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Downtown's Next Project?

    An empty lot in downtown Umatilla is being eyed as a potential part of a future entertainment and restaurant venue.  The lot, lying south of Guerrant Street an east of Kentucky Avenue, on Tuesday received a new land designation from the City of Umatilla to help facilitate the project.
    At just under .5 acre, the lot is vacant and was previously zoned for single-family residential use.  The new zoning - which won’t become final until a final vote planned for April 1 - allows for mixed use, with developers considering the site for parking and as an extension of uses of a building lying just east of the property.  
    That building, closed to commercial use for decades, is being developed by Joint Equity, LLC.  The property has been considered for one, or even two, dining establishments, with outside activity areas.
    Once renovations begin, the structure will be the third in the downtown area in recent months to receive upgrades.  A historic bank building around the corner on SR 19 is being renovated for office use by RLW Realty, and a former office and restaurant building at the corner of SR 19 and Mitchner Street is receiving extensive updates for future commercial availability.