2016 West Oakland Residential Façade Matching Grant Funded by McAuley Ministries and managed by OPDC
Time Frame: April 1, 2016: Applications due. April 29, 2016: Decisions announced. August 31, 2016: All improvements must be complete and required documents submitted to OPDC.
I.
Eligibility
Eligible Areas: Due to funding restrictions, only properties within Oakland’s West Oakland neighborhood are eligible, as defined by City of Pittsburgh neighborhood boundaries. Click below for a map of West 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 No active citations
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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 Proof that no more than three unrelated individuals reside in each dwelling unit 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 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.
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 dzwier@opdc.org We encourage applicants with questions to call David Zwier 412-621-7863 ext. 14 or email dzwier@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. 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.
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3. Payment will be made only for work approved by OPDC. Once work is complete and contractors paid, submit required documents by August 31, 2016 for grant payout. The required documents are detailed in the Award Agreement and include: Receipts or Invoices Building permits Photos of completed work (email digital copies) 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 2016 West Oakland Faรงade Matching Grant is generously funded by McAuley Ministries. **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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