guidelines_procedures_instructions_2014

2014 Oakland Residential Façade Grant Funded by the Oakland Neighborhood Partnership Program* and managed by OPDC

Time Frame:  April 1, 2014: Applications due.  April 18, 2014: Decisions announced.  August 31, 2014: All improvements must be complete and required documents submitted to OPDC.

I.

Eligibility

Eligible Areas: Properties within Oakland’s four neighborhoods – Central, North, South and West – are eligible, as defined by City of Pittsburgh neighborhood boundaries. Click below to see maps of each neighborhood:  Central Oakland  North Oakland  South Oakland  West Oakland Eligible Properties:  Single Family Houses  Duplexes  Triplexes  Row houses  Apartments Ineligible Properties:  Property owned by OPDC Board Members and Staff  Non-Residential Properties  Condominiums  Associations  Co-Ops Property Requirements:  All taxes current  In compliance with City of Pittsburgh Code

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Required Documentation:  Photos of the work site, including a photo of the whole house taken from the street  A copy of property owner’s insurance policy  Proof of ownership  Contractor’s itemized estimate of work to be done  Property owners may apply for more than one property at a time; however, each property must have its own application Front Façade Defined: The “Front” Façade includes any street-facing areas of the home. Homes that face two streets or are on a street corner may be eligible for both street-facing sides as long as both streets are public streets.

However, the maximum grant amount remains $5,000 per property. Sides that face alleyways and paper streets are excluded.

Scope of Permissible Improvements:  Exterior home repairs on the front facade. Those improvements that preserve the original design of the property are encouraged. Proposals inconsistent with the building’s original design will be rejected  Permanent plantings, sidewalks and/or stairs, patios, fences, and retaining walls in the front or public yard. Permanent plantings include trees, shrubs, and most perennial flowers. Annuals, grasses, and vegetable gardens will not receive funding  Cost of work performed by the homeowner is not eligible; only the cost of materials can be included in the grant.** Work performed by contractors is eligible for reimbursement Please refer to the attached Façade Improvement Examples for more information on qualifying projects.

Funding Priorities: Completed applications are not guaranteed funding. The Review Committee will prioritize applications that:  Repair deterioration and prevent ongoing weather damage  Result in significant visual impact to the property and its neighboring properties  Respect the original design of the residence and follow the facade grant guidelines

II.

Award Amounts and Matching Funds Requirements

Each property is eligible for a reimbursement grant of up to $5,000 in matching grant funds. Funds will not be granted before the work has started and the owner has demonstrated that matching funds have been expended.

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Owner-occupied Buildings can receive a 1 to 1 match up to $5,000. The property owner must contribute a minimum of 50% of the project cost and any excess over the matching grant

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Non-owner-occupied buildings can receive a 1 to 2 match up to $5,000. For example, if an apartment building owner received $5,000 in grant funds, they must put at least $10,000 of their own funds into the project

Checks will only be written to the applicant and cannot be made out to the contractor. Grants are awarded for 50% (33% for non-owner-occupied properties) of expenses. If actual expenses differ from those outlined in the application OPDC will pay either 50% of expenses or the award amount, whichever is less.

III.

Application Instructions

1. Complete the attached application, and review prices for the work you will be completing.

Applicant must provide a copy of the work proposal detailing the scope of work, and prices separated into individual improvements on the application.

2. Applicant must provide: a. Current photos of the property with the application b. Copy of homeowner’s insurance declaration page c. Proof of ownership (copy of deed, screen shot of county real estate website, or owners affidavit); and d. For work to be done by a contractor, please include the contractor’s estimate. Work to be done by the owner is limited to the cost of materials Applications are accepted via email or regular mail: Attn: Façade Grant Oakland Planning and Development Corporation 235 Atwood Street Pittsburgh, PA 15213 efisher@opdc.org We encourage applicants with questions to call Elly Fisher 412-621-7863 ext 12 or email efisher@opdc.org

IV.

Award Decision and Payment Procedures

1. The OPDC Design Review Committee is responsible for reviewing and approving all grant applications. The decision of the Review Committee is final.

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2. Notification of grants will be sent from OPDC after the Design Review Committee meeting.

Recipients will be asked to sign an Award Agreement, which includes a scope of improvements approved, along with the amount awarded.

3. Payment will be made only for work approved by OPDC. Once work is complete and contractors paid, submit required documents by August 31, 2013 for grant payout. The required documents are detailed in the Award Agreement and include: Receipts or Invoices Building permits Photos of completed work All work must be completed as detailed in grant award for checks to be disbursed, unless otherwise agreed to on a case by case basis.

4. Reimbursement check will be sent upon receipt of all required documents. Checks will only be written to the applicant and cannot be made out to the contractor.

If extenuating circumstances exist and the applicant is not able to complete improvements in the allotted timeframe, the applicant must contact OPDC as soon as possible in writing to discuss a deadline extension. Extending the deadline is at the sole discretion of OPDC.

* The Oakland Neighborhood Partnership Program is a collaboration between community organizations directed through the State Department of Community and Economic Development with financial support from Dollar Bank, PNC Bank, and UPMC Health Plan. Organizations participating in the Oakland NPP include: Oakland Planning and Development Corporation, People’s Oakland, Community Human Services Corporation, and Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh. **Applicants are encouraged to rent or borrow power tools and other materials/equipment with long lifespans. If a purchase is deemed necessary, said purchase should be cleared by OPDC staff as reimbursement for these items will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

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