Loopy's to get historic facade improvement

Another downtown business will receive a facelift under the Historic Façade Improvement Program.
At their April 11 meeting, the Luverne Economic Development Authority members approved an application by Curt and Marilyn Bloemendaal who own the Loopy’s building.
According to the plans, the front awning will be removed (the awning next door will remain intact and will have an end cap), and everything from that level up will be new.
The front of the building will be taller than the next-door building, and the side of the building will be power-washed and repainted.
The Historic Façade Improvement program offers free technical assistance for architectural design services as well as financial assistance in the form of loans and grants.
Thirty-five percent of the funding assistance is provided as a low interest loan, 35 percent as a grant and 30 percent as owner contribution.
Funding provided through the program can be used for facade materials, facade construction, awnings, signage and lighting.
In the case of the Loopy’s building, Sammons said the Bloemendaals have declined the loan part of the funding are accepting only the grant to subsidize their project.
Loopy’s will continue to operate in the building as usual.
LEDA also approved a resolution extending the target area of the Historic Façade Improvement Program.
It had previously ended at the Schomacker Cleaning corner (Estey Street), but with recent efforts to improve the “Four Corners” on Main Street and Highway 75, Sammons said it makes sense to extend program eligibility to the corner.
 
Commercial lot prices set
In other business April 11 the LEDA board approved a resolution setting the sale prices of two commercial lots.
The lot south of the Quality Inn on South Highway 75 (805 S. Kniss) is priced at $70,000, and the lot on North Highway 75 across from Culligan (117 N. Kniss) is priced at $20,000.