4/5/14 - With work nearing completion on the Heart of Howell project, the Downtown Development Authority has authorized assistance grant money to the owner. Previously the Spag's Thistledown, and Swann's buildings, the Heart of Howell is now a single complex that aims to bring office and retail space into the downtown area. When the project was first getting underway, Owner and Developer Joe Parker says grant money was afforded to through the DDA to help pay for the facade of the new building in the amount of $57,500. That money was disbursed to Parker on Wednesday night. Over the course of rebuilding the facade, Parker says they have rebuilt the exterior on all sides, removed dozens of coats of paint, repaired and replaced brickwork, put in new windows and awnings, and done various other improvements to the exterior. The work to rebuild the outside of the the three buildings actually cost closer to $370,000, but this was far more than originally expected and the DDA will only be covering a fraction of that through this grant. Parker says the remaining work on the building interior is expected to take about six weeks, though it may run longer. He will now be seeking a CRP grant from the state to get further support for the restoration project. (TD)
↧