The Wayland Main Street program oversaw the renovation of its office building at 117 S. Main St. this past year and plans are in the works for remodeling two other historic downtown buildings.
The office building, owned by Bob and Denise Golm, received a historically compatible sign and renovations intended to highlight the more than 100-year-old building, at one time the home of Hanlon’s Drug Store.
Ingrid Miller, director of the Main Street program, said on the web site, “…we believe economic development works best when combined with historic preservation. The best way to bring a downtown district back to life is to preserve and showcase the historic resources we already have! Our downtown is full of history.”
The Golms received a design service in March 2016, which they then used to strengthen their application for a façade improvement grant. Their late 1920s building underwent many alterations in its lifetime.
With the façade grant, they were able to improve the overall quality of their building’s exterior while showcasing and preserving its historic qualities. Work on the building started in the fall of 2016 and is now finished.
“As a Michigan Main Street community, we receive free design services from the state,” Miller explained. “Design services paint a picture of what our downtown buildings could look like if preserved. After a property owner receives a design service, the next step is to apply for o
ur
façade improvement grant.”
Major improvements to the Golms’ building included:
- Removal of exterior door to restore historic recessed entry
- Removal of modern sign to reveal original transom windows and original copper transom window frame
- Installation of a projecting sign similar to the sign featured in historic photographs
- Repair of existing brass storefront cornice
- Repair, repointing, and cleaning of brick masonry
- Removal of paint to reveal original copper window frames.
- Installation of awnings similar to historic examples.
“The buildings in downtown Wayland have a historic character that you just can’t find in newer structures,” Miller said. “Over time downtown buildings have been added to, covered or altered so much that some are hardly recognizable as historic.
“By offering a façade grant we encourage public private partnership and incentivize historic preservation in our downtown district. Small town revitalization works best when we all pull together to makes things happen.”
Miller said the Main Street program values historic character.
“As the world changes and our community grows, the value of our historic downtown district increases,” she said. “If you grew up in Wayland, you know how central the downtown district once was to community life. It was the place where people gathered. A place to truly shop, live, work and play.
“By rehabilitating our historic resources, we improve the overall attractiveness of our downtown which strengthens existing businesses, draws in new businesses, investors and foot traffic. People take notice when a 
community pulls together to take care of their downtown district.
“This is how we are building legacy. We’re revitalizing downtown Wayland one façade at a time.”
The façade impr
ovement program is open to downtown building/business owners and is awarded on a first come first serve basis as long as funds are available. Wayland Main Street/DDA allocates funds on an annual basis based on budget availability and approval by the Wayland City Council.
As a Master Level Michigan Main Street Community, Wayland receives technical assistance from the state, including free design services (each valued at around $3,000).
“Design services uncover potential,” Miller said. “If you’ve ever visited downtown Wayland, you know that our town is full of history! Most of the buildings in our downtown district are over 100 years old. They just don’t look quite as they did when they were first built.”
Once awarded a design service, a downtown property owner works with Michigan Main Street’s design specialist to figure out the best way to bring a building to its full historic potential. Recommendations are based on research, historic photographs and present building needs.
Wayland Main Street receives 15 design services total with a maximum of three design services per year.
To be eligible to receive design assistance, a property/business owner’s public building must be within the local Main Street area and be zoned for commercial or mixed use.
PHOTOS: The old Hanlon’s Drug business from the 1930s at 117 S. Main St.
The former site of Cook’s Jewelry at 106 W. Superior St. today and envisioned in the future.
The Wayland Hotel today and a sketch of how it might look in days ahead.
FEATURE PHOTO: The newly remodeled Main Street offices building at 117 S. Main St.
