About the program

The Apartment Façade Improvement Grant Program seeks to remove blight and improve Charlotte’s quality of life by assisting apartment owners with improving the appearance of aging apartment buildings, creating modern entrances with monument signs, landscaping & decorative gates, and by bringing parking and landscaping into conformance with current codes.
 

Maximum Awards

• The program provides 50% reimbursement for eligible architectural renovation expenses. 60% reimbursement may be available on a case-by-case basis for utilization of certified Small Business Enterprise (SBE) firms.
• Maximum grant awards are based on the number of units in the community ($1,000 per unit). For example, a 5-unit community would be eligible for $5,000 in matching reimbursed funds, or 50%/60% of eligible costs, whichever is less.
• The total maximum award will not exceed $99,000 for any given project (99 units)
• 50% of architectural expenses for approved architectural fees up to $3,000

Eligible Expenses

• Approved architectural renovations to the building façade visible from the public right-of-way. Interior work (inside buildings) is not eligible.
• Monument signs
• Decorative community entrances. Can include gates.
• Exterior decorative light fixtures
• Improvements to bring grandfathered parking and landscaping into conformance with current codes. Repaving and restriping parking lots can be considered if part of a larger project.
• Quality lighted pedestrian connectivity improvements to surrounding neighborhoods and business districts
• Approved architectural expenses
• General maintenance including installing or repairing a roof, paint, siding, parking lot repair and more is generally not eligible for participation, though can be considered if part of a larger, comprehensive project.

Eligible Geography

• Eligible communities must be located within the Business Corridor Revitalization Geography*
• Enter your address in the Neighborhood & Business Services Map Application to determine eligibility*
• *Special consideration is given to communities located directly on a priority business corridor as determined by the City

Eligible Apartment Communities

• Apartment Communities must have 5 or more separate units and be located in the Business Corridor Revitalization Geography. Special consideration is given to communities located directly on a priority business corridor as determined by the City
• Buildings must conform to all current codes and ordinances; non-conforming uses of any kind are not allowed
• Property management should demonstrate proven track record of conducting tenant background checks, have established tenant conduct policies and eviction procedures, proven property maintenance and adherence to building, fire and other codes & ordinances
• Special consideration will be given to projects that
  • Are located directly on a business corridor
  • Provide a benefit to tenant communities below the average median income of Charlotteans (as defined by the most current Quality of Life Study
  • Include installing monument signage and other permanent entrance beautification visible from the public right-of-way
  • Include quality pedestrian connectivity improvements to surrounding neighborhoods and business districts. Any existing issues with connectivity such as informal paths through fences and across private property should be addressed as part of the project
• Owners of vacant buildings shall be eligible if the owner's purpose is to rehabilitate the structure to attract tenants. Expenses will be reimbursed only after the building(s) open to the public.
• Owners are eligible to re-apply until the maximum award is reached. 
• All real property taxes must be paid in full

How the Program Works

• Interested apartment communities must schedule a pre-application site inspection prior to submitting an application. Site inspections can be scheduled by contacting Veronica Mosley at 704-336-2427. 
• After attending a pre-application site inspection meeting, applicants submit an application to the Neighborhood & Business Services office by close of business on the date of the application deadline. Application deadlines occur quarterly on February 15th, May 15th, August 15th and November 15th respectively.
• An inter-departmental team of City staff reviews and approves proposals quarterly. Staff bases eligibility decisions on, among other things, the following criteria: improvement to the appearance of buildings and site including work representing more than general maintenance; improvements to business district and neighborhoods; reduction of crime; management track record; inclusion of pedestrian amenities and quality connectivity to surrounding single-family residential and business districts; leveraging of additional economic activities.
• Upon approval of the scope of work, Grantee obtains a minimum of two competitive bids for the proposed work. For any element of the project that is bid at less than $5,000, one bid will suffice. The program will fund 50% (60%for SBE utilization) of the lowest bid for all eligible project components, not to exceed the maximum grant amount approved by the City. Only bids from contractors licensed with the state of NC will be accepted. All construction contracts are between the Grantee and the contractor.
• Applicants using certified SBE contractors undergo a SBE Utilization & Goal Setting review to determine the work that must be performed by an SBE firm to qualify for 60% award (refer to Maximum Award section)
• Upon approval of bids, the City enters into a grant contract with the Grantee setting forth, among other things, the scope of work as approved by the review team.
• The Grantee is responsible for obtaining all necessary governmental permits and authorizations, including building permits.
• Staff will be permitted to inspect the project to ensure conformance with the grant contract.
• The City does not reimburse for any work performed prior to application approval and contract signing.
• The City will authorize reimbursement payment after, among other things, completion of the project in accordance with the approved plan as set forth in the contract. Proof of payment is required for reimbursement. Grant funds are paid on a reimbursement basis; the Grantee must pay the entire cost of grant-funded improvements before receiving grant funds.
• The City will not contract to perform any of the work. 
• Approved projects should be completed within 120 days or funds may not be guaranteed

Downloads

• Apartment Facade Grant Program Fact Sheet 
• Apartment Facade Grant Program PDF Application
• Apartment Facade Grant Program Word Application (.docx)   

Other Resources

• Apartment Security Grant Program
• Lead-Based Paint Program
• Neighborhood Matching Grant Program (tenant festivals; community gardens & more)
• Find SBE Vendors
• Become a SBE Certified Vendor
• Energy Retrofit Loan Program from Self-Help