Litchfield Approves Façade Grants for Union Avenue, Edwards Street

Litchfield City Council | October 15, 2026

Article Summary: The Litchfield City Council on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, approved two Façade Improvement & Emergency Roof Program agreements — an $8,150 grant to ECCR Properties LLC for parking lot and concrete work at 514-520 W. Union Ave., funded from TIF 1, and a $6,200 grant to David Darte for tuckpointing at 117 E. Edwards, funded from TIF 2.

Façade Grant Key Points:

• ECCR Properties: $16,300 project, $8,150 city share — $1,000 to remove and replace the rock strip between sidewalk and parking lot, $7,700 to fix and seal the front parking lot, $7,600 to replace broken concrete on the front of the building.
• David Darte: $12,400 estimate for tuckpointing, $6,200 city share.
• The program reimburses 50% of documented cost up to a maximum of $10,000 per store front, with exterior façade work to be completed within 180 days.
• Both grants are limited obligations payable solely from the city’s portion of taxes generated by the TIF district in which the property sits.

LITCHFIELD — The Litchfield City Council on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, approved two separate resolutions authorizing the mayor to execute Façade Improvement & Emergency Roof Program agreements, continuing a grant program the city has used repeatedly through 2026 to put TIF money into downtown and commercial-corridor exteriors.

Alderperson Christina Dexheimer moved both items under the Economic Development heading. Both carried by roll call, with no questions from the floor on either.

514-520 W. Union Ave.

ECCR Properties LLC, of 8 Deer Hollow Lane, intends to remove and replace the rock strip between the sidewalk and the parking lot, fix and seal the front parking lot, and replace broken concrete on the front of the building, according to the staff memo. The estimated project cost is $16,300, and the grant is 50%, or $8,150, from TIF 1.

The program application, signed Sept. 30, 2026, breaks the work into three line items — $1,000, $7,700 and $7,600 — and lists the building’s current tenants as Rise & Grind, Elara Caring, Century 21 and Community Title. The packet includes a quote from Bone’s Mowing, trading as ECHH Mowing, LLC, of Litchfield, for $1,000 to “remove rock strip, replace with soil and plant grass seed,” and a handwritten invoice dated Oct. 3, 2026, billing ECCR Properties $7,600 for 75 feet by 8 feet of concrete work — tearing out and hauling off existing concrete, compacting subgrade, rebar on 36-inch centers, 5-inch thick concrete in a six-bag mix, and 75 feet of 6-inch drain pipe with downspout adapters.

The city administrator and alderperson liaison recommended approval.

117 E. Edwards

David Darte “intends to have tuckpointing work performed at 117 E. Edwards,” according to that item’s staff memo, which gives the estimate as $12,400 and the grant as 50%, or $6,200, from TIF 2.

The contractor’s proposal in the packet, from Building Maintenance & Restoration LLC of Oconee and signed by Denver Brewer, describes inspecting the north, east and west elevations from ground level to the top of the wall for loose or missing mortar joints, grinding out any found to a depth of about three-quarters of an inch and retuckpointing to match the existing joints as closely as possible. On the south elevation, the proposal calls for all mortar from ground level to the top of the brick to be completely ground out and retuckpointed. The entire exterior would then be cleaned with high-pressure water to remove dust, dirt or mold. “All above work is exterior only,” the proposal states. It carries terms of 25% before start and the remainder on completion, and an acceptance date of Oct. 6, 2026. The job is identified on the proposal as “Pickers Plus,” the name that also appears on the storefront in photographs submitted with the application.

Program Terms

Both agreements are written on the same template. Each requires exterior façade construction to be completed within 180 days unless extended in writing, requires the owner to obtain all building and zoning permits and to submit a written cost statement with bills, invoices and lien waivers to the city administrator, and entitles the city to a comprehensive inspection of the property. Reimbursement of approved project costs “may be made within 60 days of passing inspection and receipt verification, but City shall not be obligated to make any payment according to any deadline.”

Each agreement also states in capital letters that the city’s obligation is “a limited obligation 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 or secured by its full faith and credit. Either party may opt out on 60 days’ written notice, with monies repaid within 60 days and 9% interest on amounts the city must pursue.

Resolution numbers for both items were left blank in the packet and are assigned by the clerk after adoption.