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Brook Park council advances storefront renovation loan program with added Holland–Engle coverage and council approval requirement
Summary
Councilors advanced an ordinance to create a Storefront Targeted Areas Renovation (STAR) loan program that would offer low-interest loans for facade improvements on defined commercial corridors; council amended the boundaries to add the Holland & Engle intersection and required that all loans be approved by City Council.
Brook Park city leaders advanced an ordinance to create a Storefront Targeted Areas Renovation (STAR) program that provides low-cost loans to help businesses improve visible building facades along key commercial corridors.
Mayor Edward A. Orcutt and economic development staff described the program as a targeted tool for Snow Road, Smith Road and Sheldon Road storefronts; the council amended the program to add the immediate intersection of Holland and Engle to the eligible area. The ordinance sets loan terms at 1% interest for up to 60 months and directs that loan funds come from the city’s economic development fund (Fund 243). Applications will require project approval by the city planning commission and, as the council amended the ordinance, "all loans must be approved by Brook Park City Council." (Councilman Troyer’s amendment to change “will” to “must” passed on a recorded vote.)
Council members said they expect the program to be used for visible investments — new signage, awnings, windows and lighting, exterior code corrections and improvements that are visible from the street. Mayor Orcutt and council sponsors said the structure is intended to be an incentive to spur private investment in storefronts and to be recycled as loans are repaid.
Council approved two technical changes on unanimous voice votes: adding the Holland & Engle intersection to the program’s defined target areas and replacing a draft phrasing so that council approval is required for every loan. After those amendments, council moved the ordinance to the March 18 council agenda for first reading and additional action.
Key program details included in the draft ordinance: eligible work includes facades, signage, awnings, windows, doors, lighting and certain parking-lot work adjacent to the public right-of-way; loans are intended to be repaid on a set schedule and loan payments will be managed by the finance director and disbursed to registered contractors; all aesthetic approvals require planning commission review.
