Facade work begins at God’s Will in downtown Streator

Part of the project is to replace first-floor doors, windows

Another facade in downtown Streator is getting a facelift.

Contractors were busy Monday removing and replacing the first-floor doors and windows of the storefront at God’s Will Thrift and Vintage Store, 217 and 219 E. Main St.

The city awarded God’s Will $30,000 in grants for the work — the maximum of $15,000 per tax parcel.

The work also includes tuckpointing of the upper facade and removal of the existing glass tile above the main entry to prepare the space for new aluminum panels projected during a second phase of work.

The grant program allows businesses to receive up to $15,000 for a project with the maximum amount being 80% of the eligible cost. The restoration work must meet certain criteria reviewed by the city’s plan commission to be in line with restoring the downtown’s character.

Since the start of Streator’s facade grant program in 2014, the city has invested more than $450,000 into the restoration of its downtown storefronts, with the majority of the money coming from tax increment financing district funds, as of March 2021. The result has been an investment of more than $835,000 into the city’s downtown.