Belleville DDA holds special meeting to discuss Hayward’s grant

A special meeting of the Belleville Downtown Development Authority was called for Nov. 5 to discuss upgrades to Hayward’s Liquor Store at 573 Main St. Business owner Jennifer Kouza is applying for one of the $20,000 grants the DDA offers for façade work on businesses in the district.
No decisions could be made at the meeting because five of the nine DDA members could not attend the hastily called special session. No votes can be taken without a quorum. Present were chairman John Winter, vice-chairman Chris Donley, treasurer Sabrina Richardson-Williams, and mayor Ken Voigt.
At the DDA’s Oct. 15 regular meeting, Kouza was not present but DDA manager Steve Jones said she wanted to do exterior façade improvements, including the roof, shingles, corner repair, and sign replacement. Jones said someone damaged the corner of her building and also the sign had been knocked down. He said the DDA’s grant program allows up to a $10,000 grant and up to a $10,000, three-year no-interest loan.
More information was needed and so the grant was put off until the Nov. 5 special meeting when Kouza could attend.
Kouza brought Rad Greaves of Radford’s construction to the meeting with her and he said he had been a friend of her late husband and wanted to donate some of the project to Jennifer.
He said after he tears the roof off, he will see if the building can support the weight of slate tiles he plans to donate and that would take copperwork as well. He said he planned a batten look to the building that was commercial and not too homey.
Kouza said the wood is old and it’s been at least 40 years since upgrades were made.
Greaves said it’s been cedar shake since 1976.
Kouza said she sees former owner Roy Acho once in a while and he told her the façade hasn’t been touched since his day.
Mayor Voigt said he remembers when he was 12 years old and his father brought him to Hayward’s. They had soft-serve ice cream at the time.
Jones said the upgrades to the building will keep it with the same shapes.
Kouza said she’s been trying to do things over the five years since her husband died, “God bless my husband.” He had owned the business for 30 years. She said there’s more to be done on the dock.
DDA chairman Winter said she has tried to improve the business.
Kouza said the state shut the business down over a gas leak that had to be repaired. She said she is so much caught up on the lower level, with wood rotting, and people stealing money.
She said she plans a simple, basic color.
Winter said the colors are up to her and the city can’t tell her what colors to use.
Jones said she could paint several swaths of different colors on the building and have the people weigh in.
Kouza said she wants respectable colors, adding the dock has to be painted as well.
Greaves said the business seems historical to him, since he was friends with Kouza’s husband. He said he did Mama Mia’s restaurant on Mackinac Island, as a reference to his experience.
“We’re the face of the city,” Kouza said, noting Hayward’s is one of the things drivers see first as they enter Belleville. She said on Halloween some people told her they were sorry the cross came down. She said she told them Hayward’s is a liquor store, not a church, and they seemed satisfied with that reply.
Greaves said he thought a nautical theme would be good.
DDA vice chairman Chris Donley agreed that sounded good because they were on the water.
Kouza said the lottery representatives say Hayward’s numbers have been way up, so business is good.
Mayor Voigt said the DDA could approve the grant at the regular meeting in two weeks when there is a quorum and those present that evening will recommend approval.
“But, it’s not approved until it’s approved,” Voigt said.
“I was glad when the request for the grant came in,” said DDA treasurer Richardson-Williams, adding she appreciates Kouza wanting to fix up the place.
Kouza said she didn’t own the building or property, but she does own the business. She said the owner told her she could do what she wanted with the building and she wants to be “uplifting the store.”
Mayor Voigt said Kouza also plans improvements to the old ice house, which now holds propane.
Kouza said they will meet the ordinance on sign regulations and she plans nothing electrical on the sign.
Greaves said when he gets into the roof he can relocate the electricity, if necessary.
Donley questioned whether Kouza was going to paint the red brick to tie in with the nautical theme. She said the orange brick was painted and is chipping so she is not so sure about painting brick.
Kouza asked about the timing and if she had to be done by a certain date and she was told there was no time limit. Greaves asked if he could work at night and Mayor Voigt said he could as long as he doesn’t disturb nearby residents. The city has a noise ordinance, mayor Voigt said.
In other business at the 28-minute gathering, Donley asked about power to light a Christmas tree on the flagpole at Five Points and was told the power there belongs to the county. He then suggested that a Christmas tree could be put up in the shopping center at the entry to the city. “I’ll talk to him,” Donley said, referring to Scott Jones who owns the shopping center.