Washington’s Historic Preservation Commission wants the city to consider reviving its façade grant program.

The proposed city budget for fiscal year 2016-2017 does not include funding for the program, which began in fiscal year 1991-1992. The current budget allocates $26,000 to the program, according to City Manager Bobby Roberson, who oversaw the program when he was the city’s planning director.

The proposed budget uses money previously earmarked for the program to help pay for a city employee who will serve as the city’s “downtown beautification person.” That employee would focus on keeping the downtown area clean and improve its appearance.

The program improved exteriors of buildings in downtown Washington. It provided funds to help replace awnings, replace windows, repoint bricks and make other aesthetic upgrades. At one time, the program paid for roof repairs and landscaping. Property owners/business owners applied for grants. Applications were reviewed, and grant recipients selected. Grant recipients were required to contribute money toward their projects. The city would pay up to $2,000 for a project.

Sometimes the program’s funds would be depleted and the city would provide more money.

The program awarded 143 grants totaling $256,660 through fiscal year 2007-2008, according to city records. The total cost of improvements made to the downtown properties during that period came to $1,164,784, according to city records. There were no grants awarded in fiscal year 2003-2004.
Initially, the city’s contributions to the program came from an annual principal-and-interest payment — about $22,000 — on the Urban Development Action Grant loan used to finance construction of the former Bonnie Products building at the Beaufort County Industrial Park. The payments came to the city, which was required to use the funds for economic development. Funds not used in one year were carried over to the next.

“Seems like it’s an awfully good thing to have. It’s motivation for storefronts to have something like that to apply for. It seems sad that it’s not being current. So, is there any way we can have a conversation about reinstating it into the budget?” commission member Mary Pat Musselman said during the commission’s meeting Tuesday.