The centerpiece project of 2000 had a big impact on the overall look and feel of an entire city block. Flanigan's Bar, Art of Flowers and Wilson's Agency (right, before, and below, after), located on the 3900 block of Ventnor Avenue, was a project that intrigued the Facade Committee because of its grand scale and enormous potential. In order for this potential to be realized, each storefront would have to undergo major renovations.

Old doorways and windows were eliminated and replaced; ceramic tiling installed on the facade; decorative awnings hung, including one that was hand painted; meticulous ornamental cornice painted; the building's brick work pointed and back lit "channel letter" signage made this block project a huge success.

Patience is a Virtue

While pedestrians walking the city's streets may only see the finished product, a lot of time and energy goes into making a facade improvement project a reality. It all starts with a phone call from a property owner or tenant, who states his or her desire for a facade improvement and ends with the submittal of a completed facade application.

The property then is digitally photographed and the owner or tenant met with to discuss his or her specific needs and wants for the property before it finally ends up before the Facade Committee. The Facade Committee consists of local business professionals and city leaders who all have a common interest in the betterment of Atlantic City.

If the committee approves the project, it then moves on to the architectural rendering phase. Unless the owner or tenant has his or her own architect, the Facade Program's architect personally visits the property and meets with the owner or tenant to come up with a mutually desired look for it. Once completed, the rendering must be approved by the Facade Committee.

After the rendering phase, the proposed project then moves on to construction documentation, which consists of blueprints and project specifications. Unless the owner or tenant has provided his or her own contractor, the project is put out for bid and a contractor then selected from a minimum of three bidders. Local contractors are highly encouraged to bid on facade improvement projects. Lastly, all of the necessary permits are required before the first shovel can even be placed in the ground.

The adage that "Rome wasn't built in a day" conveys the message that patience is a virtue when it comes to doing something right the first time. Facade improvement projects are no different. It takes time to see a project from its infancy to completion. Here is a typical facade project timeline: Original contact, 30 days; project approval, 30 days; architectural rendering, 60-90 days; board approval, 30 days; construction documents, blueprints and specifications, 60 days; bid approval, 45 days; permitting, 45 days; and lastly