Under the program, the city will reimburse commercial businesses for up to 75% of upgrades or renovations that “substantially improve the exterior of their buildings.” Qualifying improvements include painting, updating signage, updating doors and windows, improving parking lots, adding exterior lighting, landscaping, and enhancing patio or deck areas.
Council Member Jeffrey Boney said he advocated for $1.5 million in this year’s budget to be set aside for economic development and beautification efforts along Texas Parkway and Cartwright Road. The Facade Improvement Incentive Program uses $1 million of this funding and each project can be reimbursed for a maximum of $200,000.
Boney said this program is one way City Council is prioritizing revitalization and redevelopment efforts in older parts of the city. To be eligible a business must be located on Texas Parkway between Cartwright Road and Hwy. 90A, or on Cartwright Road between Texas Parkway and Dulles Avenue.
“[We] have smaller strip centers in [the] city that are older and [we’re] able to give them up to $200,000 if they decide that they're going to improve the exterior facade of their building,” Boney said in an interview with Community Impact Newspaper. “Then we reimburse you up to 75% but you have to put the initial investment in. ... That’s a huge incentive.”
Business owners can find more information about the program, its eligibility requirements and the application here. Applications will be reviewed by an internal committee and approved by City Council. Businesses then have 18 months to complete the project and must maintain the improvements for at least two years.
