Moratz Façade Improvement Grant Program
Moratz Façade
Improvement Grant Program Form [PDF]
Moratz Façade Improvement
Grant Program Brochure [PDF]
Introduction
The Town of Normal is undertaking an ambitious uptown renewal plan in an effort to draw more people back to the Central Business District. The appearance of the uptown structures will factor heavily into the success of the uptown renewal effort. Currently, the uptown is distinguished by the charm of its buildings and pedestrian scale. Unfortunately, many of these historic structures have unmet maintenance needs that are hastening the decline of their facades.
The Town of Normal Moratz Façade Improvement Grant Program seeks to address the maintenance and rehabilitation needs of building facades in the B-2 Central Business District by offering 50/50 matching grants to interested, qualified building and business owners. The grant program will be administered by the Uptown Design Review Commission.
The Mayor and Town Council believe this program is in the public interest and that the Town has a responsibility to preserve and protect the unique local resources found in the historic Central Business District. The Mayor and Town Council also believe that by investing public resources in the Uptown, more private entities will find the uptown to be an attractive place to invest.
The grant program is named for the Moratz brothers, who made a significant contribution to the architecture of Normal. Arthur F. Moratz designed the Art-Deco/Art-Moderne Normal Theater. The Town of Normal’s restoration of the theater to its original glory not only made national headlines but has also helped to energize the Town’s revitalization effort in the rest of the Uptown. Arthur’s older brother, Paul O. Moratz, was the architect for the Immanuel Bible Foundation, located just south of uptown Normal.
Financing Terms
Grants may be awarded for up to 50 percent of the total cost of a qualified façade rehabilitation, repair or restoration project, with a maximum grant award of up to $15,000 per 20 feet of street frontage per project. The maximum grant award increases proportionately for buildings wider than 20 feet. The minimum grant request is $250. The annual budget for this program is $75,000.00.
The applicant must match the grant with cash. “Sweat equity” labor provided by the applicant, the owner, or any other non-skilled laborer cannot be charged against this grant. No building may receive more than two grants per fiscal year, and no applicant may receive more than five grants per year.
Grants will be awarded on a reimbursement basis only after the applicant demonstrates full compliance with the grant award.
Each eligible façade improvement may be phased over two fiscal years in order to maximize grant assistance. Each phase shall involve façade improvements not included in any other phase of the project. Reimbursement may then be approved for each phase.
This grant may be treated as income subject to Federal Income Tax provisions. The Town of Normal is not liable for any tax implications resulting from the grant. Applicants should consult a tax advisor for clarification.
Eligible Improvements
The Moratz Façade Improvement Grant Program seeks to encourage façade improvements ranging from minor projects to complete façade renovation. The Grant Program will not fund projects that constitute routine maintenance. The following list illustrates the types of projects that may be funded by this grant program.
- All exterior walls of building, with priority given to street-facing facades.
- Exterior renovation, restoration, or reconstruction, including
but not limited to the following:
- Facade washing/Brick cleaning
- Tuck pointing
- Removal of historically inappropriate materials from facades
- Sign repair if sign is integral to building façade
- New signs if the proposed sign is a high-quality representation of signs displayed in the historic era generally found in Uptown Normal
- Lighting
- Awnings/canopies
- Window restoration
- Painting
- Door replacement
- Restoration of original architectural features
- Window display area remodeling
- Exterior lighting
- Window replacement
- Architectural design fees up to $1,000, as long as the project is completed.
- Landscaping immediately adjacent to the building.
Grants will not be awarded for projects that may damage the building façade. Specifically, sandblasting of brick will not be funded under the program nor will the program participate in projects that include sandblasting of brick. In general, grant funds may not be used for improvements completed or in progress prior to notification of grant approval; however, the Commission may waive this requirement on a case-by-case basis.
Restoration projects that accurately replicate historic architectural elements shall be given funding priority. Preference will be given to structures of architectural or historic significance as determined by the Uptown Design Review Commission. Properties lacking architectural or historic significance may be deemed eligible for the program if proposed changes will create a façade typical of the architectural periods predominantly represented in Uptown Normal.
Grant funds will be disbursed only upon completion of the project and submission of lien waivers from all laborers and material suppliers.
Exterior improvements must comply with the Town of Normal Uptown Design Ordinance set forth in Section 15, Division 17 of the code and with all other applicable Town codes and regulations.
Eligible Participants
Owners and tenants (with permission from the building owner) of commercial or mixed commercial-residential property located in the B-2 District may apply for funds. Tenants must have at least a two-year lease at the location in order to qualify for the grant program.
Commercial buildings are those buildings with commercial uses on the first floor. Residential uses are allowed above the main floor.
Only structurally sound buildings with safely functioning mechanical/electrical/plumbing systems will be considered for grants. In addition, building Owner must show evidence of insurance on the property and name the Town an additional insured to the extent of any grant funds awarded.
Additional Grant Provisions
Neither the Town nor the members of the Uptown Design Review Commission are liable for damage to the building or personal injury that occurs during the project.
All contractors and subcontractors used for work funded by this grant must be licensed if required by law and must be able to demonstrate qualifications.
STATE AND LOCAL LAW REQUIRES THE PAYMENT OF PREVAILING WAGE ON ALL PROJECTS PERFORMED WITH TOWN FUNDS. A LISTING OF THE CURRENT PREVAILING WAGE RATES IS ATTACHED. CONTRACTORS MUST COMPLY WITH PROVISIONS OF PUBLIC ACT 93-38 WHICH REQUIRES CERTAIN LANGUAGE PERTAINING TO PREVAILING WAGE BE INSERTED INTO SUBCONTRACTS. A LIST OF PREVAILING WAGES IN EFFECT MUST BE POSTED AT THE PROJECT SITE.
THE CONTRACTOR MUST SUBMIT CERTIFIED PAYROLLS, ON A WEEKLY BASIS, TO ASSURE THE PAYMENT OF PREVAILING WAGE. THIS REQUIREMENT APPLIES TO ALL CONTRACTORS AND SUBCONTRACTORS WORKING ON THE PROJECT. CERTIFIED PAYROLLS SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO STEVE WESTERDAHL, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PURCHASING, 100 E. PHOENIX AVE., NORMAL, ILLINOIS. THE TOWN RESERVES THE RIGHT TO INTERVIEW CONTRACTOR’S EMPLOYEES ON THE JOB TO ASCERTAIN COMPLIANCE WITH THIS REQUIREMENT.
No Town officer, employee, spouse, or dependent of the same shall be interested directly or indirectly in any facade grant.
No grant funds shall be assigned or pledged to any third party, nor be used for any purpose other than reimbursement of project costs as approved by the Design Commission.
No grant recipient may engage in unlawful discrimination nor contract with any person or entity that engages in unlawful discrimination, as defined by the Normal Human Rights Ordinance.
Grant Approval Process
- Approval may be contingent upon the Uptown Design Review
Commission finding that the proposed project is in substantial
compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for
Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings
if the Commission deems the building to have architectural or
historic significance.
- The applicant must submit a Façade Improvement Grant application
to the Town Clerk.
- Town staff will review the application with the applicant
and will then forward the application with a recommendation
regarding the grant to members of the Uptown Design Review
Commission before the Commission’s next regularly scheduled
meeting.
- Applications shall include an inspection of the site by
a licensed architect or structural engineer to verify that the
building is structurally sound and that all major building systems,
such as electric, HVAC, fire protection, and plumbing, are functioning
safely. All code deficiencies shall be noted.
- The Uptown Design Review Commission will review the application
at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The commissioners will
attempt to act upon the grant request at this meeting; however,
the Commission may request additional information from the applicant
or delay final action on the grant request for other reasons.
The commission will not approve a specific grant amount until
it has seen at least two bids from qualified contractors. Grant
funding will be based on the lowest reasonable bid from a qualified
contractor. The applicant may use a higher bidder, however,
the grant award will not cover the additional expense.
- After the Commission approves the application, all change
orders must be approved by the Uptown Design Review Commission
chairperson in writing. If the applicant at any time deviates
from the requirements set out by the review committee and fails
to obtain a valid approval for such deviations, the grant will
no longer be available. If, during the course of the project,
unforeseen difficulties increase the cost of the project, the
applicant may seek expedited review of a request for additional
funds as long as the applicant has not already received the
maximum grant amount available. The design review commission
chairperson and a Town staff representative will conduct the
expedited review.
- The applicant may not serve as his or her own contractor
except in those instances where the applicant is an owner or
partner in a company regularly doing business as a building
contractor and in the opinion of the Uptown Design Review
Commission has the capacity and skill to complete the proposed
improvements.
- The applicant must also obtain a Certificate of Compliance
from the Uptown Design Review Commission prior to starting
the project; however, it is not necessary that the Certificate
be obtained prior to filing an application for a Façade Grant.
- Necessary building permits must be obtained before work
begins. Questions regarding building permits should be directed
to the Town of Normal Building Inspections Department.
- Prior to the release of any grant funds, the applicant must
submit to the Town lien waivers and a project completion report,
including copies of all bills, receipts, and cancelled checks
associated with the project, and proof of the payment of prevailing
wages. In addition, such report shall include evidence that
such project for which the grant was awarded is 100% complete.
The building inspector shall make a final on-site inspection
of such completed project prior to the release of any grant
funds for such project. In addition, a subcommittee of the design
commission must also inspect and approve of the project upon
completion prior to the release of grant funds.
- The Uptown Design Review Commission may consider multiple
grant requests pertaining to one site provided that the specific
projects are sufficiently distinct and separate. However, only
two grants may be given to one building in one year.
- The Uptown Design Review Commission reserves the right
to deny any grant application.
- Recipients of any façade grant funds must agree to observe
all applicable federal, state, and local laws pertaining to
the use of grant funds.
- Projects must be completed in accordance with the procedures
set forth in this document within one year from the date of
the Uptown Design Review Commission meeting in which the grant
was awarded or grant approval will automatically be revoked.
The Commission reserves the right to allow a reasonable extension
of time upon receiving a written request from the applicant
to do so.
- The Uptown Design Review Commission reserves the right to prioritize the applications on the basis of the location of the project, the extent of the work, the level of private funding and the relative impact of the proposed improvements on the area. In addition, the Commission reserves the right to reject any applications regardless of the availability of funds or compliance with the Uptown design ordinance.
Submit completed applications to:
Town Clerk
100 E. Phoenix Ave.
Normal, IL 61761
(309) 454-9623
Address
all questions to Lauren Sunkel, Associate Planner, at (309) 454-9623
or via email at
lSunkel@normal.org.