City leaders in Brookings have approved a new plan to incentivize development and vibrancy downtown.
This comes alongside, but is not related to, the loss of a historic cornerstone of the community in late December.
The late-December fire that destroyed the Brost’s building in downtown Brookings also claimed the nearly 150 years of history the building represented, as well as several apartments above the storefront. That fire is still under investigation by local authorities.
Samantha Beckman is the assistant to the Brookings city manager.
"It was definitely a trademark of what our downtown really looks like," Beckman said. "Everybody knows that blue façade that was there, it was definitely an eye catch for everybody. So, we definitely want to make sure we are preserving those eye-catching façades.”
Those three incentive programs are first the downtown Brookings façade grant which would grant up to $25,000 of matching funds for exterior street or alleyway-facing improvements.
Next, the revitalization incentive program grants the same funding for renovating interior downtown properties.
Finally, the lights, camera, action grant offers up to $2,000 for projects which upgrade lighting, install security features, or introduce public art or curbside seating.
Beckman it all comes together to help create a sense of “place” in Brookings.
“Downtown character is really derived from the buildings themselves," Beckman said. "The parts of the buildings you see most often are the façades, so we want to make sure people are taking care of their exteriors, as well as the interior, of the buildings.”
Downtown property owners are encouraged to reach out to city officials to get involved.