Ypsilanti DDA awards $30K in renovation grants for downtown businesses, more planned

Wednesday, January 26, 2011 | Source: Concentrate

The historic buildings in downtown Ypsilanti are putting their best faces forward through the receipt of a new round of December grants from the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority (DDA).

Three grants of $10,000 apiece were awarded for interior and exterior renovations at businesses located at 517, 701, and 729-735 W Cross St. The grants are jointly funded by the Eastern Leaders Group and the Ypsilanti DDA, and replicate a similar program in effect in downtown Kalamazoo, says Tim Colbeck, director of the Ypsilanti DDA.

The Crossroads bar and nightclub will use the money to expand into the vacant neighboring 517 W Cross St. A sliding glass garage-style door is planned for the facade.

At 701 W. Cross St. the funds are going towards facade improvements, new signage, and brickwork repair at the Tower Inn.

And at 729-735 W. Cross St., the former Ted's Campus Drugs and an art store will be renovated by the developer, O'Neal Construction, Inc. (the owner-operator of Kerrytown) to an as-yet undetermined commercial use, likely a dining venue, Colbeck says. Currently the properties are also home to 11 second-floor efficiency apartments. Those will be consolidated into four 2-3 bedroom units. Interior work has already started.

The 517 and 701 W. Cross St. projects have no fixed start dates per se, Colbeck adds, but are expected to start by March, notwithstanding weather-related or other reasonable delays.

The Eastern Leaders Group has approved a second $15,000 round this year, pending DDA board approval of matching funds. This will result in another $30,000 in grants for three more projects, Colbeck says.

These grants are expected to have a big multiplier effect. Based on the construction budgets specified in the grant applications, Colbeck says, "By putting out $30,000 in public funds, we're leveraging about $700,000 worth of improvements."

Source: Tim Colbeck, director of the Ypsilanti DDA
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar