More downtown exteriors could be spruced up this year thanks to a program being managed by the Terrace Downtown Improvement Area.
The program provides matching contributions of up to $5,000 for improvements and is financed by the Northern Development Initiative Trust with the city acting as a clearing house for disbursements.
“Last year we had $20,000 and did $18,900 in matching grants for seven facades. This year we have the same amount,” said Dennis Lissimore, the executive director of the improvement area.
“We’d like to take advantage of the whole $20,000.”
Qualifying buildings have to be among the 250 located within the downtown improvement area boundary which runs from Eby St. in the west to Apsley in the east, south to Greig Ave. and north generally along Park with a jog to take in Davis Ave. north of George Little Park.
The minimum project value is $2,000 and since a building’s owner can only receive a grant once, Lissimore says interested people should think hard about the full extent of planned exterior changes.
Seven buildings had exterior work done last year – the building on the corner of Greig and Emerson containing the Canadian Union of Public Employees office, the Northwest Training Centre on Greig, the OK Tire building on Greig, Sidewalkers, Gemmas, Fabricland and the Terrace Child Development Centre.
Eligible exterior improvements include new (but not replacement) lighting, paint, siding and murals.
The Terrace Downtown Improvement Area draws revenue from a city tax applicable to its boundaries.
