Champaign Offers Storefront Improvement Program
Champaign City Council members get their first look Tuesday night at a plan to upgrade old storefronts to their original appearance.
The program is open to owners of commercial buildings located within Tax Increment Financing Districts both downtown, and on East University Avenue.
The program provides matching grant funds to cover half the expenses for a storefront on the ground floor, and 25-percent of any work for upper floors. The work on any one building can’t exceed $10-thousand.
Jane Addams Book Shop Manager Judy Elmore says ownership is willing to put some money into the store’s appearance, and has some ideas of their own, but would like to know more about the city’s wishes.
"Our upstairs is fine," she said. "We have a nice brick front, so that's all really nice. It could probably be cleaned up, but really, it's our front window and the painting around that (that could use an upgrade.) We'd almost like to see that go back to brick, but we don't know what's underneath the paneling and such."
The program is offered to any structures build before 1940.
Austin's Sportswear owner Autumn Bates is interested, but says funds are limited.
"I personally have worked downtown 40 years, so I'm familiar with a lot of programs that have come through," she said. "Some have been successful, and some have been very self-serving for certain parts of the community. Having the original facades is a great idea, but I do also know that, from the construction side of it, it is terribly expensive, and I'm not interested in re-building this building."
Champaign City Council member Michael LaDue says a 1950's or 60's veneer on a storefront doesn't serve as a good backdrop for the public art now on display downtown.
"Look at Galena (Illinois.)" he said. "People go to Galena because of the charming 19th century storefronts. It's largely original, it's never been adulterated. That we would make these funds available should make it fairly painless for anybody really interested."
The city council meets for a study session Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the council chambers.