Presentation to San Marcos APA Student Chapter

Façade Improvement Grants: Revitalizing

the Urban CoreIrma Iris Durán de

RodríguezProgram Manager

Contents

History Housing and Urban Development Target Areas Process Challenges The Future of Operation Facelift

Contents History Housing and Urban Development Target Areas Process Challenges The Future

History

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) 1998

Branch of Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization

$125,000 per year 15 Corridors, 5 Partnerships $124,000,000 in private investment

2013 3 Target Areas

Comprehensive Approach


History

Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization Emerged From Main Street’s Four Point

Approach Bonus Points for anyone that can name all four Double Bonus Points if you can name the nearest

city in the Mainstreet Program $125,000 per year 15 Corridors, 5 Partnerships $124,000,000 in private investment 2013

3 Target Areas Comprehensive Approach


http://www.sanmarcostx.gov/index.aspx?page=207

History

2013 Various Changes to the Program

Elimination of Large Corridors Comprehensive Approach Guerilla Tactics Smaller amount to spread the wealth Collaboration with the City Design Center


Housing and Urban Development

Requirements Funds used towards

$1:$1 matching grants Funds must be

allocated by September 30th

Business properties Must be occupied Must not be residences



HUD Eligibility 24 CFR 570.483 (b) 1 51% or more of residents

must be LMI Commercial hub

surrounded by residential Must serve entire area

stated Business must be secular,

non controversial Grant funds must be

reimbursed to applicant upon completion of project, labor compliance verified and payments processed.



Operation Facelift Requires High Unemployment Low to Moderate

Income Distressed Buildings Commercial Hub

Operation Facelift Loves Inner City Infill

Reinvestment Policy Area Historical/ Cultural

identity Active Residents Willing Businessess


Target Areas

2013 S Flores Street Iowa Street Cincinnati Ave


South Flores Lone Star

Plan Adopted

March 21 Achievable

goals that will be reached by 2020

Will receive an award at state APA conference

Contents History Housing and Urban Development Target Areas S. Flores Street FY 2013

TEAMWORK!

We worked with the committee and neighborhood groups

South Flores

South Flores Street “So Flo” Arts District Furnish Street to Cass Road Demographic Selection Process


South Flores

So Flo Open House Block walking Invites Day of meeting…..SURPRISE!


South Flores Conceptual Designs


South Flores


South Flores


Current Projects Three Art Galleries One Hardware Store One Auto Glass Store Habitat for Humanity Store

South Flores


Cincinnati Avenue St Mary’s University Revitalization

Efforts Worked in conjunction to identify

hub Commercial that both School and Area

benefitted from Monies identified to do additional

streetscape projects


Cincinnati Avenue

Cincinnati Avenue 5 K between Woodlawn Lake and StMU Historic Neighborhood Demographic Selection Process


Cincinnati Avenue


Iowa Street Collaborative effort between OHP,

Planning, Graffiti Abatement, SAGE

Mixture of historic commercial properties along homes


Iowa Street

Iowa Street Gateway to the Eastside Primarily Residential Within walking distance from Alamodome Separated from downtown by US 281


Iowa Street


The Process Eligibility

Cannot be: Pawn Shop Gun Store Adult Entertainment Liquor Store Fast Cash stores Religious Facility Your House

Applicant Criteria Application Process

Meeting with CityDesignCenter, Development Services Assessment, sketch 3 Bids sought Environmental Reviews, etc Contract Signed Pre-Construction Meeting Showtime!


The Process

Once Selected Pre Construction Meeting Average Time: 3 to 6 months Routine Inspections Technical Assistance Completion of Project

Reimbursement in two weeks


The Process

But Wait…. What is the City Design Center? How does the CDC help Clients? Why can’t applicants to anything they

want?


Challenges 1:1 matching Extreme Poverty Properties beyond repair Restrictions External Factors


The Future Wheatley Choice Collaborative 90% matching grants Alternative Funding Competitive Process


www.sanantonio.gov/planning/operationfacelift

OperationFacelift

Opfacelift

http://www.sanantonio.gov/planning/operationfacelift