(Seguin) — The Seguin Main Street Advisory Board and Seguin City Council recently approved seven FIX-IT Façade grants for repairs and rehabilitations to seven downtown properties. The FIX-IT Façade grant has been one of the most effective tools for downtown revitalization.
“So many of the downtown buildings have been revitalized using the FIX-IT façade grants,” said Kyle Kramm, Main Street & CVB Director, “Small projects like repairing windows to large projects like removal of slip covers have all been funded in part by FIX-IT Façade grants. The grant program’s flexibility allows it to meet the need of each individual property.”
Seguin Main Street is excited to announce all the new improvements that will be starting this new year! Below is a summary of improvements the city of Seguin can look forward to seeing.
The Seguin Art League at 104 South Austin have been awarded $4,727.50 to complete their $9455.00 project to install new emergency exits and make ADA improvements to their building.
The second-floor wooden windows at 114 South Austin will be repaired thanks to a $2,022.50 grant. The $7,000 project to repair wooden windows and replace the missing window frame will allow the second floor to be occupied in the near future.
The Hot Spot at 212 East Court will be receiving a complete rehabilitation of façade. This will include repair to transoms, painting, and installation of storefront windows to get this place looking like the Hot Spot it was. They have been awarded $10,000 for this $46,300 project taking a underutilized property to a contributing structure to downtown’s revitalization.
Playoff’s Bar and Grill at 204 South Austin will be getting a fresh coat of paint to their façade and have been awarded $2,250 to complete their $4,500 project. Just down Austin Street, the new Schultz Saloon at 109 North Austin will be lighting up the night with their upcoming neon signage. The saloon has been awarded $1,000 to complete their $9,904 project.
Lastly the former Starke Sleep Shop will be getting some improvements to two of its facades. Both locations have been awarded $5,000 toward their projects. 104 West Court street will be using their awarded fund towards their $51,904.71 project to replace the storefront windows, install a new fire exit door, paint the façade, and rebuild bulkheads. All the while 100 North Austin, a $31,546.71 project, will be using their funds to remove wood wainscot and replace with brick bulkheads, rebuild transom windows, and re-stucco the southern façade.
The City of Seguin is excited to see these improvements and hopes that the people of Seguin also appreciate this revitalization. “This year, a big emphasis was on funding projects that will address some of the last vacancies in downtown,” said Kramm, “With limited funding, we want to ensure we spread the money as much as possible to assist as many downtown businesses as possible. Since 1998 we have awarded more than $170,000 on improvements to downtown that have spurred almost $700,000 of private reinvestment into the exterior improvements of downtown.”
If you are interested in reinvesting in downtown Seguin, contact the Main Street Program at (830) 401-2448 to discuss further about your dreams of owning a piece of downtown Seguin.