Sparks Building Facade Improvement

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The Sparks Building Facade Improvement is one of many Success Stories that have been locally nominated for recognition in celebration of CDBG's 30th Anniversary.

Success Story Details

Success Story Description

The Sparks Building is located in the culturally and architecturally diverse neighborhood known as Northgate. As the oldest neighborhood in College Station, it had begun to see significant signs of decline. Due to extensive code violations, vacancies and overall neighborhood blight, the city designated this low- and moderate-income neighborhood a blighted area and launched several initiatives to address the decline. Among those efforts was a Facade Improvement Program providing CDBG funds to commercial property owners to restore exterior facades and correct code violations on aging buildings.

Built in 1920 and one of the city's oldest buildings, the Sparks Building was in need of significant repair. The cost of the project totaled $108,109, with $32,005 of private owner funds matched with CDBG funds. Because of the age of the structure, the owner and city worked closely with the Texas Historical Commission to carefully restore the historical integrity and beauty of the building.

The renovation of the Sparks Building is an excellent example of a successful public/private partnership between private property owners, the city, citizen committees and local architects and contractors.

In 1997, the renovation to the Sparks Building was recognized by the Texas Downtown Association as a finalist in the category of "Best Rehabilitation Project." The Sparks Building is an excellent example of a successful restoration project that has encouraged other property owners to maintain and preserve the community's rich architectural heritage—all made possible, in large part, by the Community Development Block Grant Program.