Thursday 2 May 2019

Applications are now open for Horowhenua District Council’s CBD Amenity Improvement Fund.

The fund seeks to assist building and business owners to enhance their buildings and signage to improve the appearance of Levin’s CBD. It will contribute to achieving the objectives of the CBD Signage and Building Design Policy, which aims to reduce visual clutter caused by excessive and unnecessary signage, to improve the design and style of signage, and to improve the visual appeal and amenity of verandahs and shop fronts in Levin’s CBD.

The fund will initially be a two-year trial, with up to $50,000 per year being available. Successful applicants will be eligible for up to 75 per cent of the cost of signage, to a maximum of $1,000 per application; or up to 50 per cent of costs for shop frontage improvements, to a maximum of $5,000 per application.

All building and business owners within the Levin Town Centre who propose cosmetic changes such as new paint or signage in accordance with the policy are eligible. However, if structural changes to the building or verandah are proposed the building must have been assessed as at least 34 per cent of NBS (New Building Standard). If a large number of applications are received, preference will be given to buildings and business located on Oxford Street between Bath Street and Stanley Street.

In addition, Council’s Strategic Planner Lauren Baddock says Council is running one ‘diamond in the rough’ project in the first year of the trial.

“Any business that gets funding for shop frontage improvements and completes the work by June 2020 will be eligible to have the Council contribution to their project doubled,” she said.

Ms Baddock said if Council received several potential ‘diamond in the rough’ project applications, the successful project would be determined by a public vote for the most transformative.

Applications are open until 31 July 2019, and can be made on Horowhenua District Council’s website at www.horowhenua.govt.nz/CBDFund.

ENDS

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