New sign approved for Laird Building

Today, the City of Tiffin Architectural Board of Review (ABR) approved three façade grants for Downtown Tiffin buildings and a grant for a new sign to be installed at the Laird Building.

During the meeting, the board approved three projects for Façade Enhancement Grants:

• Tony Consolo, owner of 45 S. Washington St., B.E.S.T. Taco Shop & Breakfast Spot, was approved for a $10,000 grant for roof repairs.
• Donna Brose, owner of 135 S. Washington St., Cabin Creations, was approved for a $10,000 grant for window and masonry restoration.
• Jay Zheng, owner of 253 S. Washington St., Hunan King, was approved for a $10,000 grant to improve the exterior façade to make it more historic.

The board also approved a $1,000 Downtown Sign Enhancement Grant requested by Don Zeis for a 19-foot-tall perpendicular sign to hang on the Laird Building, 114 S. Washington St.

Combined, these projects total more than $97,000 in investment in Downtown Tiffin.

In 2020, the ABR approved façade grants for the owners of seven building in Downtown Tiffin for a total investment of $227,188.12.

Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz commented: “I’m proud to be able to support these building owners in improving their properties and investing in the beautification of Downtown Tiffin.”

Since the Façade Enhancement Program’s inception in 2014, 92 projects have been approved for a total downtown investment of more than $2.6 million.

About the Façade Enhancement Program

The Façade Enhancement Program is a City of Tiffin reimbursement grant that was started in 2014 and provides a 50 percent match of funds for eligible exterior improvements on residential and commercial structures within the downtown historic district, up to $10,000. Each building is eligible to receive up to $10,000 per calendar year. For more information, visit www.tiffinseneca.org (search “Façade Enhancement”).

About Downtown Tiffin

The revitalization of downtown Tiffin began in 2011, when a group of community members came together to for “Tiffin Tomorrow”, with the goal of promoting and encouraging economic development in downtown Tiffin, and creating plans, programs and actions to ensure long-term vitality and prosperity. In 2014, the city of Tiffin contracted with SIEDC to act as the downtown organization and “Tiffin Tomorrow” came under the SIEDC umbrella as the “Downtown Development Committee,” which serves as the governing board of the downtown organization. In 2015, Tiffin joined Heritage Ohio’s Ohio Main Street Program. For more information, click here.