Pete Franks (center) and Matt Miller (left) of Franks Design Group of Glenwood were in Jefferson Dec. 9 doing a blight inventory of the building facades that will be included in an application for a Community Development Block Grant. Deb Kucerak (right), a member of the Jefferson Matters: Main Street board, talked with them as they worked.
The two photographed and took notes as they toured the Mainstreet district. Franks explained that the word “blight” doesn’t usually mean the totally deteriorated buildings Iowans picture as being in inner cities, but that more often, blight is the result of not being able to do enough maintenance on aging buildings.
The blight inventory will be included in the application for up to $500,000 for repair and restoration on building facades. The city of Jefferson has committed to $250,000 in matching funds, with the remaining coming from the owners of the buildings. The grant application is due in February, with notification expected in late spring.
The city of Jefferson is paying Franks’ fees as part of its match for the grant. City officials have said they plan to move forward with some sort of façade repair project even if the CDBG is not funded.
