The Pasadena Enterprise Zone is famous for having the highest voucher processing fees in the state, $102.00 per application. However, most of the revenue generated from that fee goes into the City’s Storefront Improvement Program. The Pasadena Star-News reports on the first building project within the EZ to utilize that program:

Almost exactly a year ago, when a buyer backed out, real estate agent Linda Lane-White and her husband Chris bought the freestanding “dilapidated building” at 1564 N. Fair Oaks Ave.

Her client at the time told her there was just too much renovation work needed at the tiny former “Party Masters” store, with its one-bedroom apartment on the second story, Lane-White said.

“So I had a bright idea,” she said. “My husband’s a contractor, maybe he can have his business in the building and rent out the upstairs for extra income.”

A year later, the 110,000-square- foot building has been gutted and renovated, a two-car garage and laundry room have been added, and it’s become the first Enterprise Zone building to tap into the city’s revamped Storefront Improvement Program funds.

Under the program, the city pays for 50 percent of facade improvements – up to $20,000 for eligible buildings, $25,000 for historic buildings. A new “multi-tenant structure” category can provide up to $10,000 per storefront.

Chris White listed wrought iron, awnings and laminate glass windows as details the funding helped pay for.