COMMERCIAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM

Program Application

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The City of Lawndale is offering through its innovative Commercial Rehabilitation Program (CRP), financial assistance to property owners for the renovation of commercial buildings, commercial structures, and facades surrounding mobile home parks (“Qualified Property”) within the Lawndale Redevelopment Agency Project Area.

Eligible exterior improvements for commercial buildings and structures may include exterior refinishing, new signage and building façade reconfiguration. Assistance may be provided for landscaping only if it is secondary to and in conjunction with building rehabilitation to be completed under the Program. Program assistance can also be used to correct front facing exterior building and health code violations, seismic upgrades, and American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance requirements as identified by the City.

Eligible exterior improvements for mobile home parks may include, but not limited to the following improvements: landscaping, irrigation, block walls, security fences and gates, signs, or any other improvements deemed appropriate and necessary by the Review Committee.

The program provides forgivable zero interest loans, matching equity loans, and deferred zero interest loans.

COMMERCIAL REHABILIATION FORGIVABLE LOAN
Forgivable loans shall be provided in the amount not to exceed $500 per lineal foot of parcel frontage as measured along the street side of the Qualified Property’s façade or $25,000 per parcel, whichever provides the greater benefit to the applicant.

a) Repayment- Repayment is due if the property is sold, the property is     refinanced to cash out, or if the property title is transferred within five years     from the filing date of the notice of completion. A proportional amount of the     principle (at the rate of 20% per annum) is forgiven each year of ownership     for a period of five years.


b) Lien – The City will file a lien (Deed of Trust) against the property to secure     the loan.

COMMERCIAL REHABILITATION MATCHING EQUITY LOAN
Matching Equity loans are available to qualified applicants where the City provides one dollar in matching equity loan funds for every one dollar of personal funds that the applicant contributes toward the rehabilitation of the Qualified Property. In the event the property owner does not have personal funds to contribute towards the rehabilitation, the applicant can borrow such funds through the deferred loan portion of the program. The maximum amount of the matching equity loan is $15,000 per parcel or tenant space, whichever provides the greater benefit.

a) Repayment - Repayment is due if the property is sold, the property is refinanced to cash out, or if the property title is transferred within two years from the filing date of the notice of completion. A proportional amount of the principle (at the rate of 50% per annum) is forgiven each year of ownership for a period of two years.

b) Lien- The City will file a lien (Deed of Trust) against the property to secure     the loan.

COMMERCIAL REHABILITATION DEFERRED LOAN
Deferred loans at zero percent interest are also available to property owners up to $25,000 per parcel.

a) Repayment- Full repayment of the loan is due when the property is sold,     property is refinanced to cash out, or the property title is transferred.

b) Lien – The City will file a lien (Deed of Trust) against the property to secure     the loan.

Download a Commercial Rehabilitation Program Brochure*
Download a Commercial Rehabilitation Program Application*

Building Codes for the City are Changing
On January 1, 2008 The City of Lawndale’s building codes are changing. These changes are part of a state-wide adoption of new codes and every city, county and local jurisdiction in the state will be effected. If you have plans on file with the City, are planning to file or would like more information (click here).

South Bay Center for Dispute Resolution: Having trouble settling a dispute? Contact the South Bay Center for Dispute Resolution, (310) 376-7007. Click here for more info.

*The brochure and application are in PDF format, which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.
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