Background:

In December, 1995 the City of Salisbury hosted a group of architects, planners, landscape architects and a traffic engineer to conduct a study of the visual and functional characteristics of Innes Street, a major transportation arterial which traverses the city. These professionals, under the auspices of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, participated in a planning workshop known as an Urban Design Assistance Team (UDAT). The UDAT evaluated a broad range of design elements which make up the physical aspects of the street as well as the less a tangible human influences that directly affect the corridor and its’ broader relationship to the community and region. The UDAT has published, in the form of a booklet entitled Towards a Vision of the Future - The Innes Street Corridor Study, an extensive list of recommendations for improving the appearance and functionality of the street in order to enhance its contribution to civic image and value as an important transportation corridor.

Purpose:

The Salisbury Community Appearance Commission, in recognizing the importance of the practical, economic and aesthetic issues in the implementation of the UDAT recommendations, has requested and received funding from the Salisbury City Council for the implementation of an incentive grant program to encourage property owners and tenants along the Innes Street corridor to make improvements to the visual and functional aspects of their properties consistent with the intent of the Innes Street Corridor Study.

Eligibility:

Properties located within the Innes Street Corridor Study Area or having a direct impact on the corridor as indicated by the UDAT recommendations. Owners or tenants may request incentive grants. However, any tenant must have the owner’s written permission as part of the application.

Improvements may include, but are not limited to, facade improvements, sign improvements, landscaping, driveway consolidation, parking improvements, bicycle improvements, pedestrian enhancements, etc. Removal of dilapidated buildings and non-compliant signs may qualify based on the affect that the action will have on the appearance of the corridor.

Properties located within the Municipal Service District are eligible for funding of activities other than facade grants.

Criteria:

Competitive grants are awarded on a 1 to 1 matching basis by the Community Appearance Commission with weighted consideration of those projects that best exemplify the goals of the Innes Street Corridor Study in terms of visibility, quality and contribution to the streetscape and the community.

Proposals for architectural improvements, signs, landscapes, parking and traffic enhancements will be evaluated in terms of compliance with existing ordinances, innovation, context with the surrounding environment, scale, size, horticultural value, technical merit and any other criteria that relates to the project and of its impact on the visual and functional improvement of Innes Street.

Innes Street Improvement Grants generally range up to $5000. However, an especially significant project requiring matching funds of over $5000 must be awarded by the Salisbury City Council.

Application Process:

Applicants shall submit a completed grant application by August 20, 1997. An application may be obtained by contacting the Urban Resource Planner, City of Salisbury, Planning Division, Post Office Box 479, Salisbury, North Carolina 28145-0479 or by calling (704) 638-5324.

Information on the application shall include the location of the proposed project, a written description of the work, price quotations from contractors (or a list of materials with price estimates), a timetable for completion of the work, photographs, designs, site plans, drawings or renderings, any color charts, lettering, artwork or samples of materials relative to the project. Applications which demonstrate thoughtful consideration and careful planning will influence the award of the grant.

Notification of the award of grants will be made by September 3, 1997. All work must be completed and all invoices submitted for reimbursement by June 30, 1998. Completed projects will typically be reimbursed within 30 days of submission of invoices. No advanced payments or reimbursements for partially completed projects will be made.