Elgin to reimburse owner for building improvements

The Elgin City Council on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to reimburse a business owner for building improvements.

Council members agreed in principle to reimburse property owner Rodney Cavitt nearly $40,000 for work he did to improve the facade of two buildings on the 200 block of National Street.

The reimbursement is part of the city's State and National Street Facade Improvement Program.

The city offers property owners grants for 50 percent of the cost of the work -- up to a maximum of $100,000 -- to improve the look of downtown buildings.

The most recent project included exterior cleaning and repair work, lighting and the addition of a new deck and stairs to two buildings at 203-209 National St. and 211-213 National St.

City officials had budgeted $50,000 this year for the facade improvement program.

Next year, that number could quadruple.

City officials are recommending the council allocate another $206,000 for facade improvements.

That money would go toward sidewalk and building improvements at 217-219 National St., in the Elgin National Watch Historic District.

"Expenditures, if approved, would need to be included as part of the 2008 budget process," an internal city memo said. "The property in question is located within the Central Area Tax Increment Financing District and therefore appropriate as a funding source for eligible improvements."

The Elgin heritage commission's design review subcommittee has already signed off on the work.