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Community Development

Storefront Renovation Program

Contact Info

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(216) 664-2869

The City of Cleveland’s Storefront Renovation Program (SRP) is designed to help improve the exteriors of Cleveland’s neighborhood retail buildings with the goal of making them more attractive, economically viable, and diverse places to visit and shop. The program does this by assisting building owners and retail businesses in the design of comprehensive exterior renovations and the creation of new retail business signage.  After the applicant executes a Rebate Funding Agreement with the City and both completes and fully pays for the project, they will receive a rebate check in accordance with the terms of that Agreement.

The SRP offers financial incentives combined with free City design and technical assistance. The SRP’s financial assistance is meant to improve the quality and design of the project, not just assist in the cost the applicant has already budgeted. The SRP follows the Federal Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. 

Financial Incentives:

  • Standard Building Rebate Program:  50% up to a $50,000 rebate. The Standard SRP Building Rebate Program requires that a comprehensive exterior renovation approach be applied to the project, whereby all exterior code violations, maintenance items, and architectural and/or aesthetic features on the building be renovated to bring the building back to its originally built appearance. (Existing retail tenant signage must also be included.)  
  • Step 1 Building Rebate Program:  50% up to a $15,000 rebate. The Step 1 SRP Building Rebate Program does not require a comprehensive exterior renovation approach, but rather a more targeted approach to one storefront and/or side of the building to make a visual impact on a portion of the building while still addressing any exterior code violations.  (A minimum investment of $10,000 is required by the applicant and the building must be located in an “Opportunity” or “Middle Neighborhood” area as designated by the City’s Residential Tax Abatement Study).   
  • Sign-only Rebate Program:  50% up to a $5,000 rebate.  The Sign-only SRP Rebate Program assists individual retail business tenants with the design and installation of new business signage when the building is already renovated to SRP design standards and requires no exterior maintenance. 

Program FAQs

A 50% rebate, up to $50,000, on eligible expenses, is available for comprehensive exterior rehabilitations that meet the program’s design and eligibility criteria. 

  • All buildings must have a walk-in retail or customer experience component
  • Traditional commercial buildings (originally built with display windowed storefronts)
  • Commercially zoned retail or service buildings  
  • Adaptive reuse of a former industrial/manufacturing/warehouse structure that is no more than three (3) stories tall and covers no more than 20,000 sq. Ft. 

Entirely residential buildings, greenhouses, arcades/malls, houses, any structure used for sacred purposes, schools, car dealerships or any related auto uses, industrial/manufacturing/warehouse buildings not being adaptively reused, strip shopping plazas, or new construction. Other exclusions may apply.

The Storefront Program is not a maintenance-only program and requires building rehabilitations to be comprehensive in scope and create a visual impact on the main street facade. Buildings located in a flood plain are not eligible for the SRP. Daycares operating in buildings constructed pre-1978 are also not eligible. Mixed-use buildings with occupied residential units may not be eligible due to lead paint abatement regulations. Other exclusions may apply.

The Storefront Program staff at the City of Cleveland will make this determination. 

Eligible improvements are limited to rehab costs for work done to the main elevation(s) most commonly seen by the general public.  Typical eligible building rehab costs include:  

Storefront display windows, exterior security systems, upper-floor windows in unoccupied residential units, awnings, doors, masonry repair, painting, and business tenant signage for those operating on the main street elevation with a dedicated entrance or on an upper floor.

Business tenants with a dedicated main street entrance must be included in the building renovation scope of work in order to meet the comprehensive renovation requirement of the program. Note: Prevailing Wage and other federal regulations may apply.

Comprehensive refers to an extensive rehabilitation of both the front and visible sides of the building, which not only include maintenance, but also a significant visual impact, determined at the discretion of the City’s Design Specialists.

The City’s Design Specialists will work with you to develop a design that not only meets the goals and requirements of SRP, but also takes your budget and other business concerns into consideration. Note: An architect or engineer may be required to prepare measured drawings for permit purposes and/or to assess structural integrity of some building elements. 

No, SRP offers a rebate, which is paid out after construction is fully completed and you have paid for the project in full and submitted the necessary documentation for approval by the City. 

In order to remain eligible for funding, you may not issue deposits to contractors or begin construction on your project until you have entered into a contract (Rebate Funding Agreement) with the City of Cleveland

Rebate funds are typically mailed to the applicant within six to eight (6-8) weeks of completion of the project, including submission and City approvals of all required documentation. Note: Completed projects must adhere to a Five (5)-year maintenance agreement whereby no additional exterior changes can occur without the approval of the Storefront Renovation Program.

Building Rebate Process

Application

  • Submit inquiry, including property address, to SRP Staff. SRP Staff will determine if project is eligible to move forward with an SRP application.
  • Submit Application to the SRP Manager.
  • SRP Staff will send the required Uniform Relocation Act (URA) forms to the applicant upon receipt of the application. The Applicant must return completed URA forms to SRP staff PROMPTLY in order to proceed with the application process.
  • Design Specialist prepares conceptual design and scope of work specifications to achieve a comprehensive exterior renovation (including signage).
    • If Design Specialist determines that a structural engineer is required to assess the structural integrity of an element(s) on the façade, then Applicant will need to hire for those services and provide the report to the SRP/Design Specialist. (The Applicant will need to pay this cost upfront before the Rebate Funding Agreement is executed. This cost is not subject to a rebate if the project does not successfully complete through the SRP.)
    • If Design Specialist determines that the project will require measured drawings from a registered Architect for a portion of the renovation work to be used both for bidding purposes and in order to obtain permits, the Applicant will need to hire for those services.  (The Applicant will need to pay this cost upfront before the Rebate Funding Agreement is executed. This cost is not subject to a rebate if the project does not successfully complete through the SRP.)
  • SRP Manager or Staff assists Applicant with the completion of all federal compliance paperwork and some contract preparation documents.

Bidding

  • Labor Compliance Officer explains how to bid a federally assisted project (pre-bid meeting).
  • Applicant obtains bids and selects the contractor(s) that they want to hire for the project (those selected must be registered with City’s Building & Housing Dept. in order to pull permits if the work item requires one).
  • Applicant submits complete/final bid package to SRP staff and Labor Compliance Officer for City’s review/approval.
    • If prevailing wages apply to the project, the Labor Officer will contact contractors and conduct a “preconstruction meeting” with them and obtain their and the Applicant’s signatures on related forms.
    • If required for the scope of work, applicant must submit contractor’s appropriate Lead Certification documentation. 

Design Review

  • If the project is located in a City Landmarks District, then the project’s design must be presented to the local design review committee for approval.  Once approved, the Landmarks Commission Secretary will also sign-off Landmarks Commission approval.
  • If the project is located in a City Planning “Design Review District” (DRD), then participation in the SRP allows the applicant to go forward without this additional review.

Funding Agreement

  • The SRP Manager or Staff executes the Rebate Funding Agreement with Applicant, which reserves a 50% rebate (based on the bid package submitted) up to $50,000 for the project. Once Law approves the signed Rebate Agreement, Law will issue a contract and project start date where then the Applicant can issue deposits to your contractor(s) to get started.
    • DO NOT START WORK OR ISSUE DEPOSIT TO CONTRACTORS AHEAD OF RECEIVING THE PROJECT START DATE.
  • Applicant will have one (1) year from the contract start date to complete the renovation, pay for it in full (pay 100% upfront), then submit required documentation to the City in order to receive the rebate. An SRP Design Specialist, with assistance from an SRP Consultant, will monitor the construction of the project and assist the Applicant in preparing the Rebate Disbursement Request paperwork.
  • Rebate Disbursement Request package is submitted to City for review/approvals. Once approved, City mails the rebate check. Applicant should receive the rebate in the mail in six to eight (6-8) weeks after submission to the City.
  • A 1099 tax form may be issued the following year for the amount of the rebate. Consult your tax accountant for guidance on how to report it.

Step 1 Program FAQs

The Goal of the Step 1 Storefront Renovation Program (SRP) is to support existing building or business owners with an incremental approach to the exterior rehabilitation of their commercial/retail building utilizing the SRP’s design standards, design assistance, and financial assistance/rebates while making a limited financial investment that yields modest, yet positive, visual improvements to the building’s main street facade. 

The SRP-designed improvements are planned in a manner that will allow a comprehensive rehabilitation to be completed through the Storefront Renovation Program in the future. 

The program offers a 50% rebate, up to a $15,000, on eligible expenses, for exterior rehabilitations that meet the program’s Step 1 incremental design and eligibility criteria.  Property owners or first-floor retail tenants (that occupies the entire first floor) must invest a minimum of $10,000 on exterior improvements in order to implement a scope of work that will create a visual impact and correct any exterior code issues. (A larger overall investment may be required.)

The Step 1 Incentive is not available Citywide. Step 1 is available in census tracts classified by the City of Cleveland’s Dept. of Community Development as Middle or Opportunity Markets. SRP Staff will determine if your property is located in an eligible tract.

Yes. Applicants must be the building owner or a future retail business tenant that will occupy the entire first-floor space with a five (5)-year lease. Business signage must be included in the project scope if occupied.

  • All buildings must have a walk-in retail or customer experience component (current or planned)
  • Traditional commercial buildings (originally built with display windowed storefronts)
  • Commercially zoned retail or service buildings

Entirely residential buildings, Houses, Arcades/Malls, Schools, Gas Stations, Greenhouses, New Construction, Any structure used for sacred purposes, Car Dealerships or any Auto-Related Uses, Strip shopping plazas, or Industrial/manufacturing/warehouse buildings not being adaptively reused. Other exclusions may apply.

SRP is not a maintenance-only program and requires that building rehabilitations create a visual impact on the main street facade. Buildings located in a flood plain are not eligible for the SRP. Daycares operating in pre-1978 buildings, as well as Dry Cleaners, are not eligible. Mixed-use buildings with occupied residential units may not be eligible due to lead paint abatement regulations. Other exclusions may apply. 

Eligible improvements are limited to rehab costs for work done to the main elevation(s) most commonly seen by the general public. Typical eligible building rehab costs include: Storefront Display Windows, Masonry repair, Doors, Exterior security systems, Awnings, painting, Business Tenant Signage. Note: Prevailing Wage & other federal regulations may apply.

An incremental renovation must create a modest, yet noticeable visual impact on the main street façade as determined by City’s SRP Design Specialist and Historic Preservation Compliance Officers. Building rehabilitations must be of high-quality materials and will be designed in a manner that will allow for a comprehensive rehabilitation to be completed in the future. 

Yes. The City’s Design Specialists will work with you to develop a design that meets the goals and requirements of SRP’s Step 1 Program and takes your budget and other business concerns into consideration. Note: An architect or engineer may be required to prepare measured drawings for permit purposes and/or to assess structural integrity of some building elements.

No. SRP offers a rebate, which is paid out after construction is fully completed and you have paid for the project in full and submitted the necessary documentation for approval by the City.

In order to remain eligible for funding, you may not issue deposits to contractors or begin construction on your project until you have entered into a contract (Rebate Funding Agreement) with the City of Cleveland.

Rebate funds are typically mailed to the applicant within six to eight (6-8) weeks of completion of the project, including submission and City approvals of all required documentation. Note: Completed projects must adhere to a five (5)-year maintenance agreement whereby no additional exterior changes can occur without the approval of the Storefront Renovation Program. 

Contact your local Community Development Corporation (CDC) or email inquiries to tsandy@clevelandohio.gov 

Sign-only Rebate Process

Application

  • Submit Application to the SRP Manager
  • SRP Staff assesses the exterior building condition to confirm if the exterior of the building has already been renovated (and maintained) through the program previously, or renovated outside of the program, and maintained, according to SRP design standards (based on federal design standards) 
  • Design Specialist prepares conceptual sign design and specs that accomplish an improved quality and design of signage, not just assist in the cost the business has already budgeted 
  • SRP Manager or Staff assists Applicant with completion of paperwork and contract preparation documents

Bidding

  • Applicant obtains bids and selects the contractor(s) that they want to hire for the project. Those selected must be registered with City’s Building & Housing Dept. in order to pull permits. All signage and any associated electrical work requires a permit. 
  • Applicant submits complete/final bid package to SRP staff for review/approval

Design Review

  • If the project is located in a City Landmarks District, then the project’s design must be presented to the local design review committee for approval. Once approved, the Landmarks Commission Secretary will also sign-off Landmarks Commission approval.
  • If the project is located in a City Planning “Design Review District” (DRD), then participation in the SRP allows the applicant to go forward without this additional review

Funding Agreement

  • The SRP Manager or Staff executes the Rebate Funding Agreement with Applicant, which reserves a 50% rebate (based on the bid package submitted) up to $5,000 for the project.  Once Law approves the signed Rebate Agreement, Law will issue a contract and project start date, where then the Applicant can issue deposits to your contractor(s) to get started.
  • The Applicant will have one (1) year from the contract start date to complete the sign manufacturing and installation, and electrical work if required, pay for it in full (pay 100% upfront), then submit required documentation to the City in order to receive the rebate (DO NOT START WORK OR ISSUE DEPOSIT TO CONTRACTORS AHEAD OF RECEIVING THE PROJECT START DATE) 
  • The SRP Design Specialist, with assistance from the SRP consultant, will monitor the construction of the project and assist the Applicant in preparing the Rebate Disbursement Request paperwork
  • The Rebate Disbursement Request package is submitted to City for review/approvals. Once approved, the City mails the Applicant the rebate check.  The Applicant should receive a rebate in the mail in four to five (4-5) weeks after submission to the City.
  • A 1099 tax form may be issued the following year for the amount of the rebate. Consult your tax accountant for guidance on how to report it.

Sign-Only Program FAQs

The program offers 50%, up to a $5,000 rebate, on eligible signage expenses for businesses that meet  eligibility requirements. A minimum total signage cost of at least $2,000 is required to be spent by the applicant, not including the additional cost of the permit and permit procurement fees, unless the signage is contributing to an established comprehensive sign concept that can be demonstrated for less.) 

Eligible projects must meet one of the following criteria:   

  • The building rehabilitation is currently under construction (under contract) with the SRP and the applicant is a brand-new business whose sign costs are not already included in the building’s rehabilitation contract 
  • The building was previously completed through the SRP; and the building, or its surrounding site, does not currently require any exterior maintenance as determined by the SRP Design Specialist; and the Applicant’s signage was not previously addressed through the program. If the building or site requires maintenance, then a Sign-only Application will not be accepted until all maintenance issues are completed to the satisfaction of the SRP Design Specialist. 
  • The exterior of the building was previously rehabilitated without the assistance of the Storefront Program but has been rehabilitated to SRP design standards and does not require any additional exterior rehabilitation or maintenance; The building type and business use meet the SRP’s eligibility criteria. 

Excluded building types include, but are not limited to, regardless of their current use:  houses, churches (sacred purpose), schools, apartments (with or without a leasing office on-premises), manufacturing, warehouses (with the exception of Downtown where buildings were built with large display windows), car dealerships, gas stations, auto-related uses, strip shopping plazas, arcades (except for businesses with a dedicated exterior/main street entrance, or a lobby entrance but with storefront visibility from the main street). 

Excluded business types are those that do not provide a clear “walk-in” customer experience and include, but are not limited to, manufacturing and/or warehouse businesses, office businesses without a walk-in customer purpose, call-center businesses, leasing offices for an otherwise residential building, sacred purpose, artist studios without a walk-in retail component, private clubs/membership-based businesses where membership is not open to everyone, or business(es) located in newly constructed buildings where no substantial exterior renovation has occurred since its construction.

Removal of old signage; design, construction, and installation of temporary banner signage; design, construction, and installation of new signage (may include exterior light fixtures to light the sign); electrical costs to wire the signage; awnings that function as signage.  City permit/design fees related to the eligible rebate items.