Trust Providing Money To Fix Up Facades on Public Square

By Heather McRea
Times Staff writer

After it failed to make the impact it wanted on how Public Square looks, the Watertown Trust has decided to throw more money into the business district.
In 1999, the trust set aside $25,000 to provide $5,000 matching grants to downtown building owners for fixing up their facades.
But there was little interest in the pro- gram because business owners had to match the money and many of the facade projects would have cost more than the grant cap, officials said So now the Watertown Trust will provide $200,000 to give to building owners in the Public Square historic district money to fix up their facades in return for easements on the front of the buildings.
“The initial program really didn’t work that well,” said Donald W Rutherford, the Watertown Thrust’s economic development director. “We really want to do something that would have an impact on the downtown and deal with blight.”
The easements will be given to Neighbors of Watertown which is managing the program for the Watertown Trust. Property owners will still own the buildings and be responsible for maintenance of the facades, but will have to get permission from NOW to do work and follow specific historic guidelines.
In return for the easements, a property owner can claim about 15 percent of the buildings value as a tax-deductible donation and the assessment of the property would be reduced by that amount. Any increase in assessment because of the improvements should therefore be offset, said Gary C. Beasley, director of NOW
“The essence of the program is to preserve and restore facades and in some cases
that may mean removing more modem facades that may be inappropriate to our historic district,” said Eve C. Holberg, director of the Downtown Development Office.
And the program would allow facades that are close to the point of being structurally unsound to be fixed before they become a danger.
"Nobody is in danger,” Ms. Holberg said. “But we have the opportunity to act. Imagine the visual impact we can have. It will just be so terrific for the city of Watertown."
Ms. Holberg and Mr. Beasley will now develop informational handouts on the program and start to approach building owners about participating. It is estimated that about 10 could be done with the money available, Mr. Beasley said.
They need to get into the buildings to see what improvements are needed, Ms. Holberg said. In some cases seeing a building from the inside is the only way to figure out what the historic facade looks like, she said.
“I would love to see something start this construction season,” she said. “With the cooperation from owners there is nothing that prevents us from hitting the ground running

For more information on the Public Square Facade Easement Program contact:
Neighbors Of Watertown, Inc. - Gary Beasley at (315) 782-8497.

• Public Square National Register Historic District Facade Easement Program
• Facade Easement Description
• Trust Providing Money to Fix Up Facades on Public Square
• Watertown Main Street Program