RENOVATED FACADES EQUAL OLD GLORY IN ARLINGTON HEIGHTS

By RICHARD L. DUNN, Director, Economic and Community Development Department
Village of Arlington Heights, Illinois

In Arlington Heights you will find something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Older store fronts throughout the downtown are being renovated to the elegance they had 40 or 50 years ago. This is being accomplished through the Village of Arlington Heights' Facade Rebate Program.

The goal of this cooperative effort between the Village and property owners is to reverse deterioration of attractive older structures and contribute to the overall redevelopment plan for the Village center. This cooperative effort did not develop into a full-blown Program overnight. As citizens, business owners and property owners, saw the exteriors of several buildings in the Central Business District were deteriorating, investment in renovation of the Central Business District commercial structures was not keeping pace with deterioration. Some buildings were demolished. The Village's Economic Development Commission, recognized the need to try to correct the situation. They knew there was a need to stimulate private interest in facade improvements. The genesis of the Program came from the Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant Regulations. These Regulations allowed for the rehabilitation of commercial structures with the use of Federal funds. Public hearings. Village Board approval, and HUD sign-offs were basic steps to start the Program. Though slow to start, the idea of "seed money" to reduce the property owner's costs of facade renovation proved to be a motivator. To date, 12 store fronts have been improved from 1984 to 1987 and approximately $39,000 in grant monies were used to support the Program. The total investment of owners in these same years is about $160,000. The effect of attracting shoppers and businesses due to the improved appearance is noticeable. Mayor James T. Ryan says this is a good example of the public and private sectors working together to provide a more attractive Central Business District for shoppers and employees.

Here's how the program works:

1. The property owner makes application to the Village.

October 1987 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 19

2. The development design and cost estimates are reviewed and accepted.

3. The construction proceeds with a liaison from the Village's Department of Building and Zoning monitoring activity.

4. Upon completion, receipts are submitted and the Department of Economic and Community Development compensates the owner for up to 30% of the total amount or $5,000, whichever is the lesser figure.

Each new renovation scheme is sent to a Design Review Committee that approves the concept, applying the criteria of informal guidelines intended to express the character of the community, as illustrated by the before and after photographs. These photos were provided by the Masonry Advisory Council.

Based on past experience, it's likely that half of the landlords with proposals on the table will decide to proceed with their renovations without the assistance of the Facade Rebate Program. These "spinoff" improvements can be just as important since all exterior improvements contribute to the downtown renovation program. The commitment of Mayor James T. Ryan and the Village Board of Trustees is shown by the inclusion of the Facade Rebate Program as a line item in the current municipal budget and that support is also evidenced by the community's Economic Development, Industrial and Commercial Development and Planning Commissions.

The Facade Rebate Program compliments Arlington Heights' overall program to renovate the Village's Central Area. This includes expanded and improved retail business, public improvements, promotion and management. The Program is helping to make the Central Area the community resource that the revitalized downtown area will eventually become. •

Page 20 / Illinois Municipal Review / October 1987