Facade improvements return 'historic charm' to Main Street

Main Street Financial Services has become an example of what Luverne’s Historic Façade Improvement program can do for businesses and the overall look of the community.
“We have a vision to restore the historical charm of buildings and structures on Main Street,” said Holly Sammons, Luverne Economic Development Authority Director.
At the Dec. 7 EDA meeting, she updated the board on the progress of the program, which offers free technical assistance for architectural design services as well as financial assistance in the form of loans and grants.
“As a part of this program, owners can drastically reduce the cost of restoring a building to its historic appearance,” Sammons said.
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.
Sammons showed before and after photographs of Main Street Financial Services, which recently completed its façade improvements.
She also showed how the company logo was used on signage, stationery and business cards. “The brand integrity is emulated in everything you see,” Sammons said.
Main Street Financial owner Mike Cox said he’s glad he participated in the program.
“All businesses are faced with the challenge of whether it makes economical sense to put money into the structure or façade of your building,” Cox said.
“Knowing that all structures face deterioration in our climate you have to account for repairs, remodeling and updating in your budget. The consumer wants to do business with successful businesses so it is imperative you keep things up and budget for this.”
Sammons said the idea behind the program is to support the revitalization of Main Street and downtown Luverne while restoring buildings as closely as possible to their historic appearance from 1878-1948.
“We, through Betty Mann and the Historical Society, had looked at a number of old photos to see if there was some “historic” significance with the original structures,” Cox said.
“We did not find any photos that clearly showed a lot of historic relevance except for the rounded top on the east building. We had our contractor remove some of the vertical siding to see what was under it and found some repairs and replaced windows, neither of which was of saving value.”
Through the Historic Façade Improvement program, the city covers architectural costs for a professional design proposal to ensure projects align with the goal of a historic Main Street.
This is what appealed to Cox. “That additional benefit allows professionals to give you ideas and assistance to restoring or creating a look for your business that ties into our historic Main Street,” he said.
Funding provided through the program can be used for facade materials, facade construction, awnings, signage and lighting.
Sammons said several local businesses are in the process of designing new signage and logos and are working through the steps of the program.
“Overall, there’s a lot of front end work, so that at first you don’t see results,” Sammons told the EDA Board. “Now we have one done — Main Street Financial. … Until you see it, it’s hard to visualize how the program works.”
Other local businesses working on façade improvements and creative logo designs include Medi Spa, Salon 75, Restoration Alley, Brandenburg Gallery, Luverne Counseling and Luverne Street Music.
Some businesses, like Sterling’s, Herb ‘n Legend and Fish ‘n Clips, are installing projection signs to update their business fronts in line with the program’s façade guidelines.