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historic building, this particular project is the City's responsibility for which to obtain funding, <br />not Landmarks. Ms. Davis wondered if perhaps Ms. Wenger ranked this project first is because <br />she believes it has a better chance of being awarded. Mr. Rerko agrees that could be the case due <br />to the risks associated with not performing the needed improvements. Mr. Orlowski noted Ms. <br />Wenger's mention of the City's Land Acquisition and Building Improvement Fund. Mr. <br />Schumann reminded the commissioners that Mr. Harper said as the most recent city awarded <br />CLG status we have a better chance of receiving the first grant we request. He'd rather see it go <br />to a home improvement program in the historic district or cemetery improvements or any of the <br />other ideas except the Old Town Hall ADA improvements. Mr. Schock is hesitant to request a <br />grant for cemetery improvements. He does not feel the improvements will benefit the Historic <br />District in a significant way. <br />Concerning the historic inventory update, Mr. Schumann said an inventory of the entire City was <br />done in the 1980's. Through grant funds the data was gathered and typed onto Ohio Historic <br />Inventory forms and has since been entered into an Excel spreadsheet. Mr. Rerko thinks putting <br />the data into an electronic format would be helpful. Ms. Granfors will call Mr. Harper at the <br />Ohio Historical Society. This idea was discussed during the CLG application process and OHS <br />may be able to provide assistance free of chaxge. Mr. Schock reported that per Steve McQuillen <br />seeking a national register would not benefit the homeowners as he had thought; it applies to <br />commercial properties. It would not make sense from a tax stand point to seek this status. <br />Mr. Schumann likes the idea of a home improvement program. He feels that with owners <br />supplying the matching funds the grant could assist many in the historic district within the 17 <br />month time frame. Mr. Schock added that for $5,000 per year the Cleveland Restoration Society <br />will provide a historic property low interest loan maintenance program. A grant could be <br />requested to pay the $5,000 for the program. Mr. Orlowski said at one time residents could <br />apply for low interest loans through a bank where the City had their funds deposited. <br />Mr. Rerko suggested requesting a planning grant to further the Great Northern Multi Modal <br />Transportation Project. A list of applicable grants has been created for various aspects of the <br />project. This additional funding could be used to have an architectural or planning firm study <br />and identify the needs and cost estimates for successfully obtaining the other grants, and apply <br />for applicable grants. Instead of improving a few houses this funding could help with the bigger <br />picture including sidewalks, sewers, paths, decorative light poles, and other improvements and <br />aesthetics for the historic district. Since the larger project is underway this request would show a <br />focused effort in the historic district section of the target area. A CLG grant could keep this <br />project moving and prevent it from being put on the shelf. Mr. Orlowski said we would need to <br />clearly define what we want to achieve in the grant request. With either the historic district <br />home improvement program or the furtherance of the GNMMTP, Mr. Thomas wonders if <br />complaints would be received from owners of historic properties not in the Buttemut district. <br />Mr. Schumann summarized that after reviewing the school boaxd's plan for the Caster House and <br />determining their willingness to either keep the house on the property or partner with Landmarks <br />and the Olmsted Historical Society, the commission can determine which project will be pursued <br />through a CLG grant.