By Chris Must
chris@pdgmedia.ca
Smiths Falls town councillors are expected to approve an application for funding under the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) for repairs and renovations to Davidson Courtyard.
Owners Lyne Houle and Scott Taylor submitted an application to the program in May. Now a commercial and residential property, Davidson Courtyard opened in 1889 as Davidson Bakery. Today it is home to a number of small businesses.
The CIP program, which provides grants to a maximum of $10,000 per property, is intended to provide a financial incentive for owners to make improvements to businesses in Smiths Falls. Council provides a total of $50,000 in matching funding to the program each year.
Council is also considering two other applications from Parkview Homes to assist with renovations to properties on Russell Street. A proposed project at 1-5 Russell St. East will see interior renovations to a vacant commercial unit, and retrofitting of a laundromat. The second project, at 4-6 Russell St. East, will involve interior renovations to the vacant former site of Bro’s Pizza.
The first business to receive funds under the program was Chuckles Jack, using the funds to renovate its new Russell Street location in 2015.
