Main Street DeKalb’s efforts to improve the downtown area continue, and North Central Cyclery is the latest business to benefit from the program.

Main Street DeKalb, Inc. provides matching funds for facade and architectural improvements for downtown businesses.

For North Central Cyclery, 534 E. Lincoln Highway, the proposed improvements reach a total cost of $15,792, City Manager Mark Biernacki said.

The city provides half the amount, $7,896, for the improvements through a forgivable loan, Biernacki said.

The improvements, preliminarily approved by the city council in a consideration Monday, include: repainting the building’s east wall, lettering for window signs, Alumilite signs, new awnings, a hanging outdoor sign and a new rear door.

Of those projects, only the repainting, the window signs and the Alumilite signs are completed, said Tom Sims, Main Street DeKalb board member.

Some DeKalb aldermen have expressed trepidation over aspects of the improvements.

Third Ward Alderman Steve Kapitan said he was concerned about Main Street DeKalb providing funding for what he saw as ordinary, everyday improvements.

“The lettering is an ordinary enhancement,” Kapitan said.

In the 6th Ward, newly re-elected Alderman Dave Baker also had reservations about some aspects of the project.

Baker said he did not think Main Street DeKalb should fund the awning purchase.

“This is something that whether we gave them money or not, they’d probably do it,” he said.

Baker also raised questions about the business changing names after the city helped fund the sign replacement.

Main Street DeKalb officials tried to appease such concerns.

The matching funds require the business to maintain improvements for five years, Sims said.

If a business fails to maintain improvements for five years, then it is ineligible for the loan forgiveness, which generally applies to Main Street DeKalb matching funds, Sims said.

Twenty percent of the loan can be forgiven, Sims said. However, if improvements are removed or changed, the entire amount of the loan must be returned to the city.

According to the facade improvement program overview, the loan conditions also apply to any subsequent owners of the property within five years.