The Great Bend downtown loft program has been open for about a month, and Sara Hayden, president of Great Bend Development Inc., the entity spearheading the project, held a question-and-answer session about the concept Thursday afternoon.
As applications are being sought, 10 of those interested in the program met with Hayden at the Great Bend Events Center Santa Fe Trail conference room. She ticked through the plan’s requirements and guidelines, noting they can appear daunting, while fielding queries.
“I recognize this is a big undertaking,” Hayden said. But, “it doesn’t have to be scary. I’m here to be creative with you.”
First, “I want to give a big thank you to the city for believing in the project,” she said. This backing has opened up funding opportunities that hadn’t existed before.
The City Council in July approved spending half of the city’s $2,271,654.71 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for a downtown rehabilitation project to assist in sprinkler system installation and other improvements to downtown lofts. This allowed up to $1 million effort with half coming from each of the city’s two ARPA payments (the first coming this spring and the second coming next spring).
Grants would come from these funds. These are reimbursement grants that cover up to $5.50 per square foot for renovations.
The words “sprinkler systems” sound alarms for many building owners, she said. It is commonly believed these are required on every floor and the installation of which can cost $30,000 for a three-story structure.
But, Hayden attended a workshop in Hutchinson last week featuring loft consultants Upstairs Downtown. She learned there could be work-arounds allowed for in city fire codes to avoid the sprinklers.
Such things as fire retardant paint and ceilings can provide the mandated two-hour fire protection rating. And, if a building is registered as historic, the fire rating only has to be for one hour.
But, she stressed, this might not work everywhere. “It really is a building-by-building thing.”
That is why research and planning are important. “You need the right architect,” she said.
To this end, she is bringing Upstairs Downtown to Great Bend for a workshop Nov. 8 and 9. Also present will be lenders, architects, insurance and real estate professionals, and city officials to help owners get the ball rolling.
“They will do a deep dive into how to make this happen,” she said. There will be tours, examples and discussion.
More details will be announced closer to the event, she said.
“We’re getting noticed, guys,” Hayden said. The project has received state and national attention, and folks are impressed.
“This is a start people around you aren’t taking right now,” she said. But, “if we don’t do it first, someone else will.”
Other funding
Hayden said the consultants were impressed with Great Bend’s efforts thus far, noting the city already had several pieces in place, including much of the funding.
Besides the grants, she said there is a bank in town prepared to offer loft loans. And, should the effort to get the downtown listed as a historic district, tax credits would be available.
In addition, Barton County has put up $250,000 for downtown building facade improvements.
“There are banks and people in Great Bend who want to make this happen,” she said. She noted city safety officials are more receptive to the idea as well.
“In the end, we really want this to contribute to the vitality of the downtown economy,” Hayden said. By adding residential and retail space, sales tax collections and downtown investment will increase, the tax base will improve, and part of the housing shortage will be addressed.
There is a lot of potential here. Hayden said there is 256,000 square feet of unused second-floor space available in the downtown core. This covers the area bordered by Williams Street on the west and Kansas Street on the east from 10th street to 19th street.
The competitive grants will be given on a first-come-first-serve basis, Hayden said. “There is a chance we can’t fund everybody.”
Downtown loft project eligibility guidelines:
Buildings eligible for grants are those in the core detailed above. The area shall include multi-level buildings on either side of streets included.
The grants will cover fire protection necessitated by city codes. Costs eligible for the grant will be the cost of labor and materials to connect the City’s main water line to the buildings and the cost of sprinkler system and fire alarm installation.
Other construction costs that will enable the intended purpose will be eligible.
Half of the grant will be funded upon the completion of sprinkler installation and necessary approvals by city officials. The final 50% of the grant shall be funded upon the substantial completion of the project and necessary approvals.
All funds must be expended by Dec. 31, 2024, extensions can be made if delays are due to supply chain or other extenuating circumstances.
Property owners with an eligible buildings in the downtown corridor will be eligible to receive grant funding in the amount of up to $5.50 per square foot. To receive funding, they must submit all required documentation, and funds will be distributed on the first of each month.
Not all eligible properties are guaranteed a grant and the grants, Hayden said. The grants will be awarded on a first-come-first-served basis.
If continuous construction has not begun within 90 days of award approval, the grant may be withdrawn after written notice to the applicant, she said. The applicant may apply for extension should the project be experiencing delays as listed above.
Substantial changes in the project should be reported for documentation purposes.
Existing lofts are not eligible for this project.
The applications for the Great Bend downtown loft program are available on the Great Bend Economic Development Inc.’s website, gbedinc.org. Or, one can contact GBED President Sara Hayden at director@gbedinc.com or 620-796-2407.
