Elizabethtown approves $76,500 downtown grant for 100 Public Square and awards $100,000 downtown master plan contract

Elizabethtown City Council approved a downtown redevelopment grant and voted to hire a design firm for a downtown master plan at its March 3, 2025, meeting.

The council voted to approve an agreement with 100 Public Square LLC for a downtown redevelopment grant "in an amount not to exceed $76,500," according to the municipal order read during the meeting. Council members also approved a professional services contract with Taylor Seapert Williams Design Group for a downtown master plan not to exceed $100,000 to support the city's Elizabethtown 2040 comprehensive plan.

The downtown grant is drawn from an annual downtown facade grant line item; planning staff said the city typically budgets about $250,000 for that program and that awards typically range from about 15–50% of project costs depending on project scale. Joe Breverman of the Planning and Development Department told the council the city aims toward lower percentage awards for larger projects (closer to 20%) and higher percentages for smaller proposals. For the 100 Public Square project staff said the exterior work submitted for the grant totals about $400,000; the $76,500 award would apply only to exterior work and will be adjusted if final invoices show a lower amount.

Breverman said the property is within the city's Historic Preservation District and that one condition of the grant will be that the applicant obtain a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission; he said the applicant is scheduled for that commission's docket on Thursday. He described the city's reimbursement process: the applicant must complete the work, submit invoices and proof of payment, and city staff will inspect the site before a payment is issued.

On the master plan, the council packet noted the city issued a request for proposals and received 10 responses. Staff said they evaluated proposals, interviewed firms, and recommended Taylor Seapert Williams Design Group. The contract authorizes work to create a downtown master plan to implement the Elizabethtown 2040 goals; the municipal order authorizes the mayor or his designee to sign the contract and related documents.

Both municipal orders were read, motioned and seconded on the floor and carried. During the recorded floor votes each item was met with verbal "Aye" from council members present; Judge Howard was explicitly recorded as opposed on the roll call for each motion.

City staff said the developer intends to start construction in the spring, but award disbursement will occur only after the work is completed, inspected, and invoices are submitted to the finance office.

The council also confirmed the mayor or his designee is authorized to take steps necessary to finalize both the grant agreement and the professional services contract.

Votes at a glance

- Municipal Order No. 11-2025 — Downtown redevelopment grant for 100 Public Square LLC: approved; award not to exceed $76,500; condition: certificate of appropriateness from Historic Preservation Commission, inspection and invoices required before reimbursement. Judge Howard recorded as opposed; others voiced "Aye."

- Municipal Order No. 12-2025 — Professional services contract with Taylor Seapert Williams Design Group for downtown master plan: approved; contract not to exceed $100,000; selection from 10 proposals. Judge Howard recorded as opposed; others voiced "Aye."