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Home My WebLink About07/07/08 Facade Improve Prog D TREQUEST FOR AGENCY ACTION AGENCY BOARD MEETING DATE: JULY 7, 2008 TITLE: ADOPT A FAQADE IMPROVEMENT REBATE PROGRAM FOR THE DOWNTOWN RECOMMENDED ACTION AGENCY SECRETARY USE ONLY: APPROVED ❑ As Recommended ❑ As Amended ❑ Ordinance on V Reading ❑ Ordinance on 2"d Reading ❑ Implementing Resolution ❑ Set Public Hearing For CONTINUED TO FILE NUMBER Adopt a Fagade Improvement Rebate Program for the Downtown. COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING COMMISSION ACTION At its Regular Meeting of June 17, 2008, by Verino absent), the Community Redevelopment recommended that the Community Redevelopment Improvement Rebate Program for the Downtown. DISCUSSION a vote of 4:0 (Vasquez, and Housing Commission Agency adopt a Fagade For over two decades, the City of Santa Ana, private investors, business owners, various organizations, and community residents have worked together to revitalize and promote urban renewal in the Downtown while maintaining the historic and cultural traditions of the area. Santa Ana's Downtown is becoming widely known as a dynamic urban center acclaimed for the arts, theaters, galleries, and restaurants. The Downtown also boasts numerous art deco style historical buildings that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Downtown Fagade Improvement Rebate Program is designed to encourage the revitalization and activation of key storefronts in an effort to stimulate private investment and customer patronage. The rebate program would provide assistance to the commercial property and small business owners within the designated Downtown target area, which incorporates the Downtown Historic District, as well as other blocks and buildings vital to the downtown core (Exhibit 1). The Fagade program will 5-19 Downtown Fagade Improvement Rebate Program July 7, 2008 Page 2 complement other downtown projects underway, such as the Fourth Street Improvement Project. Similar rebate programs have been utilized effectively in the past. From 1983 to 1994, the Community Redevelopment Agency administered the Storefront Improvement Rebate Program throughout various project areas to assist commercial property and small business owners in rehabilitating their properties. In 2000, the Fagade Improvement Rebate Program was re-established along the South Main Corridor area to improve the exterior appearance of the commercial buildings. Eligible applicants will receive financial assistance in the form of rebates based on a sliding scale as follows: Storefront Maximum Rebate Percent of Total Cost Cost to Get Max. Rebate 24' or less $15,000 90% $17,000 25' 45' $30,000 800 $37,500 46' - 55' $45,000 70% $64,500 56, - 90' $60,000 60% $100,000 Over 90' $75,000 500 $150,000 The maximum rebate for physical improvements, including City permit fees is $75,000. The rebates will be available on a first --come, first-served basis. The terms and conditions of the program (Exhibit 2) were developed by a committee consisting of staff from the Community Development Agency and the Planning and Building Agency. FISCAL IMPACT Funds in the amount of $500,000 are available in the Merged Capital Improvements Commercial Rehab Rebate Project fund (account no. 570--936- 6906, project no. 08-8061) . NancyEdwards Assista t Director Community Development Agency NTE/GL/mlr 060208 Facade ImproveQrog (2) as of 4-30-08 APPROVED AS TO FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS: Francisco Gutierrez Executive Director Finance & Management Services Agency 5-20 LM Q CCU 0 Im cc i 0 L a CID ++ �y T 0 L 12. CID I 0 i 0 0 0 Gr Uj F - /LU V cv is a�wl�.aow Y 2tp7L 1S HONRa=l WK 4zE 8l9 M Z4E OL 60E kaE 009 n pw 1S No3oandS s11 6 t OU 0aZ 4kZ GU roz to 04 r m u�Ni uteri E l l m Ni a Lkk F LLL a sok sok �P (O fG 9 0 is We o 0 biz QkZ N (� r h 0Y W �- N ZOZ N pmp E N is We qp IS Nlaw Sak m � N N 8il t h W 9kl m v7 N V oat NF -N11 -L -j '1S aaowtloAS IS 2aowv3AS a n v EOZ F � m 0 soz g hoz �ii ]�T Fes. bCZ tz M 4ze AVMGvoas � EXHIQ g ZOE I -- w ZlET 4o t m ppgM ZZ£ is Houle C 90b F MI? Zlb blb � V 056 is Ssoa o 0 � N N p r h 0Y W �- N qp IS Nlaw Sak m � N N 8il t h W 9kl m v7 N V oat NF -N11 -L -j '1S aaowtloAS IS 2aowv3AS a n v EOZ F � m 0 soz g hoz �ii ]�T Fes. bCZ tz M 4ze AVMGvoas � EXHIQ g ZOE I -- w ZlET 4o t m ppgM ZZ£ is Houle C 90b F MI? Zlb blb � V 056 is Ssoa THIS WAGE LEFT BLANK INTENTIONALLY 5-22 City of Santa Ana COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY DOWNTOWN FAnADE IMPROVEMENT REBATE PROGRAM TEIImS AND CONDITIONS I. Purpose The Downtown Fagade Improvement Rebate Program is designed to encourage business and property owners, within the Downtown Fagade Improvement boundary area, to improve storefront facades. Through these improvements, the program is intended to aid in the stimulation of private investment and customer patronage in the City's Downtown by focusing on revitalizing and activating vital storefronts. II. Eligible Improvements Eligible facade improvements include those that improve the exterior aesthetic appearance of a building storefront of a commercial enterprise and are visible from the street. A storefront shall be well designed and is defined as a street fagade with at least one entrance and has the appearance of an independent store. By definition, a fagade is the cosmetic face of a commercial enterprise. Rear and side facades are eligible if determined by the Agency, on a case-by-case basis, to be an accepted business entry to the ground floor. Some examples of eligible fagade improvements include but are not limited to; • Exterior building materials and architectural features • Signage • Awnings • Steam cleaning • Painting • Eliminationtalternatives to bars on windows • Anti -graffiti measures • Landscaping and irrigation (if visible from street) • Decorative and security exterior lighting and display window lighting • Window display improvements such as staging and lighting • Exterior historic building restoration III. Pro am Benefits Storefront Max Rebate % of Total Minimum Cost to Get Max Rebate 24' or less $15,000 90% $17,000 25' — 45' $30,000 80% $37,500 46'— 55' $45,000 70% $64,500 56'— 90' $60,000 60% $100,000 Over 90' $75,000 50% $150,000 • Maximum rebate for physical improvements, including City permit fees, is $75,000. • Amount of available rebates will vary in accordance with yearly budget, IV. Project Requirements Project location must be within the Downtown target area (please refer to map). Fagade improvements must follow City design guidelines. Additionally, any non -conforming improvements must be removed, if physically feasible. Improvements on registered historic buildings may require approval from the Historic Resources Commission. Fagade program covers the first 2 stories of building. Exterior historic architectural features above this level will be accepted on a case-by-case basis. E "1 • Complete rebate application trust be submitted and approved by rebate committee prior to commencement of work. • Evidence of Planning and/or Building permits will be required for all applicable improvements. • All project improvements shall comply with current City codes, ordinances and Central Business District Regulations (C-3). • If occupied, all tenants must have Certificate of Occupancy prior to being allowed to participate in the program. • All project costs must be paid with check and include invoice. + Contractors must be licensed in the City of Santa Ana, • Contractor(s) and subcontractor(s) must comply witli all laws and regulations pertaining to Prevailing Wage. • Suitable landscaping shall be used to aid in the preservation of community scale and character. V. Exclusions • Project improvements started prior to Rebate Committee written approval. • New construction projects. • Interior improvements other than display window improvements described above. • Improvements not clearly visible from street frontage (Exception - approved rear fagade improvements). + Exterior improvements not approved by the Rebate Committee. • Improvements without proper and clearly defined documentation. (i.e. City Permits). • Trading one type of service/job for another, rather than paying to have the service/job performed (i.e. no "bartering"). + Door handles and locks not associated with new door installation. + Government-owned buildings. VI. Analication Annroval Process • The Rebate Committee, made up of members from the Community Development Agency Staff and Planning Staff shall review completed applications for approval. • Applicants will receive written notice of approval, including any modifications, or denial to project within 10 working days of the Rebate Committee meeting, VII. Free Sign/Awning & Exterior Clutter Removal • Free removal of old signs and awnings with project manager's approval. • Tile legal property owner must complete an application for "Free Sign Removal" and enter into a "Right of Entry" agreement with Agency prior to committee approval. VIII. Display of Rebate Program_ Sign • Applicant may be required to display a Fagade Improvement Rebate Program sign, from the date of rebate approval until the date of rebate funding. IX. PropeM Maintcnance Agreement • The applicant must sign and submit the "Facade Improvement Rebate Program Property Maintenance Agreement" which states that the property must remain in good and attractive condition for a term of S years or the date the applicant no longer exercises custody and control over property, whichever first occurs. X. Accomplishment of Work • The applicant agrees to all improvements specified in the application and the Rebate Committee's recommendations and/or stipulations that work will conform to City standards. Under certain submittals applicant plans may be subject to "Site Plan Review" by the Planning and Building Agency. • Applicant shall carry out the design, construction, and operation of the Project in substantial conformity with all applicable laws, ordinances, statutes, codes, rules, regulations, orders, and decrees of the United States, the State of California, the County of Orange, the City, or any other political 5 -2 24 subdivision in which the Property is located, and of any other political subdivision, agency, or instrumentality exercising jurisdiction over the Agency, the Applicant or the Property, including all applicable federal, state, and local occupation, safety and health laws, rules, regulations and standards, applicable state and Iabor standards, prevailing wage requirements, the City zoning and development standards, City permits and approvals, building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical codes, as they apply to the Property and the Project, and all other provisions of the City and its Municipal Code (as they apply to the Property and the Project), and all applicable disabled and handicapped access requirements, including, without the limitation, the Americans With Disability Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., Government Code § 4454 et seq., and the Unruh Civil Rights Act, Civil Code § 51 et seq. Supporting documentation may include an architectural rendering (depending upon the extent of the proposed improvements), landscape and irrigation plans, sign plans, paint chips (in compliance with the designated color pallet) and types of materials to be used and color schemes (see designated color pallet). A deadline for the completion of all agreed-upon improvements will be determined at the Rebate Conunittee meeting and conveyed to the applicant in writing after application approval. If the improvements have not been completed by the deadline, the file may be closed, and the applicant may have to reapply for the program with solid substantiation as to why they were unable to meet the deadline. Upon completion of all agreed upon improvements, applicant MUST submit copies of cancelled checks (both sides), paid invoices/receipts, permit copies, proper prevailing wage documentation and a description of completed work and costs involved. XI. Inspection of Project • Before, during and after improvements are being made, the City of Santa Ana or its designee shall have the right to inspect all exterior work, No rebate check shall be issued until all improvements have been completed to the satisfaction of the inspectors, and the appropriate documentation have been received, reviewed and processed accordingly. 5 -3 25