08-321Suspension 3/26/2008
RESOLUTION
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CtTY
Presented by
Council File # 08-321
Green Sheet # 3051431
SAtNT PAUL, MINNESOTA
GUIDELINES FOR A DOWNTOWN FA�ADE IMPROVEMENT
PROGRAM
WI�REAS, the Council of the City of Saint Paul, in Council FIle No. 08-188, has
commenced to amend Administrative Code Chapter 65 to provide that certain improvements to designated
heritage preservation structures and non-designated stmctures located in the B4 and BS Zoning Districts
have a public purpose and that it is in the City's interest to levy and collect an assessment to pay all or part
of the costs of those improvements having such a public purpose as these improvements can benefit the
general public primazily by preserving the City's cultural, social, economic and azchitectural history as
well as maintain and enhance the vibrancy of the City's downtown area; and
WHEREAS, upon the enactment of Council File No. 08-188, the City Council desires that
applications for improvements consistent with the intent of Admin. Code Chap. 65 should be processed for
approval as expeditiously as possible; and
WHEREAS, the City Council, in order to facilitate the expeditious processing of such
applications, finds as a matter of policy that presently designated historic structures, as weli those
structures which have been certified or considered eligible for the National Historic Register by the State
Historic Preservation Office, or have been studied and recommended for historical designation in the St.
Paul Historic Context Studies: Downtown St. Paul, 1849-1975 but have yet to be so officially designated
should, given the limited availability of funds, receive priority consideration in keeping with the City's
stated policies of safeguazding and enhancing the City's historical assets; and
WHEREAS, for the purpose of guiding City staff and petitioners through the requirements
and review of such applications, the City Council, upon the advice and recommendation of the Department
of Planning and Economic Development and the Department of Safety and Inspections — Heritage
Preservation Cominission staff, hereby establishes the following requirements which shall be applicable to
applications for certain improvements to designated heritage preservation structures, as well structures
which have been certified or considered eligible for the NaUOnal Historic Register by the State Historic
Preservation Office, or have been studied and recommended for historical designation in the St. Paul
Historic Contezt Studies: Downtown St. Paul, 1849-1975 but not yet designated, for the assessment of the
costs of such improvements.
NOW, TI�REFORE, BE TT RESOLVED, that applications presented to the City for
certain improvements to designated heritage preservation structures, as well as those structures which have
been certified or considered eligible for the National Historic Register by the State Historic Preservation
Office, or have been studied and recommended for historical designation in the St. Paul Historic Context
Studies: Downtown St. Paul, 1849-1975 but not yet designated as historical, as authorized by
Administrative Code Chapter 65, must for approval purposes comply with the following requirements and
criteria:
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a) The petition must be by written application on a form provided by the City and shall
comply with all of the applicable requirements of Admimstrative Code Chapter 65,
including the submission of plans, specifications, and a cost estimate. The City shall
reject any application not on a form of the City and any application that does not include
all information required by the City.
b) Structures eligible to participate in this special assessment program must be in a B4 or
BS Zoning District and listed either on the National Register of Historic Places, localiy
designated as a Saint Paul Heritage Preservation Site, or have been certified or
considered eligible for the National Historic Register by the State Historic Preservation
Office, or have been studied and recommended for historical designation in the St. Paul
Historic Context Studies: Downtown St. Paul, 1849-1975 but has not yet been
designated as historical.
c) Improvements eligible through this special assessment program must be visible from the
public realm, and include but may not be limited to: historical awnings; replacement of
missing decorative features; restoration or replacement of doors and windows; removal
of non-historic materials or additions; approved exterior lighting; design and
engineering fees related to the proposed improvements; historic preservation-related
maintenance which requires specialized care or expertise, including tuck-pointing and
cleaning. All improvements are subject to City's approval.
d) Improvements not eligible through this special assessment program include but may not
be limited to: any interior work; work done to a building's roof; major landscape
improvements; plants; building improvements not visible from the public realm;
building additions and new construction; improvements completed or in progress at the
time of application; building acquisition; exterior painting, except for painting related to
other eligible improvements; routine maintenance.
e) All proposed fa�ade improvements will be reviewed by staff of the Heritage
Preservation Commission, and must meet the Secretary of Interior Standazds for
Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings.
fj The petition sha11 be prepared and signed by all owners of the subject property, and
proof of record ownership thereof shall also be submitted with the petition.
g) The petition shall contain a statement that the owner(s) shall be responsible for
contracting for the actual construction of the fa�ade improvements using contractors and
installers licensed or registered with the City of Saint Paul or the State of Minnesota.
h) The petition shall contain a signed statement by the owner(s) waiving all rights which
they may have to a public hearing on the proposed improvement and assessment and
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further specifically waiving any and all rights which the owner(s) may have to appeal
the adopted assessments to the District Court.
i) The amount to be specially assessed for the improvements shall not exceed the amount
of the approved construction estimates, plus any administrative costs incurred by the
City and interest chazges. Administrative chazges may include the costs of providing a
disbursing agent, engineering inspection services and other costs associated in the
review and implementation of the improvements. No property may receive more than
$500,000 for fa�ade improvements under this program.
j) The petition shall contain a statement that the owner(s) shall be responsible for the
difference between the approved construction estimate and the actual construction costs,
in the event the actual costs exceed the approved estimate.
k) No payment shall be authorized until the assessment is ratified and the completed work
is reviewed and approved by the Departsnent of Safety and Inspection for compliance
with all applicable building codes and consistency with the proposed improvements.
Any approval by a City division or department shall be only as to compliance with
existing codes and is not a warranty of quality of materials or workmanship.
1) Special assessments shail be for a period not to exceed 15 years for projects receiving
$250,000 or less, and for a period not to exceed 20 yeazs for projects receiving in excess
of $250,000.
m) Assessments shall bear interest at the highest rate applicable for any other special
assessment levied by the City in that year.
n) The pefltion shall contain a statement that in the event the petitioners request the
abandonment of the special assessment project, all costs incurred by the City shall be
reimbursed by the petitioners and in the discretion of the Council may be collected in
the same manner as assessments.
o) Unless specifically waived by the City Council, all petitions must be received and
approved by the City Council before construction or installation of the proposed fa�ade
improvements.
p) Consideration of all petitions shall be subject to a case-by-case determination and
approval of the City Council and shall be solely within the Council's discretion.
q) The owner(s) of any non-designated structure that has been certified or considered
eligible for the National Historic Register by the State Historic Preservation Office, or
has been studied and recommended for historical designation in the St. Paul Historic
Context Studies: Downtown St. Paul, 1849-1975, and any mortgage holders for said
property, must grant the City an easement in the facades upon which improvements aze
made under this program.
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r) All petirions must be received and approved by the City Council no later than June 4,
2008.
Services
.St211C
Thune
Yeas � Nays � Absent �I Requested by Deparhnent of: t� £ f,�
✓
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$Y' �� � '� -
Approved b Ci�ty / Attorney
BY� �W.li✓OYVxG-. 3� 2/— p 8'
Approve y for Sub ''o to Cqapcil
By: � ��
Adopted by Council: Date
Adoption Cerkfied by Council Secretary
BY� ✓/ /D✓//��A. `/1��,0l�
Approved by Ma r: Date �'y/ Q�_,r,�J �j �� a��
BY� �4ctt,t�°��lli�.us��{
_ OS-321
� Green Sheet Green Sheet G�een Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet Green Sheet �
DepartrnenUoffice/council: Date Initiated:
pE — Planumg&EcouomicDevelopment 2�-�a-08 Green Sheet NO: 3051431
Coirtact Person 8 Phone:
Martin Schieckel
266-6580
Doc. Type: RESOLUTION
E-DocumeM Required: N
Document ConWct:
CoMad Phone:
� Deoarhnent Sent 7o Person
0 lamin & Economic Develo me
Assign 1 lannin &ErnnomicDevelo me De arm�entDirector
Number Z ancialServices MattSmith
For
Routing 3 or'sO�ce Ma or/Assistant
Order q oancil Dave Thane
5 ' C[erk Ci C(erk
ToWI # of Signature Pages _(Clip Ail Locations for Signature)
Sign Resolurion establishing guidelines for a downtqwn faqade improvement progam.
Planning Commission
CIB Committee
Civil Service Commission
1. Has this person/firtn ever worked under a contrect for this departrnent�
Yes No
2. Has this person�rm ever been a city employee?
Yes No
3. Does ihis person/firm possess a skill not rrormally possessed by any
current city employee?
Yes No
Explain all yes answers on separete sheet and attach to green sheet
Initiating Problem, Issues, Opportunity (Who, What, When, Where, Why):
The Ciry desires to insritute a pilot program for providing funds [o owners of certain historically designated and non-designated
buildings in the B4 and BS zoning districts for the putposes of making fapade improvements. The funds will be repaid through a
special assessment on the participating properties.
Advantages If Approved:
Allows unplementation of a pilot program designed to enhance the vibrancy of the City�s downtown azea.
DisadvaMages If Approved:
None.
DisadvanWges If NotApproved:
Downtown pilot fapade improvement program won�t be able to proceed.
Trensaction:
Funding Source:
CosURevenue Budgeted:
Activity Number.
Financiai Information: Funding for this program will come via a sepazate budget resolution.
(Explain)
March 25, 2008 10:53 AM Page 1
08-321
Downtown Saint Paul
Fa�ade Improvement Program
FACT SHEET
Purpose
7he Downtown Fagade tmprovement program ts designed to benefit the general pubiic primarity by
preserving the City's cultural, sociai, economic and architectural history as well as maintain and
enhance the vibrancy of the City's downtown area.
Eligible Applicants
Owners of eligible structures may apply. Eligible structures must be located in a 64 or B5 Zoning
District and: 1) be tisted either on the Nationai Nistoric Register of Historic Places or tocally
designated as a Saint Paul Heritage Preservation Site, or 2) have been certified or considered eligible
for the National Historic Register by the State Historic Preservation Office, or 3) have been studied
and recommended for historic designation in the St. Pau! Historrc Context Studies: Downtown St.
Paul, 1894-1975, but not yet been designated as historic..
Eligible (mprovements
Eligible improvements (subject to City approval) must be visible from the public realm, and include,
but may not be limited to:
• historic awnings
• replacement of missing decorative features
• restoration or repiacement of doors and windows
• removal of non-historic materials or additions
• approved exterior lighting
• design and engineering fees related to the proposed improvements
• historic preservation-related maintenance which requires specialized care or expertise,
including tuck-pointing and cleaning
All proposed fa�ade improvements will be reviewed by Saint Paul Heritage Preservation Commission
staff, and must meet the Secretary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings.
Selection Process
A written application form provided by the City must be submitted along with plans, specifications, and
cost estimates. Each project will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and approved by the City
Council before construction or installation of the proposed fa�ade
improvements.
Applications wiil be availabie on Monday, March 31 Building owners are encouraged to apply as
soon as possible.
Program Funding
There are approximately $2 Million in funds designated for the Fa�ade Program.
No property may receive more than $500,000 for fa�ade improvements under this program. Special
assessments shail be for a period not to exceed 15 years for projects $250,000 or below, and 20
years for projects in excess of $250,000. Assessments shall bear interest at the highest rate
applicable for any other special assessment levied by the City in that year.
Media Contact: Natalie Fedie, Department of Planning & Economic Development
651-266-6549 or natalie.fedie@ci.stpaui.mn.us
(3/21/2008) Patricia Lindgren - TEXT.htm � Page 1,
08-321
Pat ,
Pleas forward this message onto the Ciiy Council.
Thank You
Dear Council President Lantry and members of the City Council,
The Downtown Building Owners Association (DBOA) wishes for me as Chair Person of the organization to
convey our strong support for the proposed Downtown Fasade Improvement Assessment Program in
downtown Saint Paul. We will only take an official position when all our members support a position. This
pilot program as outlined and proposed by Councilman Thune, meets that criteria.
John E. Mannillo
Chair Person
Downtown Building Owners Association (DBOA)