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Littleton used $438,548 in ARPA funds to support nine downtown historic-building projects
Summary
City economic development staff told the Historic Preservation Commission that a $450,000 ARPA allocation produced $438,548 in awards for nine projects in the downtown historic district, stimulating roughly $3 million in private investment and funding facade, interior and infrastructure work at multiple properties.
Rachel King, Littleton economic development director, told the Historic Preservation Commission the city used federal ARPA funds for a COVID recovery grant to help businesses and building owners in the downtown historic district pay for building improvements.
The program had $450,000 allocated from ARPA; King said staff distributed $438,548 to approved projects and approved nine of 11 applications. She said the awards stimulated roughly $3,000,000 in private investment estimated by applicants at the time of application.
King described eligible improvements as interior work, building modifications to accommodate new users, exterior facade work and other projects that responded to COVID-19 or its negative economic impacts. Awards covered up to 80% of eligible project costs, she said.
King highlighted several funded projects as examples: conversion of a backroom into a full kitchen including a grease trap that supported restaurant operations and allowed two businesses to operate; a renovation of a former print shop by Graham Properties; exterior activation and interior upgrades at Denver Beer Company, including about 2,400 square feet of interior work, a commercial kitchen and facade improvements; and a substantial brick restoration and exterior rehabilitation at Creative Littleton on Curtis, which included window and door replacement and mural foundations.
King said projects also included repairs to a retail storefront on Alamo that had moved outdoors for distancing during the pandemic; work there covered fencing, landscaping, interior repairs, lighting, dumpster and concrete repairs.
She told the commission an incentive report with additional information about grants and programs for 2024 is available on the city website and via a QR code in the presentation. King invited commissioners to ask questions and said staff could follow up if commissioners had technical questions that required information from another team member.
Commissioners asked whether every awarded project fit the eligibility categories shown in the program materials; King said her understanding was yes and that staff summaries did not flag unique circumstances that did not meet criteria.
Commissioners also noted the Creative Littleton restoration was complete and complimented the visible mural and facade work.
King closed by saying she and her team were available to answer follow-up questions and to provide more detailed financial or project-level documentation if the commission requested it.
