005),

                        $7,500 from Other Façade Improvement Program years (080 6150 6633 005) and

                        $17,500.00 from the pre-approved capital budget (9059) Annual top-up of Heritage Façade Improvement/Sign Replacement

 

AND THAT Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

 

1. Purpose       2. Background         3. Discussion        4. Financial      5. Others (Strategic, Affected Units)       6. Attachment(s)

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the report is to recommend the approval of grant assistance for commercial façade improvements for properties within heritage districts.

 

BACKGROUND:

The Commercial Façade grant program was approved in 2004

Council approved the Commercial Façade Improvement Program and the Commercial Signage Replacement Program on June 8, 2004.  In 2008, Council approved an additional.  For 2009, an allocation of $45,000 has been proposed in the capital budget as part of the annual top up.

 

The purpose of the program

The purpose of the façade program is to assist in the exterior improvement of privately owned buildings in commercial use located within the Town of Markham’s heritage districts.  The financial assistance is available to encourage the restoration and improvement of commercial building facades in the heritage districts/ main street areas.  Both heritage and non-heritage buildings in commercial use are encouraged to apply.

 

Eligibility requirements for grant assistance

Commercial properties located in the Town’s heritage districts are eligible for the façade grant program.  Owners and tenants of commercial property can apply for assistance.  The subject property must not be in default of any municipal taxes, local improvements or any other monies payable to the Town (fees or penalties).  The property must not be the subject of a by-law contravention, work order or outstanding municipal requirements.  The proposed work cannot commence prior to application approval.

 

Types of improvements that are eligible for assistance

Eligible facade improvements on heritage properties may include:

  • Repair or restoration of original features (cornices, parapets, eaves, other architectural features).
  • Repair, restoration or replacement of windows and doors.
  • Cleaning and repair of masonry.
  • Removal of non-original siding or facing.

 

Eligible façade improvements on non-heritage properties may include:

  • Renovation of existing commercial storefronts in accordance with standard principles of traditional storefront design (fascia board for signage above storefront, appropriate display windows, removal of incompatible alterations, etc.).
  • Improvements to the principal facades of incompatible buildings being sympathetic and compatible with the historic character of the area and the policies of the heritage conservation district plan.
  • Re-cladding in more traditional materials complementary to the district character.

 

Amount of grant assistance

The maximum façade grant is $10,000 for non-heritage properties and $15,000 for heritage properties.  The assistance is in the form of a 50/50 matching grant that is paid upon completion of approved work.  An applicant can receive one grant per calendar year. 

 

As a condition of any grant of $5000 or more, the property owner is required to enter into a façade easement agreement, in perpetuity, with the municipality.

 

Applicants who secure grant approval are required to enter into a Grant Agreement/ Letter of Understanding with the municipality.  This Agreement establishes a formal arrangement between the applicant and the Town, and outlines the amount of the grant and the project completion date.

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

Five Applications were received in October 2008 in response to latest advertisement of the program

The review of all grant applications was undertaken by a grants review committee comprised of Planning and Urban Design staff (See Appendix A, B, C, D, and E for a summary of each requested grant). The applications were also reviewed by Heritage Markham.  In total, five applications were received.  The following criteria were considered when reviewing the applications for assistance:

  • The project must comply with the policies and guidelines of the area’s heritage district plan;
  • Preference is given to applications proposing work on heritage properties;
  • On heritage properties, conservation and restoration of original architectural features will occur to the extent possible;
  • Projects must obtain municipal approval to qualify;
  • The assistance should not reward poor property stewardship;
  • Substantive improvements rather than short-term cosmetic patch-ups should be given priority.

 

Two façade grant applications are recommended for approval

Based on the above criteria the façade grant applications 159 Main St. Unionville and 5 George St. Markham are recommended for approval provided a review by Town departments determines that there are no outstanding issues related to the properties.

 

 

 

Three façade grant applications are recommended for approval with conditions

Based on the above criteria, the portion of the requested grant money to re-clad the north wall of 136 Main St. Unionville should only be approved if the underlying original cladding is not capable of being restored.  If this original cladding is capable of being restored, the money requested to re-clad the north side should only be made available for the restoration of the original siding. 

 

The application for 96 Main St. N. (The Old Town Hall) should only be supported provided that a review by Town departments determines that there are no outstanding issues related to the property and the applicant agrees to:

  • donate or recycle the existing windows to prevent them from ending up in a landfill;
  • replace the existing windows with wooden single or double hung windows with pane divisions matching those of the original windows of the building when it was constructed (See Appendix F).

The proposed windows have a pane division that is contrary to the policies contained in the Markham Village Heritage Conservation District Plan regarding Type A heritage buildings (See Appendix G).  The original windows of the Old Town hall were 2 over 2 segmental arched single or double hung windows on the second floor and 4 over 2 semi-circular arched single or double hung windows on the first floor.

 

The application for 116 Markham Main St. N, should only be supported provided that a review by Town departments determines that there are no outstanding issues related to the property and if a site visit determines that the existing historic wooden windows are not capable of being restored, as this is also contrary to the policies for Type A heritage buildings contained in the Markham Village Heritage Conservation District Plan. (See Appendix G)

 

The requested grant amounts for all the above improvements should only be recommended for approval provided that a review by Town departments determines that there are no outstanding issues related to the property.  The applications are currently in circulation.

 

All five properties are subject to Heritage Easement Agreements

All five properties have already entered into Heritage Conservation Easement Agreements with the Town or are obliged to do so through separate planning applications.

 

FINANCIAL TEMPLATE

The total cost of the requested façade grants is $75,000.00.  Currently, there is $57,500.00 available in the Planning capital budget to fund the program from the capital budget of 2008 and previous years. 

 

There is also an allocation of $45,000 in the proposed 2009 capital budget as an annual top up of this program.  Staff is requesting that $17,500 (or 39%) of this amount be allocated at this time as a pre-approved capital budget (9059).

 

In summary, the amount for the grant requests from the Heritage Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program would come from the following sources:

 

2008 Capital Budget (080-6150-8025-008)                             $50,000.00

Previous Years Capital Budget (080 6150 6633 005)     $7,500.00

2009 Annual Top-Up   (9059)                                                  $17,500.00

                                                                                                $75,000.00

 

The balance remaining in the 2009 capital budget of $27,500 will be used for future Heritage Façade/Sign Replacement Program requirements in 2009.

 

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:

Assisting with the costs of restoring downtown commercial heritage properties promotes private investment, increases property values, and property tax revenue while strengthening a sense of community and civic pride.

 

DEPARTMENTS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

The applications were forwarded to Heritage Markham for review.  Heritage Markham has no objection to the subject grant applications subject to the noted conditions.  The Finance Department has reviewed this report.

 

RECOMMENDED BY:

                                     

 

 

 

 

 

Valerie Shuttleworth, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Director of Planning & Urban Design

 

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Commissioner of Development Services

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix ‘A’                           136 Main St. Unionville Grant Summary

Appendix ‘B’                           159 Main St. Unionville Grant Summary

Appendix ‘C’                           5 George St. Markham Grant Summary

Appendix ‘D’                           96 Markham Main St. N. Grant Summary

Appendix ‘E”                           116 Markham Main St. N. Grant Summary

Appendix ‘F’                            Comparison of the existing and original window pane divisions of 96 Markham Main St. N.

Appendix ‘G”                           Policies for Type A heritage buildings in the Markham Village Heritage Conservation District Plan

 

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