…Beginning as soon as Monday.
Last September the Glen Park Merchants Association (GPMA) was awarded a $50k grant by the Avenue Greenlight fund. It was one of 34 neighborhood merchant associations to receive funding for neighborhood improvement projects.
The proposal was for banners and festive lighting, suggested by a committee of the GPMA which included Zoel Fages, owner of Perch; and Soo Emens, a partner of POD Office, both Chenery Street merchants. The GPMA approved the concept and found a Glen Park designer, Eric Wood of Modpax.
The Glen Park News spoke to Zoel Fages for an update.
The banners designed by Modpax reflect what’s indicative of Glen Park–the park, wildlife, dining and shopping. They’ll be suspended from 28 light poles around the village. Each banner is two-part, front and back, with mix and match images so that no two light poles will have the same banner.
The cost of the banners from design to installation is around $10k. The GPMA achieved cost savings by piggybacking on a similar project by the Japantown merchants association, another Avenue Greenlight grant recipient. “What was so great about it was being able to partner with other associations so we could get our costs down and work together. The whole process has been really super easy.” Zoel gave a special shout out to Ixtel Acosta of Avenue Greenlight, who was so helpful in guiding them through, including obtaining the necessary permits.
Lighting is going to be “a huge chunk of change,” notes Zoel, “but that will still come in under budget so we’ll have something extra when we’re done to come up with some other fun projects.” So far they have two estimates, one of which is more reasonable. The GPMA has to get back together to decide if they’re going with that quote.
The lighting will be similar to that strung along the Valencia Street corridor from 14th to 24th Street. Also in the plan is lighting in two large trees, one in front of the Glen Park Cafe and the other in front of Gialina Pizzeria.
One hoped-for benefit of the lighting in addition to enlivening the downtown area is enhanced safety.
The lighting installation process will be more involved than the banners. The GPMA needs to speak to people who live in the buildings. They need the building owners to allow tie-in to the buildings’ electricity. (The LED lights will have minimal impact.)
Depending on how long it takes to plot out the design and install it, the lighting could be done for the holidays.
Zoel and the other merchants are excited to get the project underway. Perch has been a fixture in Glen Park for 14 years.
“It doesn’t feel like 14 years at all. The neighborhood has been huge in our success. I wanted a shop in a small neighborhood to appeal to local people. The improvements
are going to be a nice addition
to the village and help people to give Glen Park the recognition it deserves.”
The GPMA is keeping its eyes and ears open for more grants.