Storefronts in the Arts & Cultural District are some of the finest in the entire Commonwealth. However, many have suffered through
years of insensitive changes, lack of maintenance, or outright neglect.
Studies have shown that restoration and thoughtful design improvements often lead to greater business success
by attracting more customers. Together, a series of well-restored and handsome building facades in the Arts & Cultural District
will improve the overall image of the District, draw more people to the District, promote retail activity, increase vibrancy, and
make a place where our local businesses can thrive.
For these reasons, the City of Richmond is offering a matching grant to encourage façade improvements within
the Arts & Cultural District.
Suitable projects include uncovering and restoring historical façades, removing existing façade materials and replacing them with
more appropriate and attractive designs and materials, architectural lighting of the façade, and other detailing which leads to a
substantially enhanced appearance of the building. Projects meeting these objectives are eligible for a reimbursement grant for up
to one-half of the costs of the eligible façade improvements.
For additional information, please contact
Phone:
(804)646-3409
Email:
Façades
Façade Improvement Program Documents
The City has several documents available to assist with designing and building a successful façade improvement in Richmond.
Please review each of them before moving forward with your
application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my property in the Downtown Arts District & Cultural District Incentive Zone ?
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Is my property in the City Old & Historic District ?
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What are eligible costs for a project?
The program will fund projects that significantly improve the visual appearance of the entire facade from the street.
Suitable projects include uncovering and restoring historical facades, removing existing façade materials and replacing them
with more appropriate and attractive designs and materials, architectural lighting of the façade, and other detailing which
leads to a substantially enhanced appearance of the building.
Although not eligible for funding on their own, the following may be funded as part of a more comprehensive façade improvement;
windows, doors, exterior cleaning, tuck pointing, painting, shutters, and gutters. Design and permit fees associated with the
construction are also eligible project costs.
Costs that are NOT eligible include: improvements in progress or completed prior to program application
and preliminary approval, new construction, repair or replacement of a roof, work to an alley façade, routine maintenance that is
not part of an eligible façade improvement project, billboards and signage, awnings, mechanicals and HVAC systems, interior work,
security systems, trash and mechanical enclosures, fencing, parking areas, landscaping, and paving.
What if I want to do a larger renovation that includes ineligible costs?
That’s great! But only eligible costs incurred for a façade renovation can be covered by this grant. The larger project will need
to go through all existing permitting processes in addition to the Façade Improvement Program. More information about building
permits can be found
here.
Some of these costs may be eligible under the Jackson Ward CARE Zone administered by the Economic
Development Authority (more information available
here).
Is this a competitive process or first-come, first-serve?
The Façade Improvement Program is first-come, first-serve – applications will be processed as they are submitted to the
Department for approval. The Department will continue to accept applications until the program funds
are exhausted.
Keeping Citizens Informed!