Around 2003, the city and Schenectady County began a commitment to rebuild the commercial base and improve facades along State Street and Broadway.
The grant will be used to improve facades, street lighting and window displays and for other services like marketing, planning and business assistance, said Kenneth Adams, the chamber's president.
As it happened, the village and town had applied for several grants to improve the facades of stores and houses in the village.
Torres says the government earmarked funds to improve the facades on buildings in his neighbourhood, but the money never reached the local community.
The materials removed would be used to replace damaged granite elsewhere in the facade and the iron added to places where it had been damaged or removed, improving the facade's overall appearance.
In preparation for the conversion, Cape Horn has invested about $5 million in improving the facade and interior public spaces.
Mr. Hearsh said he had emptied the building and was improving its facade but planned no major indoor renovations.
The city estimated the cost of major repairs to the property -- rebuilding a retaining wall, demolishing a building behind the church and improving the facade -- at $50,000, said Gina Lau Snider, a Newnan spokeswoman.
The company plans to spend about $1 million at 430 West 14th Street, to repair the brick facade, improve the heating and air-conditioning and to upgrade the elevators and lobby.
