Downtown to see $1 million investment

12/6/2008

Roofs will be replaced, electric wiring will be improved, heating and air conditioning will work better, facades will look better and a myriad of other problems will be resolved when owners of property in downtown Chillicothe invest about another $1 million in the historic business district next year.

The renovations, repairs and additions will be funded in part from the $400,000 grant the city of Chillicothe will receive in early 2009. With City Council’s approval, the administration applied for the competitive grant as part of its efforts outlined in the HyettPalma Downtown Chillicothe Economic Enhancement Strategic Plan released in 2007.

Consultant Michael Secoy and Associates, working with Chief of Staff Matt Allen’s office, pulled together the information to submit the grant and will be the lead administrator. A meeting of property owners who submitted about 40 preliminary applications probably will be held early in January to give them instructions on how to submit final applications. Actual work on structures should begin in the spring and be finished by this time next year.

In addition to the improvement by private property owners, the city plans to improve physically the parking lots on West and Main streets, similar to what was done on the lot at Fourth and Paint streets recently.

Any renovations affecting the outside appearance of a building will need approval from the city’s Design Review Board.