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March 25, 2003 <br /> <br />WHEREAS, the City conducted surveys and meetings with <br />businesses and property owners along the West Church Street <br />Corridor, including the planning study management team; <br />Martinsville Uptown Revitalization Association; Patrick Henry <br />Community College; Gateway Streetscape Foundation; and the <br />City Engineer in completing a needs assessment whereby street <br />improvements, sidewalks, curb and gutter, storm drainage, <br />streetscape, lighting and signage improvements, overgrown sites, <br />underutilized properties, deteriorating storefront improvements, and <br />a poor gateway entrance were identified as major needs and <br />concerns of the West Church Street Commercial Corridor; and <br />WHEREAS, an Economic Environment Enhancement Program for <br />physical and economic redevelopment has been developed by the <br />City in cooperation with the West Church Street property and <br />business owners and other stakeholders pursuant to requirements <br />for funding set forth by the Virginia Department of Housing and <br />Community Development (VDHCD) including a Preliminary <br />Engineering Report (PER) and West Church Street Streetscape <br />Plan for the required public improvements and a Storefront <br />Improvement Program to support private investment; and <br /> WHEREAS, five (5) local banks have committed to contribute <br /> $50,000 each for a total of $250,000 to establish a loan pool to <br /> assist Church Street property owners in making improvements to <br /> their properties; and <br /> WHEREAS, six (6) property owners have expended $487,580 <br /> since July 1, 2001 for property improvements and twelve (12) <br /> property owners have submitted documentation of their interest in <br /> participating in the Storefront Improvement Program with intent of <br /> expending $180,000 in building rehabilitation, facade and entrance <br /> improvements; and <br /> WHEREAS, one (1) property owner is preparing his vacant site on <br /> West Church Street for future development and is expending <br /> $122,200 for property clearance, fill dirt and drainage <br /> improvements; and <br /> WHEREAS, the Gateway Streetscape Foundation, Inc. has <br /> provided a written commitment of $26,620 to provide labor to install <br /> and plant the landscaping materials in order for the City to <br /> implement the West Church Street Streetscape Plan; and <br /> WHEREAS, the City has committed $53,800 in proceeds from the <br /> sale of City owned property; $90,000 from an Economic <br /> Development Initiative Grant from HUD; $288,655 in public works <br /> force account work; $10,000 funding from the public works budget <br /> for overhead signage; and $11,316 from an existing City budget <br /> line item for fa(;ade improvements for the two Patrick Henry <br /> Community College buildings for a total of $453,771 to carry out <br /> <br /> <br />