Council Approves Facade Grants

The Hyattsvlle City Council approved a total of roughly $91,300 in grants to six businesses last night as part of a new commercial facade improvement grant program.

The program began in August 2011 when the Hyattsville City Council approved the Commercial Facade Improvement Program to award commercial renovation matching grants of up to $45,000 per building

The grants awarded were: 

• $12,241 to Big Bad Woof at 5501 Baltimore Avenue for the production and installation of exterior awning signs. 
• $15,000 to Short Cakes Bakery for exterior lighting, signage paint and awnings. 
• $6,796 to Franklin's Restaurant, Brewery and General Store for LED light fixtures, exterior window paint and replacements for wood window frames. 
• $37,968 to Franklin's Restaurant, Brewery and General Store's property at 1521 Baltimore Avenue for window replacement and exterior lighting for a mural. 

Funds for the grant program come from a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant administered by the city of Hyattsville. 

The grants can be used to pay for design, materials, labor and permitting fees to construct physical improvements to commercial structures. The grant money may not be used for interior renovations or roof work. 

The next application cycle for facade improvement grants will likely begin in April 2012 with a July 2012 due date.

The city's Facade Improvement Grant Review Committee denied a grant recommendation to one applicant, J. Richard Lilly, M.D. and Associates, on the grounds that their application sought funds for sidewalk repair, ineligible under the terms of the program.