By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
A majority of the Del Rio City Council has approved a grant for Humphreys’ Gun Shop to improve the building’s façade, part of an ongoing campaign to spruce up the city’s historic downtown district.
Del Rio City Council members took the action during their May 24 meeting.
Mayor Pro-Tem Jim DeReus made the motion to approve a resolution authorizing a grant for $4,048 for the gun shop, which is located at 124 E. Garfield Ave. Councilwoman Ernestina “Tina” Martinez gave the second.
An informational packet provided to the council about the grant request explains one of the objectives of the façade assistance program is to create “an attractive and inviting environment” in the downtown area.
“All of this is to be accomplished while maintaining, preserving and protecting the integrity of commercial properties in Del Rio,” the program’s notes read.
The program notes further explain that “applicants who qualify may receive a grant of up to 50 percent of the total project cost with a maximum reimbursement of $10,000. Each property owner will contribute 50 percent toward the project and the façade assistance program will contribute 50 percent.”
In his application for the grant, which is administered by the city’s Main Street Program Board and paid for by the city’s general fund, Humphreys’ Gun Shop owner Gary Humphreys estimated the total cost of the improvements at his business at $8,096.
“We’re requesting financial assistance with (the) front porch replacement, window replacement, front door repair/replace(ment), exterior paint and mural,” Humphreys wrote in his application.
As council members began their discussion of the motion, Councilman J.P. Sanchez said he was “okay” with awarding the requested amount, but added, “It says ‘Main Street Façade Assistance Grant,’ but this (business) is on Garfield.”
Sanchez added he was glad that the business is part of the Main Street Program, noting that Humphreys’ Gun Shop has been a fixture in the downtown area for decades. He also pointed out he believed the “façade” grant was meant to improve those portions of buildings that faced the street, not necessarily the sides of a building.
Main Street Manager Diego Rubio explained, “The reason why we included Garfield was because (the Main Street Program) encompasses the whole downtown district, which is from Ogden Street to Nicholson.”
Councilwoman Alexandra Falcon Calderon noted the city has been accredited under the state’s Main Street Program.
“It doesn’t necessarily fall only on Main Street, but includes the entire downtown district, and Garfield is in the downtown district,” Calderon said, adding she was in the Main Street Program for several years and that people often became confused and believed the program dealt only with properties actually sited on Main Street.
“In reality, it’s for the whole downtown district,” she said.
Calderon also raised another issue: she noted that applications for the façade grant are to be considered ineligible for funding if they request funding for projects “which are underway or started prior to an executed agreement.”
“They have to finish the project before the (grant funding) is approved, and I believe there is some stuff (at the gun shop) that’s been started,” Calderon said.
“He said since he was having his 50-year celebration, he said he was going to try and do something to the building so he could have the celebration, for the building to look nice, and once the celebration is over, then we can do all the other work required, so it was talked about,” Rubio told the council.
“So then, does that change the amount of the project?” Councilman Alfredo “Fred” Carranza Jr. asked.
“It might diminish the amount,” Rubio replied.
Calderon also pointed out the request for funding includes a mural, which will be on the side of the building and would not be considered part of the façade. She also said Humphreys’ application notes the project will be completed in six months from its anticipated start date of April, but added the estimated end date was given as October 2023, “which is not six months.”
Carranza noted another business owner has been repeatedly denied funding under the program and said the city must ensure that all applicants are treated fairly.
“It’s got to be the same for everybody,” Carranza said, adding the questions have nothing to do with the validity or merit of Humphreys’ request, but with the process of the grant program.
City Manager John Sheedy said the city is working to update the application.
Calderon then made a motion that Humphreys be asked to redo the application for his project to make any clarifications or corrections “and bring it back to us,” but the motion received no second.
Carranza said he was “okay” with approving the grant for the gun shop façade work if the city would not reimburse Humphreys for any receipts dated prior to the May 24 council meeting.
Then Carranza made a motion that the council proceeds with the requested façade grant “with the understanding that staff will omit any expenses that were before tonight.”
DeReus gave the second to Carranza’s motion.
DeReus, Carranza, Sanchez and Martinez then voted in favor of Carranza’s motion, with Calderon giving the sole vote against it.
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