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Facade improvements continue, city lots selling

Subhead
Sincerely Yours joins list of local businesses sprucing up storefronts
Lead Summary
By
Lori Sorenson

Felicia Hanson has been working in recent months to improve her salon building on Main Street, and the Luverne Economic Development Authority on Monday approved funding to help the project along.
The EDA approved Hanson’s application for the city’s Façade Improvement Program at 123 E. Main Street.
The project will include tuck pointing and caulking stone joints, electrical work for window lights, vinyl window signage, quarter round window trim, insulation, seal and trim on the storefront, paint and a custom-built, curved aluminum awning.
The program will provide a $4,020 grant, which covers 35 percent of the qualifying work, and she’s already invested her own $4,020 and has foregone the $4,020 loan.
EDA Director Holly Sammons said Hanson’s building is one of the oldest on Main Street.
“So we’re excited to partner with her on this,” she said.
The project is the 11th approved so far out of 25 submitted design proposals.
“There are lots of good things happening,” Sammons said. “The program is well-received among our business owners, and it’s probably the biggest impact we can have on our downtown aesthetics.”
She mentioned that work on Coffey Building (Cody and Nicole Henrichs) is progressing well, with new windows recently installed.
“Small things like windows make a big difference for cleanliness and transparency,” Sammons said.
Another recently approved façade improvement project is underway at the Rock County Eye Clinic, which is expanding into the former dental office and creating a new business front exterior.
The Historic Façade Improvement Program supports restoring downtown buildings as closely as possible to their historic appearance from 1878 to 1948.
The city covers architectural costs for a professional design proposal to ensure projects align with the goal of a historic Main Street.
One-third of qualifying projects is paid by a grant, one-third by a low-interest loan, and one-third is owner equity.
 
Two lots sold;
two more pending
In Monday morning’s EDA meeting, Sammons also updated the board on residential lot sales in Luverne.
James and Diana Ouverson purchased Lot 2, Block 3 in the Manfred Heights Addition south of John and Jeanne Bowron.
Dave and Lori Tingle purchased Lot 1, Block 2 in the Sybesma Addition north of Rick and Mary Peterson.
“These two are expected to start construction in the next few days,” Sammons said.
Manfred Heights lots cost $30,000 to $40,000; Sybesma lots cost $5,000 and have a cash incentive for buyers with families.
Sammons said two more lot purchases are pending in the Manfred Heights Addition, but those won’t break ground until next year.

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