By Jason Klaiber

Staff Writer

The Village of East Syracuse approved the launch of a community-wide revitalization program at the monthly board of trustees meeting on July 8.

Village residents participating in the program will be eligible to recover a 50% reimbursement on costs associated with exterior improvements to their home. The final result of these improvements must be visible from the street, allowing passersby to appreciate the work.

“It’s hopefully going to pick up really well and make the community look better,” Joe Axenfeld, a member of the revitalization committee, said.

Property restorations amounting to a maximum of $500, minus taxes, will be entitled to reimbursement.

Funding has been allocated to the program in the last couple of years but the village’s ultimate goal is to bring the program to a point of self-sufficiency, according to Mayor Robert Tackman.

Tackman said local businesses will likely donate to the program. He also said that the village will look into legal ways to redirect funds from shelved revitalization efforts.

The competitive new program relies on projects being pre-approved by Tackman and the five-person revitalization committee on the basis of urgency and perceived benefit to the community.

Residents can pick up copies of the one-page application form at the village municipal building at 204 N. Center Street and submit it to the same location once filled out.

Program applicants can be property owners or tenants.

“We have a large rental population, so this will give them the opportunity to do some improvements to their home as well if the property owners aren’t interested,” Tackman said.

For the foreseeable future, the committee will meet to review and approve applications monthly between the dates of April 1 and Oct. 1.

“That’s when people would be most likely to do repairs or enhancements outside the home,” Tackman said.

Village officials will take photos of proposed properties and hand them off to the revitalization committee while the corresponding applications are being considered.

The projects must be finished within 30 days of the committee’s approval, and the residents responsible must notify the office either in person or by phone at 315-437-3541.

Upon completion, village officials will take follow-up photos in addition to collecting receipts and invoices proving a given project’s expenses. The revitalization committee will then determine if the reimbursement is eligible.

Once a resident’s work is determined to be satisfactory, they will receive a check.

In addition to reimbursement, participants with approved projects may be eligible to receive special discounts from sponsoring hardware stores, lumber yards and garden centers. According to Tackman, these discounts would encourage support of local businesses.

Improvements suggested by the application form include front yard landscaping and fresh paint jobs as well as repairs to mailboxes, porches, soffits, shutters, sidewalks, gutters, exterior lights, flower boxes, windows and front doors.

The revitalization committee will not fund projects intending to remove green space, trees or architectural features without their prior approval.

Residents are also encouraged to acquire low-cost items for their property like welcome mats, hanging flower baskets and porch flags.

Partially based on the model set forth by Fulton Block Builders, the recently launched program will be advertised at community events, on social media outlets and through signage.

Meeting notes

The grand finale of this year’s East Syracuse firework display was dedicated to Central New York musician Dan Elliott, who passed away last month.

Tackman said he hopes to institute better traffic regulation and easier parking for next year’s firework ceremony.

The Taste of East Syracuse will be held on July 31 in the parking lot of the municipal building at 204 N. Center Street.