The Downtown Investment Authority wants downtown landlords to spruce up historic, street-facing buildings in the urban core, and the agency is willing to put its money where its mouth is.
DIA's Retail Enhancement and Property Disposition Committee will take its first look at a draft of guidelines for a facade grant program in its Tuesday meeting. The meeting is taking place at 1 p.m. over Zoom. A budget for the program has not yet been set.
The program is limited to those buildings more than 25 years old within the Downtown Jacksonville Historic District, as designated by the National Register of Historic Places Program, according to the draft guidelines.
Properties with completely restored facades are ineligible, and the incentives can only be used on facades that face streets. All use types are eligible, except parking garages without ground-floor business or residential space.
The incentives will take the form of five-year, interest-free, forgivable loans for up to half of eligible costs, with a $75,000 cap. The amount received will be $10 per square foot of the facade being improved, up to the caps.
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