Downtown Streetscape and Facade Improvements

The City of Stoughton has made steady progress over the last decade or so towards revitalizing their historic downtown district. An architectural study of the downtown, commissioned in the early 1990s, catalogued the architectural styles and features of each downtown building, and established design and architectural standards.

Fifteen years ago, the Opera House on upper floors of the historic City Hall building sat vacant and neglected. Birds had made the once grand space their home and water damage had destroyed much of the space.

Led by volunteer efforts and donations, the Opera House was painstakingly restored to its original grandeur. All fixtures were restored or replaced. Expert painters were even imported to repaint the gold leaf detailing on the ceiling. Today, the Opera House hosts a regular venue and is an anchor to the downtown.

Streetscape Improvements

In 2000, Stoughton received a $20,000 BUILD grant to create a "streetscape" plan. The streetscape extends from the street edge to the private property line, including the curb, street trees, lights, furniture and trash receptacles, and sidewalk. The City hired Vierbicher & Associates to conduct the planning process and produce a Downtown Master Plan (202KB PDF).

The Master Plan proposed new sidewalks and crosswalks with decorative pavers, new streetlights compatible with the historic period, curb "bulb-outs" and various street furniture. When Highway 51 (Main Street) was reconstructed in 2001 - 2003, the streetscape plan was implemented.

Stoughton Streetscape before		Stoughton Streetscape after

Façade Improvement Program

In addition to public improvements, the City of Stoughton sought to encourage private investments in improving Main Street and downtown. The City applied for, and received, a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to start a façade improvement program. Stoughton served as a pilot project to test the façade improvement grants.

After initially offering low-interest loans, the City eventually settled on making matching grants of up to $5,000 available. Dane County CDBG granted $50,000 in 2000 that paid for approximately 10 façade improvements, ranging from sign and awning replacements, to removal of façade covering and restoration of original building facades. Although the first facades were slow to start, the visual improvements provided a strong catalyst to other property owners to seek out and improve their buildings. Since 2000, the program has received an additional $75,000 in façade grants, with approximately 30 façade improvements completed. As the number of improved facades increased, those without improvements began to stand out as neglected, where previously they blended in. The County's façade improvement grants have now been made to three other communities in the county: the villages of Waunakee, Oregon and Cambridge.

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Last Modified: August 31st, 2004