Carson City RACC approves 1 applicant for facade program

The Redevelopment Authority Citizens Committee considered the first applicants for Carson City’s new Facade Improvement Program.

Out of nine applications, the committee approved one, denied another and postponed the remaining seven until the applicants could be present to explain and answer questions about their projects.

The program is designed to help property owners in both redevelopment districts throughout downtown and south Carson City to spruce up their buildings’ facades and signage.

It provides up to $25,000 in matching funds for facade improvement projects. The property owner must obtain three bids on the project and may contract with any of them, but the city matches based on the lowest bid.

The Board of Supervisors gave its OK to the program in March and the initial applications were due April 15.

The first project considered by RACC at the Monday meeting is located at 631 N. Division St. The project is a rehab of an existing building that’s being turned into a mixed-use space, with a two-bedroom apartment on the second floor and office space on the first floor.

The applicant, Ellen DeChristopher, said she had started the permitting on the project six months ago and construction began two and half months ago. She was requesting $25,000 for a $68,126 piece of the $275,000 renovation that pertained to the building’s exterior.

Committee Member Lori Bagwell voiced concern the project would be awarded the grant retroactively because the facade program was designed to encourage and incentivize property owners to do new work.

Committee Member Craig Mullet said he thought the work was primarily a residential project, which didn’t fall under the program, although mixed-use projects can be considered.

The committee voted 5 to 1 to not approve the project. Committee Member Lacy Sheck voted no and Ronni Hannaman abstained.

The second applicant present was Jed Block, who applied for $16,250 to replace the roof on his building at 112 N. Curry Street.

According to city code, a building facade is from the eaves down, but Block’s building is also a historic building and that code allows for roofs if they are visible.

The committee voted to approve Block’s project 6-1, with Committee Member Garrett Lepire voting no.

The committee began to discuss the remaining projects, but the fact none of the applicants were present was brought up a few times and the committee decided not to consider any until the applicants were available to discuss them.

“It really bothered me that they weren’t here,” said Hannaman after the committee voted unanimously.

Staff was directed to schedule the applications at a later date when each applicant could attend the meeting.

The remaining properties applying for matching money are 318 N. Carson St., 308-310 N. Carson St., 210 S. Carson St.,123 W. 2nd St., 224 S. Carson St., 310 S. Carson St., and 2811 S. Carson St.

The businesses at those properties include Carson Jewelry & Loan, Mystique Restaurant, Mom & Pops, Firkin & Fox and Grandma Hattie’s.

In other items, the committee recommended the Board of Supervisors approve up to $9,000 for Nevada Rural Counties RVSP to pay half the cost of the Fourth of July fireworks.

The committee referred a similar request, for $21,300 for the Carson Colony La Ka Lel Be Pow Wow, to the Cultural Commission for consideration there.