Livingston URA approves $73,979 facade grant for 101 North Main Street, allows phased reimbursements

The Livingston Urban Renewal Agency on July 22 approved a $73,979 facade grant for 101 North Main Street and directed staff to work with the applicant on the reimbursement process.

The grant covers a multi‑phase exterior restoration the applicant said is planned to proceed in roughly three sections over two to three years. City staff told the board that, for a multi‑phase project, the URA can pay out reimbursable costs in sections provided the applicant submits invoices that meet the city’s requirements.

Why it matters: the work is part of downtown revitalization efforts and aims to avoid repeat disruptions to businesses by completing successive façade phases while scaffolding and lifts are on site. Board members pressed for clarity on parking, historic‑preservation review and procurement because the project will intermittently occupy public space and uses specialty materials and trades.

Project scope, timeline and payment The application packet in the meeting materials listed a URA request of $73,979 for the façade work at 101 North Main Street. The applicant described the job as three roughly equal phases (each a third of the façade) intended to avoid repeated scaffolding installations: "the windows are being etched right now. The awning, we get the pointing, we get the windows in and that, and we move on," the applicant said when explaining the sequencing and material staging.

City staff said the project may take up to two to three years to complete but that the first phase will likely cost more because the applicant plans to purchase permanent materials — awnings and windows — early and store them until installation. Staff said sectional reimbursements are possible if the URA makes a motion to approve up to a specified dollar amount and subject to allowable costs as determined by the finance department. "For a multi phase project like this, we wouldn't have any problem paying out sectionally," a city staff member said.

Parking, scaffolding and public outreach Board members asked how repeated construction would affect downtown parking and businesses. City Manager Grant Gager (referred to in the meeting as Mr. Gager) told the board that contractors can obtain permits to use on‑street parking spaces during active work and that past phases of the building work used a lift parked on a City street. He recalled prior work being scheduled at night to minimize business disruption and said city permitting will require the contractor to follow related rules. "We do expect that, yes, a parking space very likely on [the street] will be used for the duration of the active work," Gager said.

The applicant explained that scaffolding will be taken down and stored between phases when weather or scheduling prevents immediate continuation: "He will take it down and put it back up. If he can't get to the next phase right away, we'll store all the scaffolding. We just don't want it sitting up there," the applicant said.

Historic‑preservation review and procurement questions Vice Chair Lisa Garcia asked whether the historic‑preservation review had been completed. City staff said the application was submitted in June and that staff were comfortable moving forward with the application as submitted.

Board members also probed vendor quotes for specialty components. The packet contained multiple bids for items including awnings, masonry patching/pointing and window work. Some specialty items in the packet showed only one responsive quote; staff cited the city’s procurement guidelines and explained that, while the URA requests multiple quotes when feasible, the procurement rules allow staff discretion when an appropriate second bidder is not available for a specialty trade. "You can't force a business to put in a quote," a staff member said when explaining why some line items had a single quote.

Costs called out in the discussion included an awning product quote of about $14,970 and an awning installation/patching line around $19,500; staff and the applicant explained those bids are separate parts of the awning cost and installation.

Board action and next steps A board member moved to approve the façade grant application for 101 North Main Street and direct staff to work with the applicant through the reimbursement process; another board member seconded the motion. The motion carried and the URA approved the request. The board instructed staff to proceed with typical invoice and reimbursement requirements, and staff said they will work with the applicant to sequence payouts by phase.

The applicant and staff agreed to coordinate contractor permitting and outreach to adjacent businesses to reduce downtown impacts during active work. The applicant thanked the board and staff for assistance with coordination and materials procurement.

Ending With the approval, city staff will proceed with the reimbursement process and continue to coordinate scheduling, permitting and public notification for the project. Board members said they expect updates on the phased schedule and any community outreach plans at future meetings.