Storefront renovations underway thanks to Dowagiac facade incentive
Published 6:59 pm Monday, April 7, 2014
Toysa True, owner of Shabby Bou-Chic, receives an incentive of $1,312 from the Dowagiac Downtown Development Authority, after renovating the front facade of the storefront she leases downtown. Presenting the check is Sue Kazlauskas, a member of the DDA’s Design Review Committee, and owner of The Marshall Shoppe. (Submitted photo)
Toysa True, owner of Shabby Bou-Chic, is the first business owner to receive an incentive from the Dowagiac Downtown Development Authority following the reinstatement of the DDA’s Facade Incentive Program.
According to Vickie Phillipson, program director for the DDA and Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, following City Council’s reinstatement of the $10,000 Facade Incentive & Architectural Design Services Program, the DDA also received applications from downtown property owners Dorothy Mott, Jeff Neumann, Linda Preston and Bob Haas.
“When Dowagiac began the redevelopment of its downtown 25 years ago, it put in place several key programs to encourage property and business owners to restore their building facades in a consistent and esthetically appropriate manner to the existing architectural structure, while at the same time giving them the flexibility to make sure their businesses were configured in a way that best served their needs.”
“Among those steps was the hiring of a full-time downtown development director and the creation of the DDA’s Design Review Committee, whose job it was to review proposed storefront remodeling plans and, if the proposed plans were satisfactory, to provide the property owner with seed money to help defray some of the renovation costs.”
“During the first 15 years of the redevelopment of downtown Dowagiac, those incentive monies and architectural guidance played a key role in creating the central business district we have today,” Lyons said. “Now 25 years later, a critical examination of our downtown leads to the inevitable conclusion a freshening up is in order.”
Phillipson said the revised program is being administered on a matching funds basis. Property and business owners, who make application to the DDA, are eligible to receive an incentive of up to $2,000 for the front renovation of their building. Owners of twin or double storefronts are eligible to receive up to $3,000. Previously, the incentive was only $1,000.
The program is being administered on a first come, first serve basis. Program guidelines and applications are available at the offices of the DDA and Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, located in the historic train depot, by calling 782-8212 or by e-mail at vphillipson@Dowagiac.org.
