The city of Jefferson will move to hire an architect firm in order to pursue an application for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) which will then be used to transform the front façades of some of the city’s downtown buildings back to their historic roots. Jefferson’s City Administrator Michael Palmer says in order to apply for the grant an initial investment will be required of the parties involved.
Over twenty downtown businesses have shown an interest in participating in the program. An architect from Franks Design Group will be working with property owners to find out what they would like to see done to their building’s front façade while also restoring the building to its historical accuracy. The architect, says Palmer, will also be on the lookout for blight.
However, he adds, Jefferson could be at a slight disadvantage.
Franks Design Group was selected from a pool of five architectural firms and during the process the cost of each firm’s services was kept undisclosed as per a grant application requirement. City leaders will review a proposed contract from Franks Design Group at their meeting Tuesday night. Palmer says the firm is a good fit for the community as the company has had prior experience working with the city of Manning during its multiple front façade CDBG sponsored projects.
