3 Ypsilanti businesses win façade improvement grants

Three downtown Ypsilanti buildings have been selected to apply for the matching façade improvement grants from the state of Michigan.These three developers are asking for $92,817 in matching funds from the $400,000 the state sets aside each year to help jump start façade-improvement programs. The program matches up to 50 percent of a project’s cost. These projects revolve around improving building exteriors, such as creating bigger windows and restoring brick facades.The candidates include The Mix and What is That? art gallery at 128-130 W Michigan Ave. in downtown. That $123,500 project calls for replacing the windows with Low-E glass, repairing the brick façade and some fresh paint. A rental property on 601 W Cross St. hopes to replace the front porch and door, replant some trees and add some fresh paint.The third project includes freshening up the former Silent Cat building at 12-16 N Huron. That project would repair and clean its brick façade, replace its awnings and install some custom lighting fixtures.The Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority expects to hear from the state by April. Each selected city can take in between $25,000-$100,000 of the $400,000 in state funds.”I’m pretty sure its all or nothing,” says Tracy Lewis, interim director of the Ypsilanti Downtown Development Authority.Source: Tracy Lewis, interim director of the Ypsilanti Downtown Development AuthorityWriter: Jon Zemke