Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission approved a certificate of no material effect for signage for the Dreads and Threads business in the historic uptown district.
Hannah Mercer, owner of Dreads and Threads, has been utilizing a neon sign to highlight the name of her business, as well as a glowing sign that shows when the business is open or closed. No objection has been raised to the signage by the planning and zoning commission of the city, and the signage is not a permanent change to the building and could be removed in the future.
The sign was one of a few that were noted as non-complying in the district discovered during the streetscape that were going through the proper process to be allowed. Big’s Barbecue and Brew Pub had some of their signage changed in their building to comply with the historic district guidelines in March.
Landscaping around Visitor’s Center discussed
The City of Mount Vernon has approved $21,300 to the work on the exterior of the Visitor’s Center, and Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission is working on the landscaping around the building.
At the May 22 meeting, the commission approved constructing a retaining wall around the Visitor’s Center to better keep the mulch from washing away from the building. The cost of the retaining wall is $1,950. The commission had budgeted $1,600 for landscaping, but will split the cost of the retaining wall over two fiscal years to see construction completed this year.
RFPs for design guidelines out to contractors
The Mount Vernon Historic Preservation Commission also has their requests for proposals for their updated design guidelines out to contractors.
Eleven companies across the Midwest were identified to work on the project for the commission by Randy Brown and Suzette Astley. Part of the language for design guidelines also seek updated language pertaining to energy efficiency upgrades to homes to be reflected in guidelines.
Astley will chair the subcommittee who will work on the deign guideline project, and has requested up to four members of the Commission who will work on the subcommittee. Brown had said he was interested, and junior commission member Edith Dawson also voiced an interest in the work of that committee.
Proposals for the project are due back to the commission in six weeks timeframe.