City Council OKs $275,000 In Restoration Of Local Businesses

The Stillwater City Council on Tuesday evening approved more than $275,000 in financing under the Facade Improvement Loan Program (FILP) launched this spring.

The program was designed to encourage private business owners—through a series of low-interest loans (3.25 percent) and reasonable repayment terms (15 years)—to make external improvements to historic buildings in downtown Stillwater. Interior work of any kind is ineligible under the program guidelines.

The FILP program is overseen by Stillwater’s Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) and its aim is twofold: a) undertake preservation-related maintenance; b) rehabilitate or restore any elements inconsistent with the historic district.

All told, seven local business owners had their loan applications recommended by the HPC on June 14 and approved Tuesday evening:

• Se-Tac Properties/Kinsel’s Liquor ($66,650)
• Katherine Francis ($43,580)
• Jeff & Jennifer Anderson ($80,500)
• Scott Zahren ($19,275)
• St. Croix Preservation Co. Inc. ($21,805)
• Robin Partch ($9,879)
• Mark Hansen ($33,490)

Stillwater’s councilmembers agreed unanimously to approve the loan applications.

“These are all really great projects,” City Planner Michel Pogge said prior to approval. “They will really enhance the downtown area. It’s a win-win for everyone involved.”

Mayor Ken Harycki extolled the initiative, which ultimately puts money back into the City of Stillwater by extending terms of repayment to 15 years.

“I have to be honest, I’d love to see these improvements made,” Harycki said. “Taxpayers are protected and business owners are allowed to make improvements that they might not have otherwise been able to make.”

The seven projects approved on Tuesday evening represent just the first round of FILP awards. The City Council authorized $500,000 in tax-increment-financing (TIF) in early spring.  

To be eligible for future FILP funding, buildings must satisfy three criteria: a) it must be a commercial property; b) it must be more than 50 years old; c) it must be located within Stillwater’s downtown district.

“Even though residents own these buildings, they really belong to the city,” councilperson Micky Cook said after approval. “These are community assets and I commend the owners of these businesses for participating in this initiative.”