Litchfield Awards Facade Grants for Ariston Café and Elk Tower

Article Summary: The Litchfield City Council unanimously approved two TIF-funded facade agreements on Aug. 6, 2026 — one for masonry work at the Ariston Café at 413 Old Route 66 North and one for brickwork on the south side of the Elk Tower at 420 N. Monroe St. The two grants together commit $19,100 against projects estimated at $48,160.

Facade Improvement Grants Key Points:

Kara Steffens’ project at the Ariston Café is estimated at $18,200, with a 50% grant of $9,100.

Dave Crispens’ project at 420 N. Monroe is estimated at $29,960, with the 50% grant capped at the program maximum of $10,000.

Both grants draw on TIF 1 and are payable solely from the city’s portion of taxes generated by the TIF district.

Facade work must be completed within 180 days of approval under the program agreement.

LITCHFIELD — The Litchfield City Council on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, approved two resolutions authorizing Mayor Jacob Fleming to execute facade agreements under the city’s Facade Improvement & Emergency Roof Program. Both passed unanimously among the seven members present.

Alderperson Bob Garcia made both motions. The first item, seconded by Alderperson Dwayne Gerl, covers 413 Old Route 66 North. The second, seconded by Alderperson Bert Holloway, covers the Elk Tower property.

Ariston Café Masonry

The application filed with the city lists Kara Steffens as owner of 413 Old Rt. 66 N., with the Ariston Café as the current tenant. The proposed work is to tuckpoint the building as needed, repair plaster to a parapet wall and archway, and install an aluminum cap over the archway.

The estimated project cost is $18,200, and the staff memo states funds are available in TIF 1, with the grant covering 50% — $9,100 — of improvements.

A bid attached to the application from Whole Lotta C’s LLC of Benld, dated July 8, 2026, and presented by owner Casey Bivens, totals $18,200 for all materials and labor. The scope includes securing the area behind the building with cones and caution tape, protecting the existing roof with tarps and drop cloths, removing deteriorated mortar from the parapet wall and tuckpointing as needed, mixing and applying plaster to the parapet wall and archway, applying sealer, installing the aluminum cap and cleaning the jobsite daily. Payment terms are 50% down with the balance upon completion.

Elk Tower Brickwork

The second agreement is with Dave Crispens on behalf of Elk Tower, LLC, owner of 420 N. Monroe. The application lists residential tenants at the property.

The work described in the staff memo is to remove and replace breaking and bowing brickwork on the south side of the building, at an estimated project cost of $29,960. Funds are available in TIF 1, with the grant set at 50% of improvements capped at $10,000 — meaning the city’s share is the program maximum.

The supporting invoice, from Crader Tuck Pointing & Repair of Mt. Olive and dated May 7, 2026, describes taking down the wall below the bad spot where the wall is bowing out, “possibly to ground or to solid brick work,” across an area described as approximately 60 feet high and 60 feet long, plus machine work and disposal. Labor is listed at $28,000 with $1,960 in tax at a 7% rate, for a total of $29,960.

Program Terms

Under the standard agreement approved with each resolution, the program provides up to 50% of documented cost to improve an exterior facade and make emergency roof repairs for eligible buildings in TIF districts, with a maximum payment of $10,000 per storefront regardless of total cost.

Developers must complete exterior facade improvements within 180 days, obtain all building and zoning permits, and submit written statements of cost with bills, invoices and lien waivers. The city may reimburse approved costs within 60 days of passing inspection and receipt verification but is not obligated to any deadline.

The agreements state in capital letters that the city’s obligation is limited and payable solely from the city’s portion of the taxes generated by the TIF district where the property is located, and is not a general obligation of the city.