This week's headlines

Photo by Hank Lohmeyer Cedaredge’s Main Street, unlike those of Delta, Hotchkiss, and Paonia, lies off the main flow of the town’s commercial traffic, which proceeds along Grand Mesa Drive (Highway 65). Cedaredge’s Main Street is in a similar configuration as Olathe with most traffic passing by instead of through. The town government has hopes for improving the appearance and ambiance of the core district, and is also offering incentives to property owners for business property enhancement.Owners of property on Cedaredge Main Street are getting a sweet chance to keep some of their own money in their own pockets rather than putting it in the town government's pocket.

Property owners can submit eligible receipts or invoices for money spent upgrading the exterior appearance of their buildings.

The receipts will go as a credit towards their share of sidewalk replacement in front of their buildings.

The project is part of the town's anticipated Main Street major improvement project. The funds for the town project depend on receiving a state grant. But the town board is moving forward with the sidewalk rebate program anyway.

"Due to design elements, the cost of Main Street project sidewalk improvements will exceed $175 per linear foot," while $75 per linear foot is the typical cost of a Cedaredge standard sidewalk, states the town board's resolution authorizing the project.

Therefore, the town board "determined that a rebate program would be beneficial to encourage businesses to invest in improving the exterior appearance" of their Main Street buildings.

The benefit extends credits worth $500 to $2,500 to property owners. The total rebate amount available to all 19 properties in the program is $15,300.

The rebates can be applied to paint supplies, painting, constructed facade enhancements including shutters, window boxes, columns, corbels, updated window trim, new windows or siding, some landscaping work, replacement of constructed overhangs with awnings, and "other acceptable exterior improvements."

The program covers work done between Nov. 1, 2012, and Aug. 31, 2014. The start date was moved back from the original ordinance to Nov. 1 in order to accommodate a request by a Main Street property owner – the members of the Rebekah Lodge. A commercial tenant in their building wanted to make cosmetic improvements to the front of the building while the mild fall weather held up and still quality for the rebate program. The lodge ladies are discussing making other improvements to their building.

Most of the buildings on Main Street don't appear particularly in need of exterior refurbishment, but the program offers an incentive to make upgrades. Four commercial buildings in the town's core business area have recently invested in cosmetic improvements. The Cedaredge Community United methodist church Thrift Shop was joined by the Rebekahs in applying new exterior paint.

Two other buildings in the Highway 65 corridor that don't qualify for the town's rebate program made big improvements to their exteriors this fall. They are Gazebo florist and The AppleShed.

• < Prev
• Next >