News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Livingston is continuing its downtown revitalization grant program to restore storefronts to their original look.
Downtown Revitalization Chairman Ray Evans said storefronts returning to their original or pre-1960 appearance will be more compatible with downtown.
“Communities that have done this program before, the businesses that are in those buildings, their revenues increase,” Evans said. “The tax base increases, it’s just a win-win for everybody, all the way around.”
Evans said they want to provide two grants for up to $12,500 a piece. He said businesses can use the grant for improvements within the proper historical context.
“You could clean up the brick, re-point the brick, replace windows,” Evans said. “Put new storefronts in on the first floors, new doors, any of those type of things that are in keeping within the historical context of the building.”
Evans said businesses will need to provide a visual representation of their improvement plan. He said the application process will begin in the next 30 days.
“That application will have to be very detailed in what the current condition is,” Evans said. “And what the plan is for the end result, so we’re looking for if someone wanted to, architectural plans.”
Evans said the idea to use the grant program for this comes from noticing storefronts losing their historical look. Evans said that property owners will provide a similar match on the improvements.
