Old fashioned hand-crank awnings are shading two properties on Kearney Street thanks to a project funded by the Clarendon Economic Development Corp.
The CEDC Board on Monday night awarded its seventh and eighth cash awards under its Façade Grant Program to Salon 306 and T&J Properties, Inc, for the restoration of the neighboring buildings’ antique crank-type canvas awnings.
Todd Knorpp, who owns properties at 306 S. Kearney and 308 S. Kearney, was reimbursed a total of $914.15 for work. He said the mechanisms for the awnings have been there for many years.
“Several people have tried to buy the mechanisms from me over the years, but I wanted to fix it back the way it was,” Knorpp said. “I can remember riding bicycles downtown and touching the canvass awnings. Mr. Hay (at Greene Dry Goods) didn’t like us doing that.”
Knorpp said he learned about the Façade Grant Program through articles in the Enterprise and seeing other improvements being done on Kearney Street.
“I think it’s a great idea, and I think the fronts downtown are looking good,” Knorpp said. “It definitely influenced my decision to do this.”
The buildings under this project, along with the Clarendon Insurance building, were built at the same time more than 85 years ago. Knorpp’s wife, Donna, operates Salon 306 at the 306 S. Kearney property, which for many years housed the local Post Office before it moved to its present location during the Kennedy administration. John Payne later had a clothing store in that location and opened it into the building at 308 S. Kearney. Tim Salem also had a clothing store there before Knorpp purchased the properties about 20 years ago.
Knorpp partners with Jim Shelton in the ownership of the 308 S. Kearney building, and they lease the building to Jimmy and Anita Simpson, who operate an antique store and upholstery business there.
Work on the salon totaled $878.68, and the project at the antique store cost $949.62. Knorpp says he is still looking to buy a hand crank to operate the awnings and also says he intends to do some painting to finish the project.
The CEDC has budgeted $10,000 for this fiscal year’s Façade Grant Program, which provides fifty-fifty matching grants up to a maximum of $2,000 per project for properties on a three-block stretch of Kearney Street.
Projects eligible for consideration could be anything from a coat of paint to new signage to a complete rehabilitation of a storefront. Those interested in the grants are asked to apply prior to beginning a project, and applications are available from CEDC Secretary Roger Estlack at The Clarendon Enterprise.
Since the Façade Grant Program began in 2008, the CEDC has awarded more than $6,414.15 to property owners who have improved the appearance of downtown Clarendon. Currently, one additional project – work on the Downtown Ministry Center – has been approved pending completion and fulfillment of CEDC requirements.
The CEDC Board will next meet to consider grant applications on Monday, December 7, at 5:15 p.m. in City Hall.
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