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Countywide Facade Improvement Program |
About DHCA’s Countywide Façade Easement Program
DHCA, through its Neighborhood Revitalization Section, provides technical and financial support to assist property and business owners with implementing significant physical improvements to the facades of their buildings and adjoining property sites. The Countywide Façade Improvement Program is now available to help transform the exteriors of older (10 or more years) commercial properties and/or businesses to meet today’s commercial standards and dramatically improve aestheic appeal. The overall objective is to encourage more visually inviting, safer commercial environments across the County.
The Program will initially focus on targeted commercial areas including Glenmont, Hillandale, Long Branch, Layhill, Long Branch, Montgomery Village and Downtown Wheaton. The Program will support the local economy through public/private investment, whereby eligible property and business owners are reimbursed up to 50% of the approved costs for design and construction of facade improvement projects. Once completed, participants are required to maintain those improvements for a negotiated term depending on the project scope and level of County funding. Improvements may include new façade renovation and treatments, building and/or pylon signage, LED lighting, streetscape elements, landscape installation, art/mural installation, and other exterior amenities. The Countywide Façade Improvement Program Guidelines provide an overview of the Program, eligible and ineligible costs, funding levels and easement terms and other information to help participants better understand the process.
Additionally, we have just completed a Facade Design Guidebook to provide prospective and current Program participants with images, descriptions and ideas for many of the most common facade improvement elements. We hope the Guidebook will encourage participation in the Program by showing business and property owners a variety of potential improvements that can be achieved at lower, medium and higher cost ranges.
If you are a County property or business owner and have an interest in making improvements to the exterior of your commercial property, please contact Kristina Ellis at Kristina.Ellis@montgomerycountymd.gov and/or complete a brief Program Interest Form.
Burtonsville Facade Improvements
Above left, before photo of Burtonsville Automotive Service; above right, after photo with facade improvements.
- In total, DHCA invested $1.3 million over seven years in this public-private partnership, prompting more than $1.5 million in private/owner funded improvements.
- The Burtonsville Facade Improvement Program facilitated dramatic improvements including new facade structures, energy efficient windows, doors, siding, LED exterior lighting, landscaping, signage and more for 21 businesses located among six separate buildings.
- The Program received a National Association of Counties Achievement Award.
Learn more and see project photos
Colesville Facade Improvements
Above left, before photo of Colesville facade project; above right, after photo with facade improvements.
- Modeled on the successful Burtonsville Façade Improvement Program, the Colesville Façade Improvement Program focused on targeted commercial sites along New Hampshire Avenue near Randolph/East Randolph Road.
- The pictures above show the façade project located at 13401 New Hampshire Avenue in Colesville.