Tenant and Facade Improvement Programs
On June 7, 2022, the Village Board of Trustees approved two programs to reimburse Glenview property and business owners for half the cost to make façade and tenant improvements on property.
The program was a recommendation of both the Economic Development Strategic Plan and Downtown Strategic Plan, with the aim of spurring redevelopment, increasing curb appeal and attracting new tenants to Glenview’s commercial corridors.
The façade improvement program covers 50% of improvement costs up to $37,500 to update things like exterior painting, doors, windows, awnings and signage.
The tenant improvement program will match 50% of improvement costs up to $50,000 to update interior fixtures, such as drywall, HVAC, flooring, windows and doors, and permanent lighting.
Full details about both programs are below. If you wish to apply, fill out the application below or call the Community Development Department at (847) 904-4400.
Facade Improvement Program Packet and Appplication
Tenant Improvement Program Packet and Application
Façade Improvement Program
The Façade Improvement Program operates as a grant reimbursement, matching 50% of improvement costs up to $37,500 for qualified improvements to the facades of buildings or tenant spaces in view of the public right-of-way.
Business Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be either the property owner or the lessee of the subject commercial space that obtains the property owner’s approval. If the applicant is the Lessee, written approval must be submitted with the application from the property owner to participate in the program and consenting to all building modifications.
- The commercial building must abut a public right-of-way or can be substantially viewed from the public right-of-way to be eligible for the program.
- Total costs for proposed façade improvements must exceed $5,000 to participate in the program.
- All new and existing businesses are eligible to apply for grant funding.
- Properties with unresolved code enforcement cases will not be eligible to receive grant funding.
- Only one grant (either Façade or Tenant Improvement) will be awarded per building or tenant space within any five-year period, although exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis for large, multi-tenant buildings given the availability of allocated program funds.
Eligible Improvements
The following improvements are eligible to receive funding through the program. A building or business owner who is undertaking an improvement project that includes a portion of the eligible improvements may apply for the matching grant, but only the improvements below will be eligible for funding.
- Brick Cleaning
- Exterior Painting
- Wall Façade Construction, Repair, and Treatment
- Architectural feature repair or replacement
- Exterior Demolition
- Historic Renovation
- Doors, Windows, and Trim
- Awnings & Shutters
- Stairs, Porches, and Railings
- Signage
- Exterior Lighting
- Permanent Outdoor Dining Features
Tenant Improvement Program
The Tenant Improvement program operates as a reimbursement grant, matching up to 50% of the total tenant improvement costs up to $50,000 for qualified tenant improvements of commercial tenant spaces.
Business Eligibility
The following table identifies the types of businesses that were identified as desired uses in the Economic Development Strategic Plan and are deemed eligible to receive grant funding for interior tenant improvements.
Eligible Business Types
| Ineligible Business Types
|
Dine-in Restaurants (take-out only food service is not eligible)
| Service uses (Spas, beauty salons, massage parlors, dry cleaners, day care facilities, martial arts/dance, gyms, gas stations)
|
Retail
| Office spaces
|
| Creative Arts and Entertainment uses (ceramic studios, comedy clubs, performing arts centers, etc.)
| Hotels
|
- Applicants must be either the property owner or the lessee of the subject commercial space that obtains the property owner’s approval. If the applicant is the Lessee, written approval must be submitted with the application from the property owner to participate in the program and consenting to all building modifications.
- Applicants must demonstrate the existing financial gap preventing the financing of the improvements described in the scope of work. This may be provided in a written statement detailing why the project would not be feasible without tenant improvement assistance.
- The tenant space must be on the ground floor of an existing commercial property. Priority will be given to businesses in the D-D Downtown District.
- Total costs for proposed tenant improvements must exceed $10,000 to participate in the program.
- All new and existing businesses are eligible to apply for grant funding.
- Properties with unresolved code enforcement cases will not be eligible to receive grant funding.
- Only one grant (either Façade or Tenant Improvement) will be awarded per building or tenant space within any five-year period, although exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis for large, multi-tenant buildings given the availability of allocated program funds.
Eligible Improvements
The Tenant Improvement Program will fund improvements that are permanent and will stay intact with the property. Therefore, the grant will not cover painting, furniture, non-fixed equipment, removable fixtures, and other items deemed by staff to be for particular use and not beneficial to other potential future uses to the space. Eligible improvements include:
- Interior Demolition/Shell Reconstruction
- Drywall
- Permanent Plumbing
- Permanent Electrical
- HVAC/Mechanical
- Flooring
- Permanent Lighting
- Permanent Equipment (e.g., kitchen)
- Windows and Doors
- Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Applying for Cook County incentives
The Cook County Assessor's office administers several real estate tax incentive programs -- among them, the 6(b) and 7(b) -- to stimulate the development and/or expansion of industrial, retail and office facilities. For a business to be eligible for any of these incentives, the municipality -- in this case, the Village of Glenview -- must expressly state that it supports and consents to the filing of the application and that it finds the incentive necessary for development to occur on the subject property. Economic Development staff coordinates the Village's review of these applications.
For more information, businesses can visit the Cook County Assessor's website or contact its Incentives Department at
(312) 603-7929.
Information and applications
