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Applications for the Jamestown Renaissance Corp.'s Renaissance Block Challenge are available.
Since 2011, 35 neighborhoods have participated in the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation's Renaissance Block Challenge with almost 350 property owners investing more than $975,000 in exterior improvements and repairs.
Pre-applications for neighborhoods interested in participating in the 2018 Renaissance Block Challenge program are available on the Jamestown Renaissance Corp. website jamestownrenaissance.org, under the "Healthy Neighborhoods" link. The pre-applications will be due Friday, Dec. 8.
City residents who want to participate in the Renaissance Block Challenge need to form a neighborhood cluster with a minimum of five property owners that can include homeowners, landlords and businesses. Once a group has formed, the pre-application process can start.
In the neighborhood applications, participants outline exterior improvements they wish to complete and skills they can bring to projects in their cluster. Projects funded in the program include painting; porch repair; soffit repair; sidewalk repair; mailboxes; exterior lighting; front-yard landscaping; front doors/windows; driveways; driveway aprons; and gutters.
For 2018, each property owner is eligible for a match up to $2,000 to facilitate their projects. Aside from matching grant funding, participating homeowners have access to discounts from sponsoring hardware stores and garden centers as well as discounts on coordinated purchasing of materials, services and design.
Funding for the Renaissance Block Challenge program is being provided by the John Alfred and Oscar Johnson Memorial Trust, with support from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, the Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation and The Lenna Foundation. In addition, the following businesses are some of those providing special discounts and services to Renaissance Block Challenge participants: B&L Wholesale Supply, Brigiotta's Greenhouse and Garden Center, Chautauqua Brick, Craig's Landscaping, Everydays True Value, Kingsview Paving and Excavating, LaBella Associates, LaMar Seamless Gutters, Mike's Nursery and Tactical Tree Services.
"While the Renaissance Block Challenge financially assists homeowners with curb appeal improvements to their properties, the real benefit is an increase in pride of ownership within each of these neighborhoods," said Mary Maxwell, Jamestown Renaissance Corp. neighborhood project associate. "And on top of that, and more importantly, there is an increase in communication among the neighbors."
Block parties, neighborhood sales and group participation in volunteer activities become annual events. A few neighborhoods have participated in the program more than once. Neighborhoods that want to participate again must have at least 60 percent of the homeowners be first-time participants to be approved. The neighborhoods with the best chance of being approved for the program are those that can demonstrate a commitment to cultivating strong communication between neighbors and a shared sense of identity so that momentum gained in 2018 can be carried forward and result in a sustainable impact on the community.
"When you buy a home, you buy a neighborhood," said Claire Tomassini.
Learn more about the Renaissance Block Cluster pre-application process by attending an informational workshop Thursday at 6 p.m. at the at the Jamestown Renaissance Corp. offices in the Lynn Building, the former Post Office, 301 E. Second St., Suite 301. Reservations are requested by calling Mary Maxwell at 489-3493 or emailing mary@jamestownrenaissance.org.