By Haldimand Press Staff
DUNNVILLE/HAGERSVILLE—Two Downtown Area Community Improvement Plan (DACIP) grant requests came to Council this week on April 11, 2023.
The Minga in Dunnville, located at 146 Queen Street, applied for $15,641 in order “to undertake the conversion of non-residential space to a residential unit through the Downtown Housing Grant” and staff recommended its approval as it met all eligibility requirements.
The application was received in February and since then staff have assisted the proponent with the application, which also utilizes the Application and Permit Refund Program.
The building has previously received two DACIP grants for façade work. It is currently operating a commercial café and meeting space on the first floor, while the second floor is vacant.
Once renovations are complete it will include a 60 square metre residential unit on the upper floor. The renovation includes a heating pump and HVAC to convert the space, fire separation, insulation, drywall, kitchen cabinetry, sealing exposed brick, bathroom installation, and laminate flooring and trim.
“The unit will also be rented out as a geared-to-income unit, which will help to increase affordable housing opportunities in Dunnville,” noted the staff report on benefits of the project. “Haldimand County will also benefit from the tax increase on the property as a result of the property improvement. In addition, there is the potential of job creation and increased local economic activity associated with the improvement works being undertaken.”
The total value of the project is $116,500, with the grant representing 13% of the costs. If approved, a grant agreement will be prepared and the proponent must maintain their property taxes in good standing, along with retrieving the needed building and plumbing permits.
A second DACIP grant is proposed for 16 Main Street North in Hagersville for $6,299 to undertake façade improvements at She Do Taxes.
Staff also recommended approving this request, which first came to their attention in December 2022 under the Façade Improvement Grant program.
One previous DACIP grant was given to the property in 2020 for refacing the side and front of the building, which is currently a mixed-use space with commercial on the first floor and residential units above. This second phase of the exterior update will see the replacement of the two front doors of the building, which are currently “in a state of disrepair … are cracked and have gapping around the door.”
“This property is located in a high traffic location in downtown Hagersville and is very visible from Main Street…. Therefore, upgrading the current façade will improve overall appearance of downtown Hagersville,” said the report. “This project will also leverage private sector investment in Hagersville.”
The grant represents 50% of the $12,600 cost for the project. It would follow the same requirements as the Dunnville location for property taxes being in good standing and a grant agreement being in place.
If approved Tuesday after publication, the grants would be subject to ratification at Council on Monday, April 17.
Haldimand County Council adopted the Haldimand County Downtown Areas Community Improvement Plan and corresponding Downtown Community Improvement Project Areas in May 2008. As of this report date, 149 DACIP applications have been approved, with 141 of those projects completed. The County has provided $1,388,505 in funding under the downtown category, with an estimated value of $10,657,599 for the projects completed.
