The city this past week celebrated the completion of renovations at the Cortana Building – formerly Renton Western Wear – and the opening of businesses downtown with its first “Pop-Up Downtown” event on Sept. 16 and this week seemed ready to approve the second facade improvement grant for a building on Burnett Avenue South.

The Cortana Building was the first in town to take advantage of the city’s new Facade Improvement Program, passed in November 2014. The program utilizes federal Community Block Grant Development funds to help landowners improve their properties.

The loans can cover 50 percent of the total cost of the project, with a minimum loan amount of $10,000 (for a minimum project amount of $20,000). The loans are zero percent interest loans. If the project is part of a larger rehabilitation, which is the hope, the loan money must be used for facade improvement.

Friday’s celebration showcased the completion of exterior improvements to the Cortana Building, which last year received historical status and was restored to its original look as an F.W. Woolworth’s.

While interior improvements are still yet to be completed, the first new tenant in the re-designed building, Urban Sprouts, also officially opened for business Friday as part of the celebration.

Also as part of the event, three small “parklets” were constructed in parking areas in front of the Cortana Building and Comic Hut on South Third Street and in front of Four Generals Brewing on Wells Avenue.

The parklets created small areas for pedestrians and shoppers to take a break and enjoy the sunshine on Friday.

On Monday, Community Development Project Manager John Collum announced to the Committee of the Whole plans for a second facade improvement in the downtown core, this one to the “H & H Plaza” building at 332 Burnett Ave. S.

Collum said new owners purchased the building in February and are looking to move their business, Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance, from their current location to the larger building downtown.

Collum said $330,000 worth of improvements are planned to the exterior of the building and an additional $500,000 to the inside. The owners are requesting $165,000 from the facade improvement program, which Collum said the city is recommending for approval.

Collum said staff viewed it as a “prime opportunity” to use the grants and to help the downtown core.