When we're done, it will be pleasing to the eye. The husband and wife are part of an increasing number of Longmont property owners who are helping spruce up the city's downtown and preserve its historic ambiance by making exterior improvements on their commercial buildings. Property owners have used their own cash, city grants and no-interest loans to add new windows, awnings, entryways, tile, brick and landscaping, among other improvements. It also received five applications in January. Eight of the nine business owners applied for grants through the Development Incentive Program.
Funds come from building permit fees.
The money is returned to the program as business owners pay back their loans. The number of applicants has increased tremendously since the program began in 1997. Longmont only received two to three applications per year for the first three years, she said. We've seen a turn in the private sector investing in downtown, which was our hope. As part of the project, the city added sandstone pedestrian walkways and planted trees down the street's center to make the shopping area more visually appealing and pedestrian friendly.