City wants new faces on downtown buildings

May 8, 2007
By Eric Gaertner
Muskegon Chronicle

A new web site and incentives for improvements to older downtown buildings are the first actions established as part of Whitehall’s five-year Cool Cities Blueprint program.

The promotions committee for the Blueprint, consisting of city leaders and business owners, last week launched a Web site at www.downtownwhitehall.com . The site contains downtown information on current events, area history and things to do, along with interactive maps.

The city’s façade grant program is set up to provide an incentive for current and future downtown business owners and operators to invest in improving the esterior of older buildings. The tax increment Finance Authority board recently approved the city program, which will provide matching grant money for improvements.

“It’s important to take action steps,” said Dan Rinsema-Sybenga, main street manager for Muskegon Area First, the organization hired by city officials to lead the Blue print project. “Action is what the community is looking forward to seeing occur. These are important steps in setting the stage for the unveiling of the vision.”

The façade program will consist of $25,000 per year and will become effective for the 2007-08 fiscal year, which begins July 1. Dollar-for-dollar matches are available up to $5000 per application.

Eligible items are signs, awnings, windows and other exterior work that “makes the building more attractive” and follows the design guidelines identified by the Blueprint. Downtown business owners can get an application at city hall or call Karen Helmlinger at 894-4048.

City officials point out that some business ownteres already have complected improvements to the exterior of their buildings over recent years, and this is a way to provide financial assistance to continue to improve the look of the downtown.

The TIFA board will determine which projects receive the grants each year.

“We see this as a concrete way to move downtown Whitehall to the vision established through the Blueprint process,” said Scott Huebler, city manager who also serves as TIFA director.

TIFA collects taxes from downtown business for promotion and economic development for the downtown. It is the lead group for the Blueprint program.

Whitehall’s Blueprint was unveiled by national consultants from HyettPalma last June. Among the highlights in the Blueprint course of action are connecting the downtown with White Lake, constructing a gazebo as a social gathering place in Goodrich Park and recruiting a broader mix of specialty shops.