Anthony Continelli is part developer, part surgeon. His condo project, a conversion of the old Red Cross building on Merritt Street, is part of a dramatic facelift for Merritton. The abandoned building will change into 27 units in a three-storey complex overlooking the city from on top of the escarpment. Derelict commercial and industrial buildings all over the community are getting similar makeovers. The operations can be expensive - but the city is giving developers like Continelli cash incentives to pull out the scalpel. These include tax incentives and construction and facade improvement grants in the tens of thousands of dollars. "It definitely helped me make my decision to go ahead," said Continelli, who wants seniors and empty-nesters to begin moving into the condos next fall. "And it definitely entices the neighbours to improve their own properties, too."