"Downtown" Projects: More Facade Grants Available

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Downtown Middletown building owners could get help to improve their look
Ed Richter
  Staff Writer
 3:54 p.m Wednesday, March 14, 2018  Middletown

MIDDLETOWN
The April 2 deadline for the first round of the Downtown Middletown Inc.facade grant
program is nearing for building owners to apply.
The program assists building owners in making design changes at commercial properties
in downtown Middletown. Downtown Middletown, Inc. in collaboration with the city of
Middletown, will offer technical and financial assistance to commercial property owners
seeking to renovate or restore the exterior of their buildings.
According to Jeff Payne, DMI executive director, grant assistance is limited by the
amount available to Downtown Middletown, Inc., and an applicant may apply for only one
grant annually per building.
Applications also need to be approved by the Middletown Historic Commission that
meets on Thursday before being submitted to DMI.
Hard copy applications approved by the city Historic Commission are due April 2 to the
DMI Office at 1050 Central Ave., second floor, to the attention of the DMI executive
director.
On April 11, the DMI Design Committee will review all submitted applications. Grant
awards will be announced by DMI on April 16.
Applications for the program are available on the DMI website: www.downtownmiddletown.org or by requesting
via email at jeff@downtownmiddletown.org or by contacting the Downtown Middletown
Inc. office located at 1050 Central Ave.

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Analytical Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Citizen Joined: Nov 19 2015 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 562	Post Options Post Reply Quote Analytical Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: "Downtown" Projects: More Facade Grants Available Posted: Mar 14 2018 at 5:14pm
	Downtown Middletown building owners could get help to improve their look Ed Richter Staff Writer 3:54 p.m Wednesday, March 14, 2018 Middletown MIDDLETOWN The April 2 deadline for the first round of the Downtown Middletown Inc.facade grant program is nearing for building owners to apply. The program assists building owners in making design changes at commercial properties in downtown Middletown. Downtown Middletown, Inc. in collaboration with the city of Middletown, will offer technical and financial assistance to commercial property owners seeking to renovate or restore the exterior of their buildings. According to Jeff Payne, DMI executive director, grant assistance is limited by the amount available to Downtown Middletown, Inc., and an applicant may apply for only one grant annually per building. Applications also need to be approved by the Middletown Historic Commission that meets on Thursday before being submitted to DMI. Hard copy applications approved by the city Historic Commission are due April 2 to the DMI Office at 1050 Central Ave., second floor, to the attention of the DMI executive director. On April 11, the DMI Design Committee will review all submitted applications. Grant awards will be announced by DMI on April 16. Applications for the program are available on the DMI website: www.downtownmiddletown.org or by requesting via email at jeff@downtownmiddletown.org or by contacting the Downtown Middletown Inc. office located at 1050 Central Ave.

Analytical Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Citizen Joined: Nov 19 2015 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 562	Post Options Post Reply Quote Analytical Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: Mar 14 2018 at 5:48pm
	Speaking of "downtown", thanks to ongoing Butler County real estate data posted on the MUSA Blog, all but one of the city-subsidized "downtown" deals is now current with their property tax payments! The only delinquent entity is Store Master Funding LLC who leases space in the former CG&E Building to Cincinnati State Community College. In this instance, nearly $280,000 is owed. Hopefully, city staff will begin providing future reasonable oversight for the above long-stalled "downtown" deals. In most instances, these re-developers are out of compliance with city contracts governing mandated completion dates, etc. It's also hoped that city council will concern themselves with these problems and demand reasonable city staff action/explanation.

VietVet Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List MUSA Council Joined: May 15 2008 Status: Offline Points: 7008	Post Options Post Reply Quote VietVet Report Post Thanks(2) Quote Reply Posted: Mar 14 2018 at 6:59pm
	"The program assists building owners in making design changes at commercial properties in downtown Middletown. Downtown Middletown, Inc. in collaboration with the city of Middletown, will offer technical and financial assistance to commercial property owners seeking to renovate or restore the exterior of their buildings. According to Jeff Payne, DMI executive director, grant assistance is limited by the amount available to Downtown Middletown, Inc., and an applicant may apply for only one grant annually per building." Question: Where does the money come from for these grants to aid downtown business property owners? IF the money originates from the taxpayers, why should the taxpayers help a privately owned business to succeed? If that is the case, I will now need for the taxpayer to help supplement the cost of upkeep on my residence as soon as possible. "Applications also need to be approved by the Middletown Historic Commission"...... Ridiculous. Why does the city insist that this self important, pompous group of people approve anything done in the business world? Residential only and only in a selected small area of town as well. Overstepping their authority IMO. They need to concentrate on their little S. Main St. area acting as an HOA as such. Outside the immediate S. Main St. area should not concern them at all. Their authority probably started on S. Main St. but seems to have expanded to the entire downtown area. If so, why weren't they put in their place long ago? With all their little rules and regulations, Downtown Middletown Inc just may be their own worst enemy in their attempt to develop their little artsy center theme downtown. Sad. So many people wanting to feel so self important in having the final approval in business growth. To add insult to injury, they haven't done a good job of developing for decades now. Go away and leave the market and private investors to develop the downtown people. The city and its related groups should not be involved in any business development directly, especially in loaning money and in property give-aways to assist their friends as they have done. They should monitor growth but not control it as to who sets up business in the city and how they run it. Too many roadblocks for a city that claims to be "business friendly". That is not true at this point.
	I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.