Published: December 14, 2008 09:45 am      

Improvement funds available for properties in Virginia Avenue area

City awarding money in effort to support members of the community

A map of the Virginia Avenue Corridor Code Compliance Targeted Area can be viewed here

CUMBERLAND — In a move to make Virginia Avenue a better place to live and work, the city of Cumberland’s Virginia Avenue Code Compliance Program will award funds in support of residential, commercial and rental property improvements.

Brenda Smith, city economic development coordinator, said the program is structured to give six awards, three under residential for owner-occupied properties at $10,000 each, one for commercial at $25,000 and two for rental properties for exterior only work at $8,500 each.

“This is how it’s structured, this could be adjusted slightly based upon someone’s financial need in terms of the award,” Smith said. “If we could help more than one person, or more than three people, that’s certainly what we want to do.”

Applications will be available beginning Monday and will be accepted through Jan. 30 no later than 3:30 p.m. Eligible projects must be located within the boundaries of the Virginia Avenue Corridor Redevelopment Plan, which covers the general area bordered by Industrial Boulevard, Lamont Street/Oldtown Road and South Street.

“Once applications are received, they will be reviewed by a committee that can take a look and determine who would best benefit from it and what would be the best improvements to make in that region,” Smith said.

Once the approvals are offered, the improvements will need to be complete by June 30.

The awards will be offered to all income levels for property owners in need of electrical or plumbing improvements, HVAC replacement and repair, or replacement of exterior code issues.

But applicants need to be aware that because this is a competitively awarded program, it is possible that not all applicants will be awarded funds.

Terri Bennett of the city’s Department of Economic Development said applications need to be done by the property owner and applicants need to be up to par with the city in terms of taxes and other programs they may have participated in, meet state and local codes, and have all work done by a licensed contractor.

Applicants also need to check with the city’s community development staff and obtain the proper permits required.

“The purpose is to strengthen the community,” Bennett said. Projects that best fit the criteria will be more likely to be approved.

Funding is provided by the state Community Legacy Program and is being administered by the city. Applicants awarded funds will be able to take advantage of a 10-year forgivable loan.

“Another significant point is the way the funding is awarded,” said Kathy McKenney, the city’s historic preservation planner and coordinator. “As a forgivable loan, it’s paying itself down 10 percent each year for a period of 10 years.”

Bennett added that, eventually, after 10 years, the owner will have no financial obligation to repay those funds.

Applications are available at 137 Virginia Ave. Monday through Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or at 113 Baltimore St. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information, contact Bennett at (301) 722-4173 or via e-mail at discovercumberland@allconet.org.

Tess Hill can be reached at thill@times-news.com.