Urban Renewal Agency approves facade grant application for 122 North Main Street

The Livingston City Urban Renewal Agency on a vote approved a facade grant application for 122 North Main Street that will cover up to 50% of eligible costs, not to exceed $100,000, and directed staff to work with the applicant through the reimbursement process.

Susie Hoffman, owner of 122 North Main Street, told the board she has begun work to address significant deferred maintenance on the historic downtown building, including mortar repair, replacement of rotted wood trim and masonry repairs above the parapet. Hoffman said earlier attempts at paint over brick and sandblasting damaged the masonry and that fully exposing and restoring the brick would exceed her budget. She told the board she has two bids for the brick work and had started repairs with a brick mason; she asked the URA for assistance to cover roughly half of eligible expenses.

Agency members and staff discussed eligibility, funding caps and which parts of the building qualify as facade. Jennifer (planning director) and City Manager Gager explained that portions of a building that face a public right of way, sidewalks, pedestrian pathways or an alley containing a public entrance are commonly treated as facade for the downtown enhancement program, and that staff would interpret which specific repairs qualify. Members also noted that the Historic Preservation Commission had previously reviewed a plan to expose brick, but a recently enacted state law changed the commission’s formal role, making design review an administrative matter in some cases.

Board members pressed the applicant and staff on cost estimates and on whether the back and alley side of the building would qualify for reimbursement; Hoffman said the full side/back repairs could be substantially more — she estimated about $150,000 for the side and back work — and agreed to provide a contractor cost breakdown separating alley/back expenses from frontage work. Several board members suggested approving a not‑to‑exceed cap now and allow city staff (city manager and finance director) to determine eligible expenses and handle reimbursement paperwork.

The motion approved by the Agency authorized funding at “50% of cost not to exceed $100,000 for all eligible expenses” and directed staff to work with the applicant on the reimbursement process. Hoffman was advised to keep receipts and provide invoices and to coordinate with staff on the eligibility of specific items such as deck repairs, parapet work and the alley elevation.

Hoffman said she had presented earlier to the Historic Preservation Commission and had that body’s input before the state law change; staff said the current decision about eligible design elements and whether certain work counts as facade would be administrative and would be clarified during the reimbursement review.

The Agency’s approval does not itself pay invoices; the applicant must submit evidence of paid invoices and staff will determine which costs are eligible for reimbursement under the grant program.

Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the agenda item about the 122 North Main Street facade grant application and are listed in the speakers section below.