At the Nov. 3 Prescott Plan Commission meeting, City Administrator Matt Wolf presented three applications for the city’s Façade Improvement Program. Commissioners have until Nov. 26 to …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
To continue reading, you will need to either log in, using the login form, below, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account and connect your subscription to it by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
At the Nov. 3 Prescott Plan Commission meeting, City Administrator Matt Wolf presented three applications for the city’s Façade Improvement Program. Commissioners have until Nov. 26 to score the applications and make selections.
The City of Prescott started a Façade Improvement Program this year for businesses within the C-1 Commercial District per the approved TID #4 project plan. The city allocated $300,000 of TID #4 Funds over the next six years for a Façade Improvement Program and will award $50,000 per year through 2030. Applications for the first round ran from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, 2025.
The program is exclusively for exterior improvements that cover the following items:
According to the Plan Commission packet, each grant applicant is limited to $50,000 as a maximum amount per cycle with the applicant needing to provide at least 50% costs in matching funds. For example, if a project application is for $50,000, they would need to provide $25,000 matching funds and the grant would have a maximum amount of $25,000 for an award. Applicants can have projects that exceed the $50,000 match from their own investment but grant funds are always capped at $50,000 per grant award.
The program is meant to enhance the visual appeal and vitality of the downtown commercial district through public/private investment. Applicants had to submit a completed application form, project description and goals, budget breakdown including matching funds, before photos of the project site and design renderings or plans.
The Plan Commission received three applications. Throughout November, Plan Commission members will score each project out of 40 points and turn them into staff by Nov. 26 to tabulate. They are judged on the following criteria:
An average score will be reviewed at the December Plan Commission meeting and forwarded onto the city council for consideration.
The first project is at 115 Orange St., owned by Megan Langer. The property is currently vacant and was most recently used as a long-term rental; the previous business closed down years ago. Langer wants to convert the building back into a commercial use as a short-term rental.
The project description submitted reads: “Current property exterior shows signs of neglect, with outdated windows, doors and blank signage that detract from the surrounding downtown environment. The project will fully restore and beautify the property, transforming it into a vibrant short-term rental that attracts visitors, supports local tourism, and generates thousands of dollars in annual lodging taxes for the City of Prescott. Improvements include new energy-efficient windows and doors, exterior siding and trim replacement, fresh paint, updated exterior lighting, and the addition of new signage designed to complement Prescott’s historic downtown aesthetic.”
Anger plans to partner with local artists and explore grants to incorporate hand-painted murals similar to work done at The Port of Prescott. She said her project would replace an eyesore with a welcoming, well-maintained property that contributes to Prescott’s historic charm.
With plans to install LP siding (board and batten), new windows and doors, and painting the building, the total project cost is $26,060, so she is asking for $13,030. The project would begin Feb. 1 and end May 31, 2026.
Tracy Franek, owner of 139 and 141 Broad St., submitted the second application. The buildings currently house CBD Prescott and St. Croix Interiors on the ground floor with apartments above. Franek wants to replace the windows on the second story of both buildings, replace and repair the wood around the windows and paint all exterior windows facing Broad Street and Scab’s. Many of the windows are original, not energy-efficient and cracked. Due to needing specialty windows, they are more expensive. Franek would install the windows themselves. The total project cost is $42,419, with an ask of $21,209.50. The plan is to start in December and be done by spring.
The final application came from Josias Franco and Jerry Voss, who own 144 Broad St., which most recently housed Heywood, Cari and Anderson. The goal is to update the white broken/damaged windows and doors (less the new aluminum main store front door) with dark bronze windows and doors for a more natural earth tone. They plan to replace the siding on the second story facing Broad Street and the north-facing side onto Orange Street. The brick is currently deteriorating with cracks and falling apart, so they plan to tuckpoint the west and south sides of the building and paint it to match the siding.
“This project is much more a complete overhaul of the building,” Wolf said.
They plan replace windows, cover the brick on the north side of the building with LP smart siding, replace the Broad Street awning with new siding, and tuckpoint the west and south ends of the building. The total project cost is $117,602, so they are asking for $50,000 (43%). They plan to start the project in the spring and complete it by Fall 2026.
The three applications total $84,240, with $50,000 available.
The 2026 program will open Jan. 1 and run through Feb. 27 with another $50,000 available.
The meeting concluded with an ongoing review of Comprehensive Plan. Discussion revolved around someday providing more parking for downtown, possibly in the alley behind No Name, the city’s responsibility in providing education to residents about utilities and personal property management, and what type of development residents would like to see.
