GDS-006 - Urban Beautification Grant Policy_2023
Urban Beautification Policy
Title: Urban Beautification Policy
Subject: Urban Beautification Policy Category: Growth and Community Services
Policy No.: GDS-006 M&C Report No.: 2023-169
Effective Date: June 26, 2023 Next Review Date: A pril 2025
Area(s) this policy applies to: Office Responsible for review of this Policy:
Financial incentives supporting development in the Growth and Community Services
Old North End
Policy Sponsor:
Related Instruments:
Commissioner of Growth and Community
Urban Development Incentives Policy
Services
Document
Pages:
This document consists of 8 pages
Revision History:
December 2017
March 2019
June 2023
Common Clerk's Annotation for Official Record
Date of Passage of Current Framework: ___June 26, 2023_________
I certify that this Policy (Statement) was adopted by Common Council
as indicated above.
____July 5, 2023________
Common Clerk Date
Date Created: Common Council Approval Date: Contact:
March 15, 2016
June 26, 2023 Growth and Community Services
Urban Beautification Policy
Urban Beautification Program – Old North End Pilot
Overview
The purpose of the Urban Beautification Program Old North End Pilot is to provide incentives for
people living in the Old North End to invest in the beautification of the façades of their homes
and small businesses, or the landscaping of their front yards. Increased reinvestment in the
facades and front yards of properties coordinated with community enhancement and
enforcement will result in a more desirable streetscape. The Program prioritizes transformative
projects which seek to restore original character elements or use high quality materials and well
accepted design practice to revitalize facades. As part of the Old North End Pilot Program,
incentives will remain available in the Central Peninsula for a transition period.
A. Qualifying Criteria:
i. The project is located within the boundaries outlined in Schedule 1 or Schedule 2;
ii. Individual apartment-style condominium units will not be eligible for a grant;
iii. All work proposed as part of an Urban Beautification Program application must be
conducted on the first four storeys of the dwelling;
iv. Where required, all work must have an approved building permit in order to receive funding.
B. Eligible Work:
The following work will be eligible for a grant:
i. The front or flankage façade of a building;
ii. Exterior painting, including any entranceways, siding, trim, moldings, porches, decks or
other features of the exterior of the main building;
iii. Siding repair, or the replacement of any siding with new siding material;
iv. The repointing of existing brick on the exterior of the main building;
v. The repair and/or replacement of any architectural elements of the building that are
original to the design of the building, or are similar to the architectural style of the
building;
vi. The replacement or installing of any exterior windows or doors;
vii. The replacement, renovation or installation of exterior front steps, handrails or walkways;
viii. The installation of any landscaping details including, but not limited to, sod, shrubs, trees
and plant beds; and
ix. Notwithstanding section B(i), exterior painting to a side yard façade of a property may be
eligible where: (i) the adjacent lot is a vacant or surface parking lot and has a frontage
of at least 11 metres, or, (ii) the side yard is occupied by surface parking with a width of
least 11 metres.
x. Any additional work not identified below as ineligible work, which incorporates
decorative elements and contributes to the beautification of the property.
C. Ineligible Work:
The following work conducted to the subject property will not be eligible for a grant:
i. The renovation of any interior spaces;
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Urban Beautification Policy
ii. Work that has been started prior to the submission of an application;
iii. The replacement or repair of the roof, with the exception of a roof that forms a significant part of
the front wall of the building and has significantly deteriorated (e.g. damaged mansard roof);
iv. Any work done to a driveway or any other parking area;
v. Any work done to a property located within a Heritage Conservation Area;
vi. Any work that consists of regular maintenance over restoration and does not have a
transformative effect that meets with the Goals of the Program as deemed by the Application
Evaluation Committee;
vii. Any work done to an existing or proposed detached garage;
viii. Any exterior improvements done to backyards, or areas not visible from the street front; and,
ix. Projects receiving any funding through the Urban Development Incentives Program are
not eligible.
D. Eligible Costs:
The following costs associated with the project will be eligible towards evaluation of
grant:
i. Official quotes from a contractor service
ii. Receipts from a licensed business
a. Must include proper description of the item, costs, taxes, location of business,
and date
E. Program Guidelines
i. Structure:
a. An approved grant will provide 35% of the cost of the eligible work completed, including
HST, to a
i. maximum of $4,000;
ii. Where a grant application is for both a front and flankage building
façade, an approved grant will provide 35% of the cost of eligible work
completed, including HST, to a maximum of $6,000.
b. Beautification Grants will be awarded to the applicants with the highest
scores, as determined by the Application Evaluation Committee, until the
funds have been exhausted.
i. Where a grant application is deducted points by the Application Evaluation
Committee, the overall value of the grant shall be reduced from 35% of the
cost of eligible work according to the following formula:
ii. ??????? ????? =
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???? ?? ???????? ???? ∗ 35% ∗ (1 − )
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iii. Any work undertaken on the exterior of the building or property within the
same year will be included as part of the application for the purposes of
determining the project score.
c. Any application that receives a score of zero or lower will not be eligible for a
i. Beautification Grant.
ii. Distribution of Funds:
a. The distribution of funds for an approved project will occur after a final
site inspection has been conducted and it has been determined by staff
that the approved work has been completed.
b. No project will receive more than the 35% of the submitted proposal.
c. The applicant must submit all accompanying receipts necessary to provide
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Urban Beautification Policy
th
proof of eligible expenses prior to November 30.
d. Where an applicant performs the required work for a Beautification Grant
themselves, only the material costs will be eligible for reimbursement.
e. Where work is performed by a company owned by the applicant, the City of
Saint John may request formal documentation outlining both detailed material
and labour costs for the project.
iii. Undertaking painting and/or landscaping without a contractor/professional
a. Notwithstanding subsection D(ii)(d), an applicant may be reimbursed for
undertaking painting or landscaping work themselves, as described in subsections
B(ii) and B(viii).
b. The total reimbursement of material costs shall result in an adjustment to the
reimbursement of total material costs from 35% up to 100%, but no more than the
maximum grant amount ($4000 for interior lot, $6000 for corner lot).
c. Receipts submitted for reimbursement must adhere to subsection D.
a. Schedule:
i. The effective date of the program is January 30, 2023.
ii. The Application Evaluation Committee will meet three times during a year, if
required, for the purpose of reviewing and approving applications.
iii. The Application Evaluation Committee shall determine meeting dates,
application deadlines, and any other necessary deadlines for the Program,
subject to the approval of the Commissioner of Growth and Community
Planning.
iv. Conditionally approved grants shall be incomplete and the applicant will not be
eligible for any funding if work has not commenced within one month of the
approval date.
e. All work approved by the Committee for a Beautification Grant must be completed by
November 30 in the same year as the application. If the proposed work approved by the
Committee for a Beautification Grant is not completed by November 30, the project will be
deemed incomplete, and the applicant will not be eligible to receive any funding.
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Urban Beautification Policy
v.
b. Application Evaluation Committee:
i. The role of the Application Evaluation Committee is to provide a technical evaluation
of applications in the context of the Beautification Grant Score Card (Schedule 3).
ii. The Application Evaluation Committee will consist of five technical staff members
from one or more of the following City of Saint John Departments: Growth and
Community Services, Finance and Administrative Services, and
Communications.
iii. The members of the Application Evaluation Committee will be determined by the
Commissioner of Growth and Community Services.
iv. The members of the Application Evaluation Committee may step down from their
role on the Committee, or be replaced, subject to the approval of the
Commissioner of Growth and Community Services.
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Schedule 1 Beautification Grant Program Boundaries –
Central Peninsula
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Schedule 2 Beautification Grant Program Boundaries –
Old North End
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Schedule 3 Beautification Grant Score Card
High Moderate Low None Negative
Siding
6 Points 4 Points 2 Points Minus 14 Points
0 Points Not
Repairs or replaces 25% or more of a deteriorated façade. Replaces Repairs or replaces 25% or more of the façade. Minor repair on 25% Proposes to use vinyl siding unless installed in
a location
within scope of
asbestos siding. Appropriate materials include: Fiber Cement; or less of the façade. where there is existing vinyl siding that is deteriorated;
project.
Appropriate materials include: Fiber Cement; Masonry Work; Wood Masonry Work; Wood Siding; Shingle Siding. proposes to cover exposed brick; undertakes work which
Siding; Shingle Siding; Vinyl Siding (if existing). creates an irregular pattern of cladding which is
inconsistent with that of intact, traditional buildings
along the same street.
Painting
5 Points 4 Points 2 Points Minus 5 Points
0 Points Not
Painting greater than 25% of an eligible façade that was previously Painting greater than 25% of an eligible façade Painting of greater Painting and thereby maintaining an irregular
pattern of
within scope of
peeling or faded AND with accentuation of architectural details. that was previously peeling or faded. than 25% of an cladding and/or painting without removing loose and
project.
OR
eligible façade that deteriorated paint from wood components using infra‐
Painting greater than 25% of an eligible façade,
was not previously red heat guns or hand scrapers and applying adequate
with accentuation of architectural details.
peeling or faded. primer prior new paint.
Entryways
3 Points 2 Point 1 Point Minus 3 Points
0 Points Not
Restoring entryway using high quality materials. Restoration must Installs only one of the previous items in an Installs only one of Installs non‐residential door on a residential building.
within scope of
include two of the following: restores original entryway; installs entryway that was previously boarded up. the previous items.
project.
contextually appropriate door; installs contextually appropriate steps
(including painted handrails); adds vestibule, covered porch or
canopy with an appropriate design that matches the building style.
Architectural Details
3 Points 1 Point Not applicable. Minus 3 Points
0 Points Not
Installation or improvements to compatible Removal of architecturally significant original detailing
Restores original architectural detailing to façade.
within scope of
architectural detail such as window trim, lintels, without replacement using high quality materials.
project.
cornices, brackets and other similar features.
Windows
5 Points 3 Points 1 Point Minus 10 Points
0 Points Not
Proposes to replace broken windows while maintaining or restoring Maintains or restores fenestration pattern using Use of contextually Replace with white vinyl windows and/or storm
within scope of
fenestration pattern using high quality materials such as wood, high quality materials such as wood, fiberglass or appropriate vinyl windows, unless replacing broken or boarded up
project.
fiberglass or aluminium clad wood windows. aluminium clad wood windows. while maintaining windows; The removal of windows and disruption of
OR
fenestration, traditional fenestration
Proposes to replace broken windows while
proportion, and patterns; The replacement do not maintain
maintaining or restoring fenestration pattern.
style. fenestration, proportion, and style.
Landscaping
3 Points 2 Points 1 Point Minus 2 Points
0 Points Not
Removal of landscaping.
Removal of unsightly debris. Derelict vehicle removal. Clean up and removal of unsightly debris. Shrubs; trees;
within scope of
AND
Derelict vehicle removal. OR perennial
project.
Shrubs; trees; perennial
Shrubs; trees; perennial
gardens; new
gardens; new grass; box planters on vacant lot.
gardens; new grass; box planters.
grass; box
planters.
Total score is out of 25
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