CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield Revitalization Corporation, (CRC) announces winners of the Summer 2011 Design Challenge Grants for Storefront and Facade Improvements. A total of six projects will receive funding, and when completed, these projects will have a noticeable, positive impact throughout the Main Street District.
Projects receiving funding are as follows: Burleigh Real Estate owned by Bonnie Burleigh; Market Square Property owned by CCEDC; Bob’s Army & Navy owned by Bob and Emily Grimminger; Market Street Scrapbooking and Batcho Office Systems owned by Bob Knepp; and Taffy’s Salon & Spa owned by Dana Timko. A total of $13,750 has been granted toward all the projects, spurring a total of $37,600 in private funds. CRC Design Committee Chair, Katie Miknis said, “The CRC is excited that downtown property owners are taking advantage of the facade improvement program. Not only is the program investing in our local economy through contracting jobs, but it is stimulating private investments in the preservation of historic downtown.”
Burleigh Real Estate will be installing an Exterior Finishing System called Dryvit TerraNeo, which is a blend of quartz, minerals and mica that gives the appearance of granite. The dryvit will be used to give a block-like appearance with diamond accents. The colors used will be multiple shades of brown, and doors and windows will be refinished with a beveled multi-layer border with a centered keystone. Market Square Property, where Unimart was formally located, is currently owned by the Clearfield County Economic Development Corporation. The entire building will be renovated in two phases. The first phase will include installation of 10 decorative white pillars with gingerbread woodwork, the removal of illuminated signage with the fascia capped in white, the removal of the lights currently situated under the canopy, and the installation of a 42 inch railing on the top of the canopy. The building is currently vacant but will be occupied by Carizzo Marcellus LLP that will create 15 new jobs by its location in this renovated property. Bob’s Army & Navy will be removing the Terrazzo entranceway floor and will be installing an exterior grade non-slip Quarry Tile that will be installed with bonding and grouting materials. Each tile will be easily replaced if chipped. Currently, the entranceway is extremely slippery, and a non-slip mat is covering the floor. The mat will be removed when the new floor is installed.
Market Street Scrapbooking and Batcho Office Systems will be receiving funds for improvement on behalf of property owner Bob Knepp. Both businesses will be receiving new signs, background and trim above each entrance. The T1-11 behind each sign has rotted over time so no signs currently hang above the entranceways. The sign for Batcho Office Systems is planned to be light green with gold trim and white lettering. The Market Street Scrapbooking sign is planned to be salmon with gold trim and white letters. Each sign will have a consistent template but the colors will differentiate the personalities of each business while reflecting the historical colors of the Ritz Theater, which is also owned by Bob Knepp. Taffy’s Salon and Spa will be repainting the exterior since the paint has faded significantly since its original application, especially on Pine Street. The CRC Design Committee understands that the paint is faded and needs to be reapplied for the purpose of image enhancement. The paint color will be a Victorian purple, more of a raspberry shade. It might seem surprising that purple would be used for a historical town, but purple, typically informed with cream, brown or gray, is a Victorian period-accurate selection and accents the Victorian architecture that downtown Clearfield shares.
For those who did not have a chance to apply this round, there will be a first-time ever “Bonus Round” with an application deadline of Aug. 26, 2011. The CRC encourages everyone especially those with painting projects to apply this round, as the projects must be wrapped up by spring. All projects now through next year must be completed by the end of DCED’s fiscal year, June 30, 2012. If projects are not complete and the facade funds are not spent by the deadline, all funds will return to DCED. It is the CRC’s responsibility to facilitate these funds by doing an extra bonus round this Fall. The CRC grant is a 50 percent match up to $5,000 per facade project in the Main Street District. For questions and applications, please call the CRC at 765-6000.