The city of St. Joseph is restarting a helpful but controversial historic preservation grant program today.

The city suspended the $100,000 annual Save Our Heritage grant program in March of 2007 due to a lack of funds. Several other issues had arisen with the grant program, including criticism for not being openly advertised to the public and projects that have never been finished.

The kinks aren’t completely resolved, but the program is being restarted for its obvious benefits: For a relatively small amount of money, the grants give historic and architecturally prominent buildings a boost on their return to usefulness.

“A lot of these projects, they may have to invest $140,000 in a house that may only be worth $90,000,” said Scott DesPlanques, the city’s historic preservation planner. “The grant helps a lot of properties that are important to St. Joseph’s history.”

To find success, start with Wickie Utley’s state-award-winning Close Duplex at 514-16 N. 12th St., and Vincent Daunay’s renovation of the T.W. Harol House at 514 N. 10th St.

The grant program is funded through the city’s riverboat gaming revenue, but the money was funneled into the new riverfront nature center’s construction.

In a meeting at 7 tonight at City Hall, the Landmark Commission will review and recommend $100,000 in grant funding for 2008-09. The city will make further reviews before reimbursing any work.

The city has made a few changes to the program.

First, city staff no longer selects projects. Also, the city will place a lien on the property when the grant is awarded and lift the lien upon completion. Finally, the city will require projects to receive a certificate of occupancy rather than just be secured and “warehoused.”

“It’s not the goal to stabilize properties,” said Gerald McCush, who oversees several housing grant programs for the city. “The goal is ultimately, if you’re going to take our grant, you need to have the means to complete the project.”

Joe Blumberg can be reached at joeblumberg@npgco.com.

Save Our Heritage applicants

The Save Our Heritage applicants are as follows, ranked from largest to smallest:

Archline LLC, United Building, 602 Felix St.: $100,000 (total project $1.3 million). Renovation of Downtown building.

Patricia Anderson, 1209 Sylvanie St.: $69,150 (total project $69,150). Exterior repairs.

Thomas and Tonya Rhein, 701 S. 17th St.: $25,000 (total project $114,000). Restore boarded-up Queen Anne Victorian. It was named “endangered” in 2003, and subsequent owners Ed and Linda Hood received $17,000 grant for repairs in 2004.

Matthew Unzicker, 825 Vine St.: $21,000 (total project $70,000). Roof and exterior repairs. Original owner Edgar Sleppy was a railroad engineer who reportedly drove the first passenger train into St. Joseph in 1862.

National Military Heritage Museum, 701 Messanie St.: $20,986 (total project $45,986). Windows and doors on west side and tower.

William Vockery, 1024 Charles St.: $16,000 (total project $67,500). Extensive rehabilitation of home named “endangered” in 2003.

Larry Tourangeau, 1923-25 Union St.: $13,000 (total project $60,000). Exterior and porch repairs for red-tagged building.

Jordan Reilly, 1219 Felix St.: $10,000 (total project $120,000). Roof. 1895 Queen Anne Victorian would be converted from apartments to a single-family home.