Jenkintown Community Alliance A unique community of shops and neighbors.

JENKINTOWN PROPERTIES TO RECEIVE $30,000 FOR FACADE IMPROVEMENTS
Exterior enhancements coming to eight locations in the borough

Jenkintown, PA. (February 1, 2010) – Eight borough properties, including the landmark Hiway Theatre, will receive exterior improvements through $30,000 in matching funds from the Façade Investment Grant Program administered by the Jenkintown Community Alliance (JCA). The grant money, which is funded through the Community Revitalization Program of Montgomery County, will match up to one-third of the businesses’ investment. All projects will be completed in 2010 and correspond with the visible investment being made by the borough in Streetscape enhancements along York Road.

The program will provide partial funding for an installation of a replication of the original neon sign which adorned the Hiway Theatre in the 1940s. Seven other properties within the Jenkintown Business Improvement District (BID) will also receive a variety of new enhancements including signage, awnings, exterior painting, masonry repair and other storefront improvements in accordance with the projects they proposed in their program applications.

A full list of grant recipients is included below.

“Jenkintown’s historic architecture is an asset we don’t want to lose, but old buildings can be costly to maintain,” Linda Kligman, executive director of the JCA, said. “We are grateful that with the help of the Borough and the County, we have funds to make it easier for our property owners to make renovations to their buildings that preserve our town’s authentic charm.”

The Facade Grant Committee, which consisted of the JCA Design Committee plus two members of the Jenkintown Planning Commission, reviewed 17 applications, which were due on December 31, 2009. Each application was reviewed by three committee members based on several factors, including consistency with the Design Guidelines and the impact of the proposed work on the building and the business district.

Full list of 2010 Jenkintown Community Alliance Façade Investment Grant Program recipients:

Applicant, title: address of property: improvements (grant amount)

Juan Gamez, owner: Diversified Acquistions, 431-433 Old York Road: Repoint brick on front of building; repair and paint window trim; repaint brick on side of building; install awning ($10,000)

Thomas Federman and Jeffrey Lustig, owners of Midgard Properties: 301-305 Old York Road: Repaint front and side of building; install new signs, awnings and lighting ($10,000)

Fred Kaplan-Mayer, director: Hiway Theatre, 212 Old York Road: Replication and installation of the original neon sign from the 1940s ($5,000)

James & Marta Vosbikian, owners: Radist Properties (Family Dentistry), 609-611 West Avenue: Seal the exterior stucco and concrete block exterior of the building ($1,853)

Angelo Garcia, owner: Angelo’s Hair Design, 812-816 West Avenue: Repoint brick and install three awnings on front of building ($1,333).

Steven Katz, owner: Premier Brokerage Services, 604 Harper Avenue: Repair and repaint shutters on front of building ($733)

Mary Helweg: Helweg Funeral Home, 457-459 and 471 Old York Road: Repair and repaint wood trim on the facades of the one-story office building at 457-459 Old York Road and the retail property at 471 Old York Road ($563)

Doug Levin, Jack and Norma Levin: DFL Galleries, 207 Old York Road: Replace storefront glass and repointing brick ($518)

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For more information, contact Linda Kligman, Executive Director of the JCA at linda@jenkintown.net or by calling (215) 517-5507.
Visit the JCA Web site at www.jenkintown.net

Join us on Wednesday, February 10 at 7:00 PM for this one hour educational and interactive program, on the participation of African Americans at Camp William Penn during the Civil War. The presenter appears in authentic 19th century clothing and equipment. The presentation uses an array of techniques to tell the story: lecture, activities, demonstrations, and music or poem. This presentation has been delivered in dozens of schools, churches, colleges, libraries and at Fort Mifflin for groups young and old. Please call 215-884-0593 to register for this program sponsored by the Jenkins Town Lyceum and the Jenkintown Library at 460 Old York Rd.

Books, audios, and videos will be on sale at the Jenkintown Library Community Room during hours of operation on Thursday- February 25th, Friday- February 26th, and Saturday- February 27th. Prices can’t be beat! For more information call 215-884-0593.

Jenkintown Library is an acceptance agency for US passport applications. Applications taken by appointment only. Please call 215-884-0593 with questions or to set up an appointment.

The Borough Invites You to join in a community conversation on January 12, 2010 from 7:30pm – 9:00pm at the Jenkintown School Cafeteria.

This is part of a series of public events to shape our community’s revitalization plan with planning consultants and Borough officials. A mission of the Jenkintown Borough Revitalization Task Force is to solicit community feedback on the revitalization of Jenkintown Borough. The coffee is open to all members of the community.