5th Façade Grant Project Completed at 104 N Fayetteville St

BEFORE
AFTER

The fifth Downtown Façade Improvement Grant has been completed. Mayor Jody McLeod presented Brack Wilson, James Lipscomb and Paul Flaherty with a grant check of $5,000 for the improvements made to 104 N Fayetteville Street, the new home of HTR Commercial. The total costs of the façade project were in excess of $10,000. The Façade Grant program reimburses 50% of the costs of exterior commercial building improvements up to $5,000.

The interior and exterior renovation project began 7 months ago, shortly after the purchase of the house, which sits prominently at the corner of N Fayetteville and West Main streets. The project turned the building from an uninhabited residence to a commercial building and preserved a historic building at the same time.

In terms of the whole renovation project, the façade improvement costs were relatively small but significant in that it is what the public sees. According to Mayor McLeod, “The appearance of our downtown is vitally important to the economic health of our businesses. People don’t want to shop or do business in an area that looks tired and the façade program is helping property and business owners improve their buildings in downtown.”

Other façade projects completed this year:
Main Street Jeweler’s 236 E Main Street
Eye of the Eagle Art 131 E First Street
Fine Jewelry by Vincent/Edward Jones 333-335 E Main Street
Lucky Chicken 226 E Main Street

DDA Design Committee Chair, Jeme Avent said there has been strong interest in the program, and indicated are still a few thousand dollars remaining in the Façade Grant budget. According to Ms Avent the application process is fairly simple: Complete the application, in which the property/business owner describes the proposed improvements, provides at least two cost estimates, with color and material samples and submit it to Downtown Development Coordinator Bruce Naegelen, who is also available to help complete the application. He will review it to make sure the application is complete and then the DDA Design Committee reviews the application. Once a project is approved the applicant has 6 months to complete it.

To review the application and process, visit www.townofclaytonnc.org and go to the Business Development page under Downtown. For more information, please contact Bruce Naegelen at (919) 553-1545 or bnaegelen@townofclaytonnc.org.



Photo: Clayton Mayor Jody McLeod presents a $5,000 Downtown Façade Improvement Grant to Elaine & Brack Wilson of HTR Commercial for improvements made at 104 N Fayetteville Street. Front: Mayor McLeod; Elaine Wilson, Brack Wilson. Back: Jeme Avent, DDA Design Committee Chair; Ed Knight, Chairman, Downtown Development Association; Paul Flaherty, HTR Commercial; James Lipscomb, HTR Commercial; Stan Nowell, HTR Commercial.