Press Release

Facade Renovation Program Costs Property Owners Nothing

A creative approach to facade renovation and downtown beautification in Fontana, CA, applies equally well to buildings in traditional downtowns, business improvement districts, and main street communities. The secret is a facade easement.

(Boonton, NJ, November 2, 2009) — The City of Fontana, CA, has implemented a successful facade renovation program for three blocks of its downtown. Unlike typical matching grants for facade improvements, it doesn't cost property owners anything. What's more, because the program requires buy-in from all property owners on each block, the results are far better than those produced by matching grant programs.

"The way it works is, we talk to the property owners and get them to give us a facade easement that is not recorded against their property for 10 years. That turns over the front 18 inches of their building to us, the redevelopment agency. So in essence, for the next 10 years, the agency owns the front of their building," says Raymond Bragg, former redevelopment and special projects director for the City.

The details of this creative approach are covered in the November 1 issue of industry newsletter Downtown Idea Exchange.

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About Downtown Idea Exchange

Downtown Idea Exchange newsletter is published by the Downtown Research & Development Center. For more than 50 years, the Downtown Research & Development Center has provided a forum for exchanging news, information and ideas on how to rebuild the hearts of our cities.

Website: http://www.DowntownDevelopment.com