Seven Carson City businesses OK’d for facade improvement

The Redevelopment Authority Citizens Committee Monday approved funds for seven facade improvement projects in the center of Carson City while rejecting one applicant located south of downtown.

Grandma Hattie’s, which was seeking a $20,000 match to replace its freestanding sign outside the diner, didn’t get funding.

Committee members Craig Mullet and Garrett Lepire, vice chair, said that part of Carson Street would be transformed in the next few years once the city takes over that stretch of road from the Nevada Department of Transportation.

“I think we’re ahead of ourselves on this particular project,” said Mullet. “Also, I think the intent was not to include freestanding signs.”

Supervisor Lori Bagwell, who was the only committee member to vote in favor of funding the Grandma Hattie’s project, disagreed.

“Freestanding signs are eligible and were eligible from day one,” she said. “I want to be clear on that.”

In addition, the program covers both redevelopment district 1, which includes downtown, and redevelopment district 2, comprised of the retail area where Grandma Hattie’s is located.

RACC’s decision on the program can be appealed to the Redevelopment Authority.

The Downtown Facade Improvement Program was approved by the Board of Supervisors in March.

It provides up to a $25,000 match for projects involving upgrades to a building’s exterior, including painting, new signage and the addition of decorative elements, but not for new landscaping.

The program was funded with $200,000 through fiscal year 2017 and required applicants to get three bids with the city matching funds based on the lowest bid.

Two applicants for multiple projects are general contractors as well as the buildings owners so RACC discussed how to handle the requirement for three bids when the applicant would be doing the work themselves.

Jeff Shaheen, Shaheen Beauchamp Builders, whose project is at 318 N. Carson St., said he obtained three estimates from all the subcontractors.

And Mark Lopiccolo said the projects would be done at cost with no markup.

Lopiccolo represented applications for 310 S. Carson St., owned by Lopiccolo Investment LLC, and 224 S. Carson St., owned by Lopiccolo Trust, as well as the contractor for another applicant, the Carson Jewelry & Loan at 308-310 N. Carson St.

At its previous meeting, RACC approved $16,250 for facade improvements at 112 N. Curry St. and denied an application for 631 N. Division St.

Many of the projects approved Monday involved new awnings, paint and replacing older facades with brick or other materials.

The St. Charles Hotel, for example, is getting new posts and railings; 224 S. Carson St., which houses Mom & Pop’s Diner and stretches back to Curry Street, will be getting a rock facade, wainscoting and a metal corrugated roof; and 210 S. Carson St., where a new business is soon opening, is getting an aged brick facade, corrugated metal decorations and a black awning.

Garibaldi’s Restaurant is adding a retractable awning and windows that open up on outdoor seating once the sidewalks are widened as part of the downtown corridor project.