Time for a new design
A grant helps out businesses
By Gene Szostak
West Oak Lane Leader
One part of owning a business just became a little easier.
For local business owners who are looking to get some faŤade improvements for their businesses, a new service grant fro a group called the Community Design Collaborative has made a valuable service accessible to local businesses at a free cost.
The Inter-Community Development Corporation, 1534 Wadsworth Avenue, was recently approved for one of these service grants last fall an on February 7, held its first "Design Day" at the offices, where four local businesses had made appointments for consultations with a volunteer architect, with the goal being to spruce up the appearances of their businesses.
Normally, a professional consultation with an architect would cost on the average about $1,000. So the businesses that were signed up for the first "Design Day" at ICDC were well-pleased to know that they were getting an architectural consultation free. "This (grant) offers the services of a volunteer architect to interested businesses. Business owners may come up with a plan to improve their store front and when they consult with an architect they may get more ideas for new improvements," said John Ungar, Executive Director of the ICDC.
Ungar added that so far a total of 12 businesses are scheduled to participate in two planned Design Days. Aside from the one on February 7 there is another scheduled at a date to be determined in the spring.
Seen at the last Design Day, was Mr. Walter Callis, owner of the Callis and Callis Barbershop on Stenton Avenue who was consulting with an architect from Grenald Waldron Associates.
Upon the consultation, a business owner may then hire a contractor on their own to do the physical improvements, but they may also be eligible for various reimbursements by the city and matches by the Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition.
According to Heidi Segall Levy, Project Manager for the Community Design Collaborative, previous clients helped by them have been non-profits, but this special service grant, acquired by ICDC, allowed local for-profit businesses to benefit.
The same types of services, said Levy, have also been offered in other part of Mt. Airy by Mt. Airy USA.
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