Palatine paying to spruce up downtown buildings

In an effort to make downtown Palatine buildings more attractive while also preserving the architecture’s character, the village is establishing a facade improvement grant program.

Businesses located within the downtown tax increment financing district could receive up to $50,000 to improve their exteriors.

“This is very well thought out and a long time coming,” said Councilman Brad Helms, whose district includes the downtown.

There are eligibility requirements under the plan, which was approved this week by the village council. First, the majority of a building’s first floor must be dedicated to nonresidential uses. Its original construction must have been completed before 2000, as well.

Qualifying expenses are limited to facade renovations and improvements such as work on windows, doors, awnings, attached lighting and signage and permit and design fees. Money can’t be used for routine property maintenance, landscaping, paving or changes that the council determines don’t fall within the village’s design guidelines.

If approved, the village will reimburse a business for up to 50 percent of expenses. Grant funding is limited to $400 per linear foot of the building’s frontage on a public street.

Improvements must be completed within a year of the village’s grant approval.

Officials have long said they’d like to see a more cohesive and higher quality look to its downtown businesses. Helms pointed to the Providence building at 50 N. Plum Grove Road as an example of the style he’d like to see others consider.

“There’s been some discussion at this council about some of the awnings in the downtown,” Mayor Jim Schwantz said. “This is going to go a long way in cleaning that up and (providing) a uniform look.”

The program is a revamped version of an earlier effort.

In 2002, the village offered up to $10,000 toward qualifying exterior building improvements in the downtown area. However, there was a low-interest loan component handled by a private bank, and it generated little participation.