Report to: Development Services Committee                           Report Date: December 1, 2009

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program for Heritage Districts Fall 2009

PREPARED BY:               Peter Wokral, Ext. 7955

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

1)      THAT the staff report entitled “Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program for Heritage Districts Fall 2009” be received;

 

2)      THAT the applications for the Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program be approved provided that the applicants comply with the eligibility requirements of the program;

 

3)      THAT the requested grant of $10,237.50 to replicate a missing Victorian veranda at the front of 8 Main St. N. be approved subject to the applicant obtaining the necessary approvals and entering into a Grant Agreement with the Town;

 

4)      THAT the requested grant of $9,975.00 to make property improvements to the rear of 149 Main St. Unionville including landscaping, enclosing the garbage bins, adding shutters, and installing a picket fence be approved subject to the applicant obtaining the necessary approvals and entering into a Grant Agreement with the Town;

 

5)      THAT Council authorizes the Mayor and Clerk to enter into Façade Easement Agreements with the owners of 8 Main St. N. and 149 Main St. Unionville and any other documents required to give effect thereto, in a form satisfactory to the Town Solicitor;

 

6)      THAT Council agrees to waive the eligibility criteria pertaining to the timing of the initiation of the following projects: the veranda of 8 Main St. N. and the improvements to the rear of 149 Main St. Unionville;

 

7)      THAT the grants be funded through the Development Services Planning Capital Project 6633 (Heritage Façade Improvement/Replacement Program).

 

8)      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 (HR, 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 two properties within heritage districts.

 

 

 

 

BACKGROUND:

 

The purpose of the program

Council approved the Commercial Façade Improvement Program for commercial properties located in the Town’s three Heritage Conservation Districts on June 8, 2004.

The purpose of the façade improvement 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).  Also, the property must not be the subject of a by-law contravention, work order or outstanding municipal requirements, and 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
  • Installation of new signage in accordance with the Town’s Sign By-law for Special Sign Districts

 

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 $5,000 or more, the property owner is required to enter into a façade easement agreement, in perpetuity, with the municipality. A draft By-law to authorize the execution of Façade Easement agreements is attached as Schedule ‘A’.

 

Applicants who secure grant approval are also 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, the work to be done and the project completion date.

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

Two Applications were received in October 2009 in response to the latest advertisement of the program

The review of grant applications is undertaken by Heritage Section Staff and Heritage Markham.  In total, two complete applications were received by the October 23rd, 2009 deadline and these have been reviewed.  (See Appendix A & B for summary of each requested grant). 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.

 

Both grant applications are recommended for approval

Based on the above criteria, the façade grant applications for 8 Main St. N., and 149 Main St. Unionville are recommended for approval provided that a review by Town departments determines that there are no outstanding issues related to the properties.

 

Both applicants would like to commence work prior to receiving approval from Council

The owners of 8 Main St. N. and 149 Main St. Unionville have indicated that they would like to commence work on their projects before their grant is considered by Council. Under the eligibility requirement of the program, work is not to begin prior to Council’s approval.  The applicants would like to commence as early as possible before the onset of winter conditions as both projects have already been approved by the Town through separate Site Plan applications. 

 

The intent of the eligibility requirement to have applicants wait to commence work until the application is approved by Council is to make sure that applicants are not applying for funding for projects that have already been completed in the past.  It is the opinion of Heritage Section Staff and Heritage Markham that both projects do not fall into this category and can be supported even if work is commenced prior to receiving the approval of Council.

 

Both properties will require Heritage Easement Agreements

To be eligible for funding through the grant program, applicants requesting a grant in excess of $5000.00 must be subject to a Façade Easement Agreement with the Town.  The requested grants for 8 Main St. N. and 149 Main St. Unionville will require Council’s authorization by the Mayor and Clerk to enter into Façade Easement Agreements with the property owners.

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND TEMPLATE: (external link)

The total cost of the requested façade grants is $20,212.50.  Currently, Project 6633 (Heritage Façade Improvement/Replacement Program) has $27,833.25 available, which is sufficient to fund these grant requests. 

 

The balance remaining in Project 6633 of $7,620.75 will be used for future Heritage Façade/Sign Replacement Program requirements.

 

HUMAN RESOURCES CONSIDERATIONS

“Not applicable”

 

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.

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

The applications were forwarded to Heritage Markham for review on May 13, 2009. Heritage Markham has no objection to the two grant applications subject to the noted conditions.  The Finance Department has reviewed this report.

 

RECOMMENDED BY:

                                     

 

 

 

 

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

Director of Planning and Urban Design

 

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

Commissioner of Development Services

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix ‘A, B’                       Summary of Applications and Photographs

Appendix ‘C’                           November 11, 2009 Heritage Markham Recommendation

Schedule ‘D’                            Draft By-law authorizing the Mayor and Clerk to enter into 

                                                Façade Easement agreements with property owners