Grant to fund extension of streetscape signage in Staunton

Edited by Chris Graham
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The Staunton Downtown Development Association has been awarded a Main Street Improvement grant valued at $2,500 to fund the extension of Downtown Service District streetscape banners to include Churchville Avenue and North Augusta Street.

“I’m sure that the new banners on Churchville Avenue will help bring a more unified look to our downtown,” said Sarah Butterfield, SDDA Board president and owner of Blue Mountain Coffees.

Virginia Main Street Downtown Improvement Grants of up to $2,500 per designated community were made available for special, one-time projects. The grant opportunity is designed to offer communities the ability to complete a Main Street-related project for which financial resources are not otherwise available. Grant criteria included measurable impact or deliverables, committee or volunteer project leadership/involvement, leveraging of other fund sources, local government involvement/support and short duration of project.

The SDDA Design Committee has already budgeted for new, branded street banners that are being developed for installation on Beverley and Frederick streets at existing locations. The additional dollars this grant provides will afford the opportunity to purchase additional banners and brackets for the upgraded streetscape design at the north end of the District. The banners will enhance the Churchville Avenue construction project which is valued at $2,688,566.

The Churchville Avenue project scope includes new public utilities and brick sidewalk installation, grading and paving operations, storm drainage construction, traffic signal installation and new lighting fixtures to complete the streetscape improvements. The Staunton City Government utilized the 2004 Streetscape Plan, compiled by the SDDA Design Committee, as a reference for designing the streetscape improvements that border the Downtown Service District (DSD) along Churchville Avenue and North Augusta Street. The project will ultimately create a an attractive gateway into Downtown and connect the DSD with Gypsy Hill Park and the Gypsy Hill Place development project in the Old Lee High School which will consist of residential, the Staunton Senior Center and the ShenanArts offices and theater.

“The additional funding will extend the downtown banner project to the Churchville Avenue corridor and the adjoining streets, leveraging the existing streetscape investment and increasing the engagement of merchants and property owners,” said Julie Markowitz, executive director of the SDDA. “Installing new, colorful banners in those areas will show SDDA support for businesses and property owners in that part of the district.”