• Repair or replacement of awnings or canopies;
• Facade painting and cleaning/treatments;
• Addition of new lighting/upgrading of existing fixtures on exterior facade and in entrance and storefront display areas;
• Installation/improvement of signage (as permitted by the Sign By-law);
• Architectural/design fees required for eligible works (to maximum of 10% of the grant amount); and,
• Other improvements and repairs that may be necessary to implement the approved Community Improvement Plan also may be undertaken subject to the appropriate By-laws of The Corporation of the City of Windsor, as determined by the City Planner.

7. In addition to the eligible costs specified in 6) above, the following types of building façade restoration and improvement works on commercial and mixed use buildings designated under the Ontario Heritage Act are also considered eligible for a grant/loan under this program:

• Works that conserve or enhance elements specified in the Reasons for Designation accompanying the designating bylaw under the Ontario Heritage Act;
• Original siding and roofing materials including repair and replacement where necessary of wood clapboard or boardand-batten, repair and repointing of masonry buildings, stucco repair, repair or replacement of original roofing materials (slate, wood shingles, tile, etc.);
• Removal of modern materials and replacement with documented original materials;
• Reconstruction or construction of former and significant architectural features for which
• the appearance can be clearly determined from documentary sources (photographs, drawings, etc.);
• Cleaning of masonry buildings if it is necessary for the building’s preservation;
• All final finishes, such as paint and masonry are eligible for funding subject to approval; and,
• Works required to maintain or preserve significant architectural features.

8. The program encourages the restoration of façades to their original state using authentic or original materials. Products used in the restoration of a façade should contain materials that match the texture, colour, size, shape and detail of the original material where possible.

9. This program encourages removal of materials such as vinyl or aluminum siding and the restoration of original brick, block or wood façades. Where it is not possible to restore the original materials of a façade, the use of natural materials is encouraged where the form and scale of the original façade is maintained.

10. Fees (i.e. architects, engineers, permits, etc.) associated with the facade improvements are an eligible expense up to 10% of the total grant amount. Labour contributed by the applicant is not an eligible expense.

11. All improvements must be maintained during the term of the Community Improvement Plan and all improvements must be completed within timeline approved by Council.

Grant Payment

Payment of the grant is made to the grant recipient upon the City being satisfied that the grant recipient has complied with all terms and conditions of the application procedure, inspection procedures, development procedures, and completion of work within the required time frame. In accordance with the Planning Act, the total of the Commercial/ Mixed Use Building Facade Improvement Grant will cannot exceed the approved eligible costs for the Commercial/ Mixed Use Building Facade Improvement Grant Program.

Grant Agreement

As a condition of approval of an application for a Commercial/ Mixed Use Building Facade Improvement Grant, the applicant may be required to enter into an agreement with the City. The Agreement may be registered against the land to which it applies and will specify the terms, duration and default provisions of the grant.

Other Funding

Projects that are eligible for the Commercial/ Mixed Use Building Facade Improvement Grant Program are permitted to be combined with the incentives from any other City of Windsor approved Community Improvement Plan provided that the total of all property tax assistance, grants and loans provided by the City in relation to this, or any other CIP, cannot exceed the approved eligible costs for all approved incentive programs.

Geographic Eligibility

The Commercial/ Mixed Use Building Facade Improvement Program is applicable to the entire Community Improvement Project Area, for projects that meet the program requirements outlined above.