BEDFORD — One of Bedford’s Stellar Communities projects — the plan to revamp some building facades downtown — hit another milestone Tuesday.
The city council conducted a public hearing on the project. Technically, the hearing addressed the city’s plan to apply for a $98,000 grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. The money will cover what are known as “schematic designs” of the building fronts as well as grant administration tasks.
The aim is to team up with downtown building owners to rehabilitate and renovate facades around the Lawrence County Courthouse square.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Trena Carter of Administrative Resources association said as many as 30 buildings could be considered, although there probably will not be enough money to do all of them.
“I think the city will be getting a lot of schematic designs. ... We will get cost estimates at the end of the day, which will allow the building owners to make some decisions.”
Two building owners asked about the process.
Bill Taylor asked if building owners would be involved in the design stage. Carter said architects will research the buildings’ histories and do some initial design. After that, the architects will present ideas to the building owners, and the plans can proceed from there.
Taylor also asked if there was a set amount budgeted for each building. “Some buildings need a lot more than others,” he said.
Carter said no such budget has been set, because the needs of each building vary.
“We won’t know until this study comes back,” she said.
Mayor Shawna Girgis added that the state is urging the city “to reach a critical mass. They are expecting us to do a fair number of buildings.”
Marla Jones, the city’s business and community development director, said the city’s goal is to revamp 15 to 20 facades.
The initial budget estimates allocated $826,800 for facade renovations.
Another building owner, David Rhum, asked if the city had identified which facades will be revamped.
Carter said the list is made up of owners who showed interest in the project when it was announced.
Carter said the meeting with building owners probably will take place in September.
“This is stakeholders’ meeting, so it’s important that everyone come and find out what the process is going to be,” she said.
Last year the city sought proposals from architectural firms interested in working on the facade project. In December, the city selected Rowland Design Inc. of Indianapolis. But the city and the company could not agree on the number of facades to be completed.
In May the city moved to the next firm on the list, DLZ Architects of Indianapolis.
Under the state’s Stellar Communities grant program, the city will see an investment of some $19 million — about $11 million in state and federal grants and about $8 million from various other sources — to renovate and revitalize the downtown.