Peotone residents will soon see another updated downtown facade after the board approved the second applicant for the facade improvement plan.
Jared Gordon, who owns 115 through 117 Second Street in downtown Peotone, locally known as the Game On! Bar and Grill building, is requesting funding for a “comprehensive exterior enhancement” that includes masonry cleaning and staining, storefront refinishing, and replacing aging fascia.
In addition to the refurbishing, the project will also include some renovations.
“Installation of new architectural cladding and aluminum trim, and the addition of historically inspired awnings, the project will substantially improve the appearance and architectural presence of 115 N. Second Street,” the application read.
“Second Street is going to look really nice when all these improvements are done,” Administrator Nick Palmer said.
Images depicting the project’s completion show new, historically inspired canvas awnings and darker-stained brick to tie in with the color scheme.
“This is something, obviously, I’ve been wanting to do it for a little bit. I’ve done a lot of infrastructure with the building – water mains, electrical, all kinds of different things over the years, and I’m finally able to do something on the exterior of it to make it look better,” Gordon said at the meeting.
“This is kind of my ultimate vision for the building,” he added.
The application requests a 50 percent reimbursement of the project’s TIF-eligible costs not to exceed $24,613.00 from the TIF district’s special tax allocation fund. The project is estimated to cost $49,226.97.
“I will say to Jared, I’ve said it to him privately, he had a very well-done application, very thorough, very detailed. He had pictures and things and really put in a lot of effort, which I might use as the model for future years,” Palmer said.
The Facade Improvement Program was formally put in place in March but hadn’t seen any interest until the first applicant was approved at the Aug. 24 board meeting for tuckpointing, window replacement and painting for the building at the corner of North and Railroad streets.
“This is only our second one, but once these are approved, the applicants go and do the improvements. They come back with their receipts. I will review them with the TIF consultants, and we’ll try to do that quickly so we can move it along, bring it as soon as possible to the next board meeting where then we’ll approve the payouts, but it is a reimbursement grant,” Palmer said.
The program incentivizes commercial building owners in the downtown area to make updates to their buildings. The village offers financial assistance to renovate a building’s facade using TIF funding after reviewing and approving an application. Typically, it allows for 50 percent of eligible costs.
Applicants are required to provide estimates, images depicting the work to be done, and a scope of work to the village before approval. After approval, applicants can move forward with their project and submit receipts for reimbursement.
The board had considerable discussion regarding the renewal and upgrade of the Placer Labs software. This data provides the village with economic development tools. The version the village subscribed to last year was not user-friendly enough to benefit the village.
Initially, Palmer said the village was not going to renew it; however, after trying out the new program, the benefits of the upgraded program were worthwhile. However, it comes with an increase of $12,000, bringing the total to $24,000.
The board decided to table the decision until the rest of the board could be present for a bigger discussion and to allow Palmer to provide more information about the program and additional sample reports.
Before concluding, the board members briefly discussed Speedway gas station, which will be closing due to failed tanks, as well as concerns that it might stay vacant for an extended period of time. They had no resolution other than continuing to seek potential solutions.
In other news, Public Works Supervisor Bob Hennke reported the MFT project was still pending, but the sidewalk program has begun. Crack sealing is complete for the year. Leaf collection has begun, and Hennke requested residents place leaves in the parkway, not in the roadway, for collection.