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City updates downtown revitalization CDBG project and awards $30,000 to downtown rental business
Summary
City staff reported progress on a $435,000 CDBG downtown revitalization grant (commercial rehab and ADA sidewalk work), described challenges with the State Historical Society, and the council adopted Resolution R26-26 awarding $30,000 to Steve Lloyd's Rentals LLC.
City staff updated the Columbus City Council on Feb. 17 about a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) downtown revitalization project and the council approved a CDBG award to a downtown rental business.
Jean Van Eyprin, the city's planning and economic development coordinator, told council the city was awarded $435,000 in CDBG funds to support commercial rehabilitation, ADA sidewalk improvements and administrative and construction-management costs. Jean provided a project accounting to date and said $117,895 had been awarded, leaving about $82,000 available; several pending applications and a group project could exhaust remaining funds.
Jean also described implementation hurdles: because downtown is a designated historic district, some business owners withdrew applications after encountering State Historical Society requirements. "We're running into things like that," she said, giving the example of signage and awning materials that the state agency required to match historic features.
Later in the meeting council considered and adopted Resolution R26-26, awarding $30,000 in CDBG funds to Steve Lloyd's Rentals LLC for downtown rehabilitation. The motion to adopt the resolution passed by voice vote.
Why it mattered: the CDBG program funds privately owned commercial rehab and public accessibility improvements in the downtown district; the award and the update show the city is actively administering the grant and moving projects forward while navigating state historic-preservation rules.
What's next: staff will continue to process applications, work with the State Historical Society where required, and notify award recipients about next steps in contracting and project implementation.
