The Downtown Development Authority has approved a facade grant of $1,000 for Greene’s Jewelers to help replace windows on the upper floor of the building.

Design Committee Chairman Ann Pullen told the DDA board Thursday the total cost for replacement of the three large windows is $4,782.

“They’ll look just like they were. They’re being replaced because they have deteriorated,” she said.

Pullen also told the board plans for the addition of as many as eight bike racks in the downtown district are moving forward. Three will be large racks, five somewhat smaller. Arnold said the final number of racks would be dictated by the bids that are received for the project.

There was considerable discussion about bike safety in the Broad Street corridor. Bicycles are not permitted on the sidewalks, primarily out of safety concerns. The growing number of restaurants using sidewalk cafes, coupled with the Streetscape tree plantings makes it difficult for bikes to co-exist safely with pedestrians.

DDA board member Steve White said he is excited to get his business development committee working. Bryan Shealy, Harry Brock, Bekki Fox, Carol Hatch, Mark Cochran and White will make up that committee.

White told the board that one of the first things the committee will look at is finding ways to streamline the process of opening a new business downtown.

White also said his group plans to work with local real estate officials and banks to help make prospective business owners aware of the wide range of fiscal resources that are available.

Arnold told the panel she has two solid retail prospects that could come to fruition within a couple of months. Arnold also said she is working with two firms attracted by the city’s low-interest revolving loan fund available to downtown businesses.