DDA to seek bids to remove canopy over Elixer

DAVISON -- Slowly but surely, more of the canopy will be removed along the southwest block in downtown.

The Davison Downtown Development Authority gave approval for city staff to go out for bids to remove the portion of the canopy above Elixer, 211 N. Main Street, with a 6-1 vote. Mayor Fred “Mac” Fortner cast the dissenting vote.

Paul Snyder, owner of Elixer, asked the DDA during public comment to consider using remaining funding from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to remove the canopy above his storefront. In addition, he brought a letter from the property owner, Kay Iddins, stating she also wanted the canopy removed.

MSHDA gave the DDA an extension to use the leftover grant money and matching facade grant money. The money, about $9,000, must be used by the end of April 2010.

“Now that the grant is extended we are trying every effort we can to spend that grant money instead of sending it back to the state,” said DDA Chairman George Keiss.

When it was priced before, the cost to remove the canopy above Elixer was about $1,600 — however, Community Development Director Colleen Hackney said she thinks it will be more expensive now.

“It was around $1,600, but keep in mind that was to piggyback with Chase’s removal,” said Hackney.

Now the contractor will have to remove more of the canopy and once again reroute a wire and refurbish the end of the canopy that is left.

Fortner said he voted against removing that portion of the canopy because he wanted to look into other grant opportunities.

“Knowing that this guy was coming (from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation) with the facade grants, I wasn’t sure if taking down anymore was necessary,” said Fortner.

Snyder said he was grateful the DDA made the decision to begin the process to remove the canopy above his storefront, which opened downtown in fall 2009.

“I was very happy about it,” Snyder said. “The exposure is what we needed and I appreciate the council voting in the store’s favor.”

And while another piece of the canopy will come down this year, the debate rages on as to what will happen to the canopies that remain.

Kent Kukik, a representative from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, gave a presentation to the DDA Jan. 20 about a possible facade grant that is available to them.

The grant is a 75-25 percent program where the DDA would only have to match 25 percent of the grant awarded, Kukik said. The grant — which has a $200,000 maximum — would fund exterior improvements to downtown buildings. The application has a rolling deadline.

“What we do want is good, quality work,” said Kukik.

The debate over the canopies began again with discussion of the grant, with several DDA members asking if the grant would fund the refurbishing of existing canopies.

“Those are not eligible for refurbishing because those would not be considered part of the facade,” Kukik told the DDA.

The response sparked debate among the board, with some members not understanding why a facade grant would not cover the canopies, since they extend into the buildings.

DDA Member Jan Teed said she felt it would be more energy efficient and cost effective to keep the remaining canopies up and just refurbish them.

“I realize they are ugly, they need refurbishing,” said Teed. “We want them to look better. We don’t want to take them down.”

Kukik explained that the grant aims to restore buildings to their original, historical look.

“We’re trying to let the buildings be the buildings,” said Kukik.

Teed responded to his comment with disdain.

“We don’t need you then,” she said.

Kukik said the MEDC would like to take a look at what the finished product would look like, and added that the grant is ideally for improvements to more than one building at a time.

“The canopies will be a problem because it’s really shielding those buildings from what a downtown typically is,” said Kukik.

“Some downtowns yes,” DDA member Vickie Wagner responded.” But our downtown — no.”

The DDA did not take any action in regards to applying for a facade grant from the MEDC.