Archives: Success Stories

The 2021 round of Downtown District Façade Improvement Grant projects has been completed. These projects included Williamsburg Square, Kruep Construction, and Prime Service Cleaners. These three projects are special not only because they are beautiful examples of what the Façade Improvement Grant Program is intended to do, but because they kicked off during the long, challenging days of the Covid-19 pandemic when building materials such as glass, railing, and gutters were becoming scarce. However, O’Fallon Downtown businessowners are nothing short of resilient. These three projects pressed on despite material and labor shortages and the results are absolutely stunning.

Williamsburg Square, located on the corner of North Oak Street and West State Street, is home to art studio Courage and Grace and Congressman Mike Bost’s office. This grand building’s facelift was done with attention to both detail and history. Inspired to apply for a grant by one of her tenants, owner Cindy Hawkins applied for the grant first to improve the railing on the wide front porch. Working with local historian, Brian Keller, and her contractor, Hawkins learned more about her 1860’s era building and decided to include design elements that would pay homage to the past.

Williamsburg Square was once the largest general store in O’Fallon, operated by the Tiedemann sons until 1902.

In addition to the railing work, the building owner added period appropriate shutters and copper gutters. Despite the supply chain issues, Hawkins was pleased that, with a little patience, no substitutions or compromises were needed.

Kruep Construction, nestled in the middle of the 100 block of East State Street, has a unique history too. This building was not originally built at 121 East State Street, but rather was picked up and moved to the site and squeezed in between to two neighboring buildings. The building later went on to house Loyet’s Shoe Store. Current owner, Don Kruep, was removing the old soffits when he discovered the original Loyet’s Family Shoe Store sign underneath the front awning. Kruep remembers visiting Loyet’s for shoes as a child and was excited to uncover this piece of history.

121 East State Street was transformed with new lights, a stone base, EIFS, a parapet wall, and storefront windows.

Prime Service Cleaners, the final project to be completed this round, was completely transformed with the removal of the large, shingled awning.

In its place is a new fabric awning with scalloped black and white trim that flutters in the breeze. Cynthia Carson, co-owner of the building, was inspired by Parisian boutique storefronts, and accordingly chose a clean, tidy black and white color scheme with complimentary lighting and signage.

The black and white mural on the north side of the building and the small, matching awning on the south side carries the theme around the building and brings visual interest to previously overlooked parts of the structure.

One of the many benefits of the Façade Program is that it often results in additional investment and building improvements beyond the scope of the exterior renovations. Prime Service Cleaners owners Kent and Cynthia Carson continued their remodel inside the store, installing new flooring, new service counters, and welcoming decorations. Hawkins is also making additional improvements, adding new, matching railing on the North Oak Street side of her building to continue the look from West State Street.

Considering your own façade improvement project? Hawkins stated she “would encourage anyone thinking about a façade improvement to pursue this support from the City.” She has enjoyed very positive feedback from tenants and friends about the update, as well.

The improvements proposed by the 2022 winners of Façade Improvement Grants, Three Sisters Crafts at 129 East State Street and 101 Cherry at 101 South Cherry Street, are already underway. Be sure watch these buildings as they transform.

For more information on the Façade Improvement Grant Program by click here or contact Community Development at (618) 624-4500 x 4 or via email at [email protected].

Want to read up on other past winning projects?

Visit: Downtown Façade Improvement Success Stories – O’Fallon (ofallonillinois.org)

The heart of O’Fallon is the Downtown District. Located roughly at the intersection of State and Lincoln, the Downtown District defines the O’Fallon’s identity and is the barometer of community health.

The City of O’Fallon has invested heavily in downtown development in partnership with downtown businesses, and we are seeing amazing results. The latest sales tax report shows that sales tax revenues increased 65% from fiscal year 2021 to 2022. Part of this reporting period was during COVID-19 restrictions, but even so, sales tax revenue in the Downtown District has increased 189% since the Central City Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District was created in 2014. The chart below shows the sales tax and EAV growth since the Central City TIF was established.

The Downtown District’s remarkable success is not due to one thing, but rather a multitude of efforts by the City, Chamber of Commerce, businesses, volunteers, and the general public. Here are some the major milestones in the downtown renaissance:

Central City Tax Increment Financing District (2014): The TIF created tax incentives for business owners to redevelop their properties.

Downtown O’Fallon Area Action Plan (2015): A Strategic Plan was developed that received extensive input from the community on how to improve downtown O’Fallon.

O’Fallon Station (2018): As part of the Destination O’Fallon initiative, O’Fallon Station was constructed by the City to provide year-round activities that can be both indoor and outdoor.

Vine Street Market (2019): The weekly farmer’s market located at O’Fallon Station has grown to be a regional attraction with more than 100 vendors and a multitude of products.

Downtown District (2018): A group of downtown business owners banded together to establish an organized effort to promote downtown. The group partnered with the City and the O’Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce to provide a structure and funding mechanism to sponsor events and festivals. The initiative received an East-West Gateway Council of Governments “Outstanding Local Government Achievement Award” in 2019.

Downtown District Façade Improvement Program (2019): Funded through the Central City TIF, this is a matching grant program administered by the City to improve the exterior appearance of downtown buildings. So far, eight properties have receiving funding to improve their buildings.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the support of O’Fallon residents. They are the ones who committed to shop in Downtown District stores, eat at the restaurants, and visit the Vine Street Market. We are fortunate to live in a community that cares and makes O’Fallon such a great place to live.

Not even a pandemic could hinder the progress of the City of O’Fallon and the Downtown District. Our joint efforts to revitalize Downtown, and our shared successes, are not going unnoticed. In April of 2021, the Chamber of Commerce presented the Downtown District and the City of O’Fallon with an award as a part of the Chamber’s annual Salute to Business Awards, recognizing two of the organizations’ missions: Economic Impact and Beautification.

The Economic Impact portion of the award takes a few things into consideration, such as jobs created and retained, capital investment for new construction and remodels, and projects or programs that stimulated community development. The Downtown District group and City staff share a common goal of bringing a sense of community through events, beautification, and a renewed vision for Downtown O’Fallon.

The construction and marketing of a community event venue in the Downtown District, named O’Fallon Station, has contributed to the growing economic inertia of the Downtown District. O’Fallon Station is known as a space “built by the community, for the community” and is yet another testament to the collaboration between the Downtown District and the City. O’Fallon Station serves as both an anchor and a springboard to renewed energy in the heart of O’Fallon. The building is intended for both public and private events and is also home to O’Fallon’s weekly Vine Street Market, which offers local produce, treats, and gifts every Saturday from May through October.

In addition to O’Fallon Station, the Downtown District and the City of O’Fallon have collaborated on a variety of events to encourage both locals and visitors to experience Downtown O’Fallon. Some of these events include “Witches & Wizards Night Out,” “Tinsel Around Town,” “BaconFest,” and even a “Leap Day Treasure Hunt” in which City Hall was one of the treasure hunt stops. More recently, the groups teamed up to host “Chalk it Up to Art & BazaArt,” a chalk art contest and festival held in the Downtown District, filled with food, music, activities, prizes, and local art. The influence of these successful projects that once started as just visions is truly incredible, transforming Downtown O’Fallon into a desirable place to be.

The receipt of the Beautification Award is attributed to the many efforts O’Fallon and the Downtown District have made to improve the aesthetics of Downtown. Once you set foot in the Downtown District, you will notice the cheerful yellow boxes on the sidewalks letting you know you are in the Downtown District. String lights have been added across First Street just in time for summer outdoor dining and soft-lit evening strolls through the District. The O’Fallon Parks and Recreation Department designs and maintains creative, striking floral displays year-round that add to the visual appeal of Downtown

There is no doubt that the City’s Façade Improvement Program also contributed to the receipt of this award. Launched in the fall of 2019, the matching grant program has paved the way for eight downtown businesses to remodel the exterior of their buildings.      

And if that is not enough “beautification,” check out the unique Downtown District mural at Steven Mueller’s Florist (and be sure to keep an eye out for more in the future).

The City of O’Fallon and the Downtown District are incredibly honored to have received this recognition from the O’Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce. The revitalization of the Downtown is truly a collaborative effort, with so many individuals playing a part to make a difference. In no way are we done looking for more ways to improve the community we cherish, so be sure to stay tuned for what the Downtown District has in store!

For a video of the award presentation and a word from the Mayor, please visit the O’Fallon Shiloh Chamber of Commerce website.

In November 2019, the City of O’Fallon launched the Downtown Façade Improvement Grant Program, a one-of-a-kind program designed to breathe new life into the Downtown District through the improvement of existing building exteriors.

In the inaugural application round, five buildings in the Downtown District received new and improved exteriors. The program immediately provided the Downtown District with a dramatically different look and feel.

As the City nears the start of the next round of Façade Improvement Grants, everyone should take some time to review the successes with some of the award winners.

Monica and Tim Vecera of Lehman’s Barber Shop at 123 E. State Street made many improvements to their building, including new doors, a brick veneer, an awning addition, exterior lighting and fresh paint. When asked why they chose to take on such a project, Monica explained that they “always wanted to update the building and when the City offered an incentive, that sealed the deal. Our building is part of downtown and [we] wanted to make it an attractive location.”

As the work has neared completion, customers and the public alike have taken notice. The feedback has all been positive and, according to Monica, “we love our building as it is nearing completion. [We] can’t wait for the finished project. It’s going to look amazing. [We look forward to] enjoying the new atmosphere of the Barber Shop and for Destinations By Ellen. A nice work environment lifts people’s spirits.”

The Veceras found the experience to be great overall and they have learned from the process, too. Their parting advice to anyone who is considering a façade renovation? “We encourage it. You need to have professionals guide you to make the best decision for your look and budget.”

Gary Ahle of The Outdoorsman, located at 127 E. First Street, built an addition to his longstanding business in 2017. He used the Façade Grant to update the existing building to be more cohesive with the addition. This included the addition of new windows, matching awnings, a new main door, and gooseneck lighting.

Mueller Florist, located at 101 W. First Street, may be one of the most visible of all the Façade Improvement projects, having street frontage on First, Lincoln, and Second Street. Steven Mueller improved his building by replacing worn awnings with new, repairing doors and windows along Lincoln and Second Street, and tying it altogether with a contemporary paint color and new signage. This fresh look calls attention to some interesting architectural features of the building as well.

Separate from the Façade Grant, but worth noting is the collaboration between the City and Mueller Florist to display a new Downtown District mural on the side of the building facing Lincoln. This mural features the Downtown District logo and bright red poppies just waiting for the next photo opp.

Tom and Tracy Moreland of 1^st Street Lounge located, at 119 W. First Street, also shared their experience with the City. 1^st Street Lounge celebrated their grand opening in March and revealed their newly renovated interior and exterior. The Moreland’s improvements included new siding and creating a 10-foot wide by 8-foot high opening in the front of the building to accommodate a modern glass, roll-up door. The Morelands chose to invest in their building so that they could improve the look and “bring in the natural light to brighten the inside.” Tracy explained a unique challenge to this particular façade renovation included securing the building front while waiting for the garage door company to install the new glass door. She complimented her contractor, Kruep Construction, for keeping their minds at ease throughout the project.

Customers love the large glass door and the Morelands receive frequent compliments on it. The Morelands love their building too and are grateful for the opportunity to improve the building. According to Tracy, “every day is a new day” since COVID-19 started right around the time they opened. Going forward, the Morelands look forward to doing business in the City and settling into “normal.” Finally, the Morelands recommend the façade improvement program and suggest future applicants “just have all your paperwork in order” and the rest is easy.

Perhaps the most dramatic façade renovation occurred at 227 W. First Street. This project involved saw-cutting off the entire, rock-veneer face of the building. The building, originally constructed in the 1920s, has seen a variety of building trends, but now boasts a sleek, modern façade with mixed elements of wide glass windows and metal accents. A quick visit with business owner, Rick Huskey, allowed us a unique opportunity to look out through the new glass façade and appreciate the full effect the exterior renovation has made to the interior of the building as well.

With all this success, The City is excited to announce the next application round for Façade Improvement Grants will be opening on November 2, 2020. We encourage anyone that is interested and has property located in the Central City TIF District to apply. Please check The City’s website for updates and if you have any questions you can email [email protected].