Begins Downtown Facelift
The Inglewood Redevelopment Agency has created a series of incentives for retailers to replace their current facades with updated materials that will that will contribute to a common look for businesses in the Market Street redevelopment area.
“Inglewood’s downtown area was once considered the principal shopping center of the entire South Bay,” said Jesse Lewis, director of the city’s redevelopment agency. “We think we have come up with a plan that will enable our downtown businesses to more effectively compete with the suburban shopping malls that have siphoned off so much business in the southwest portion of Los Angeles County.”
Through the new commercial facade program, the Inglewood Redevelopment Agency will provide:
--Grants in the form of a rebate up to 40 percent of project costs
(up to $10,000) for improvements to building facades
--Additional grants of up to $2,500 for removal and replacement of signage
--A retainer for an architectural firm to design a block facade design for the downtown area and commercial districts that fall within redevelopment project areas.
More than $850,000 in loans and grants are being made available for replacement of signage and obsolete facade elements; exterior painting, cleaning and landscaping; new doors, windows and awnings; and replacement of dated security systems—such as scissors-style security screens—with safety glass.
“The success of our program hinges on the ability of participating businesses to obtain financing,” Lewis said. “We have entered into an agreement with Inglewood’s Broadway Federal Bank to provide loan funds to qualified businesses and property owners. We are creating a partnership with our business community that will reap rewards for Inglewood for years to come.” The Inglewood Redevelopment Agency is located at One Manchester Boulevard, Inglewood, CA 90301, and can be reached by calling (310) 412-5290.
