Construction to start in April on facades

RED OAK — Plans are progressing for the façade updates in downtown Red Oak, and the 32 buildings in the project are expected to have a November 2014 completion date.

Alley Poyner Macchietto architect Daric O’Neal said they are currently finalizing the design and bidding documents, with the intent to bid the project later this fall with construction beginning in April.

The project is funded in two parts. First, the City received a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) last summer, which covers 20 properties. The grant pays for 75 percent, or $25,000, of the construction costs while individual property owners will pay the other 25 percent.

At an April City Council meeting, the Council approved the use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) for 12 of the properties that were originally approved within the CDBG but then eliminated because of theflood plain boundaries.

The use of TIF will negatively impact the City by around $12,000 annually, which will be made up in four years through future TIF revenue. The City will also be advancing the property owners the roughly $230,000 that would have been covered by the CDBG.

The property owners receiving TIF will also be responsible for 25 percent of the costs.

The Downtown Urban Renewal Board will assist property owners involved in both sides of the project by covering half, or $7,500 of their 25 percent commitment. 

Another component to the project, according to O’Neal, is creating a downtown historic district, which requires investigation work and site inventory paperwork. Becoming a historic district will allow the City to apply for future grants for downtown work.

The process is still being completed for the non-CDBG properties with the help of the Montgomery County History Center.

O’Neal said a letter will be sent to property owners involved in both the CDBG and TIF funded projects to make them aware of the process and the timeline for the entire project.  

According to Councilmember Larry Barnett, some property owners are concerned the project is not going to happen. O’Neal said he’s hoping the letter will dispel those rumors and help people understand the long process involved.

For more information on the project, contact O’Neal at Alley Poyner by calling 623-6888 or e-mailing doneal@alleypoyner.com.