The City of Warren Redevelopment Authority has changed the map where downtown facade grant dollars could be spent.

Vince DeJoy said staff are recommending altering the footprint of the RDA’s facade grant program to include the former Loranger Building where businesses like Bent Run Brewing and Allegheny Outfitters are located.

He noted those businesses haven’t done a lot in terms of signage and lighting and said it’s unclear what the interest would be for the program, which requires a 100 percent match up to $5,000.

There “likely is some interest,” he said, noting the importance of “including them to give them the opportunity.”

DeJoy said Councilman Phil Gilbert suggested the idea.

Gilbert told the RDA that this would be a way of helping those businesses, suggesting that the riverfront area there would “pop” with some additional signage and lighting.

He said he’d like to see the area help turn the city into a “destination” and said the building where those entities are housed “still looks like a building, a factory.”

The RDA approved that change unanimously, as well as a proposal to auction three properties that the city has taken ownership of over delinquent sewer accounts.

Department of Public Works Director Mike Holtz said the city has never tried the auction approach and suggested the RDA might see a higher sale price as a result.

He said the auction would likely be within the next six to eight weeks.

The three properties set to be part of that auction are 111 Pioneer St., 103 Sixth Ave. and 28 Hemlock St.