Downtown Commercial & Residential Building Improvement Program – Florida

The Downtown Commercial and Residential Building Improvement Program can provide grants valued between $15,000 and $120,000 for improvements to buildings made within the downtown Orlando Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) boundaries.

Donor Name: Downtown Orlando Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA)

State: Florida

City: Orlando

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline (mm/dd/yyyy): Ongoing

Size of the Grant: $15,000 and $120,000

Details:

Funding for building façade and/or building stabilization improvements made to properties will encourage reuse of vacant or underutilized properties, improve appearance, and support the long-term viability of downtown Orlando.

Applications for Grants shall meet the criteria outlined below:

• Buildings must be located within the Downtown CRA. Downtown Commercial and Residential Building Improvement Program grants shall only be awarded for properties that contribute to the CRA through the payment of ad valorem taxes.
• Commercial Buildings
  • Buildings located within the North Quarter, Eola, and Central Business District Planning
  • Areas of the CRA shall be eligible for funding for façade improvements of up to $80,000 or 50% of the total façade improvements, whichever is less, or a combination of façade and stabilization improvements up to $100,000 or 50% of the total cost of improvements, whichever is less.
  • Buildings located within the Parramore Heritage Planning Area of the CRA shall be eligible for funding for façade improvements of up to $100,000 or 50% of the total façade improvements, whichever is less, or a combination of façade and stabilization improvements up to $120,000 or 50% of the total cost of improvements, whichever is less.
  • Only one (1) Grant per property owner or tenant per fiscal year, and only one (1) Grant per property per three-year program term.
• Residential Buildings
  • Single-family, Duplex, Triplex, and Quadruplex Residential Buildings that are owneroccupied and located within the North Quarter, Eola, and Central Business District
  • Planning Areas of the CRA shall be eligible for façade improvements up to $15,000 or 50%, of the total cost of façade improvements, whichever is less.
  • Buildings that are owner-occupied and located within the Parramore Heritage Planning Area of the CRA shall be eligible for funding for façade improvements or a combination of façade and stabilization improvements up to $30,000 or 50% of the total cost of improvements, whichever is less. Buildings that propose only façade improvements shall be eligible for funding up to $15,000 or 50% of the cost of façade improvements, whichever is less.
  • Only one (1) Grant per property owner or tenant per fiscal year, and only one (1) Grant per property per five-year program term.
• When an entity or individual owns multiple properties that are adjacent, the Grant funding may be shared between these properties for a unified improvement plan. When an entity owns multiple properties that are not adjacent, only one (1) property may receive Program funding in that particular fiscal year.
• All proposed improvements must meet the requirements of the Appearance Review Board (ARB) or, if a landmark property or located within an historic preservation district, the Historic Preservation Board (HPB), if applicable, as well as all other City Code requirements. Approvals or Certificates issued by the ARB or HPB do not guarantee approval of a Downtown Commercial and Residential Building Improvement Grant.

Eligible Improvements

Property owners and/or tenants may apply for Program Funding. Tenants applying for funding shall provide written permission from the property owner in addition to the signed Owner’s Affidavit.

The entire building facade of a subject application must be included in the renovation/restoration plans. Eligible costs for Grant participation include, but are not limited to:

• Façade Rehabilitation
  • Removal of non-contributing false facades
  • Building cleaning (non-sandblasting)
  • Stucco restoration
  • Tuck pointing masonry
  • Painting
  • Replacement or reconstructive woodwork
  • New exterior doors and windows on existing structure
  • Restoration of historically appropriate doors, windows, or building features as determined by the Historic Preservation Officer
  • Signs, awnings, murals, canopies and decorative shutters (must be associated with other façade improvements and no more than 50% of total Grant may be used toward signage or mural. An exception can be made for properties located within special plan areas.)
    • Mural design must be approved by the DCRBIP Grant Review Committee
    • Mural design must meet current guidelines of the Artistic Mural Pilot Program
  • Exterior lighting
  • Hardscape improvements that are visible from the right-of-way
• Building Stabilization
  • Roof repair and/or replacement
  • Interior structural improvements (e.g. floor joists, ceiling repairs)
  • Interior Life Safety Improvements (fire walls, sprinklers, egress, fire alarm, exit signs, and automatic lights)
    • Must be associated with a buildings’ change of use
    • Must be compliant with City Code and State of Florida Building Code
  • Building systems improvements (e.g. plumbing, electric, HVAC)
  • Fencing to secure the property
    • Must be associated with other improvements
    • Must be compliant with City Code
    • Must be compliant with CPTED Guidelines
  • Other approved building stabilization improvements

For more information, visit Downtown Orlando.