BUENA PARK : Business Owners Get Remodeling Incentives
To spruce up dilapidated neighborhoods, the city is offering business owners a financial incentive to rehabilitate their properties.
Several businesses in the past have dropped plans to fix up their buildings because the cost of improving public rights-of-way next to their property--an upgrade required by city code--was too high, said May Hui, assistant director of development services.
Under a new assistance program approved by the City Council on Monday, the city will spend as much as $50,000 to make off-site improvements such as street widening, new curbs, sidewalks and turn lanes.
“At times these public improvement costs surpass the cost to rehabilitate and improve their property,” a staff report said.
Council members approved the program unanimously but said further discussion is necessary to decide how to handle cost overruns.
To take part in the program, business owners must demonstrate that they cannot afford the off-site upgrades themselves, Hui said.
Only businesses within zones identified by the city as redevelopment areas qualify for the plan. Just over $160,000 of federal Community Development Block Grant money is available for the program, Hui said.
Public works officials said they support the program because it would facilitate completion of public projects.
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