City loses hotels, gains apartments
By Terry Murry on Thursday, December 16th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – Two motels in downtown Walla Walla, the Budget Inn, 305 N. Second Ave., and the Travelodge, 421 E. Main St., will be converted into studio and one-bedroom apartments. Both motels are permanently closed. Security fencing and no trespassing signs have since been installed at both properties.
The motels have been purchased by Fortify Holdings, a Beaverton, Oregon-based development group, which has other residential properties in Oregon and Washington.
“The city has not received an application yet but did have a pre-application meeting a few months back where they presented their conceptual plan,” Development Services Director Preston Frederickson said.
Currently, Walla Walla’s municipal code only allows residential use on the second story and above in the city’s commercial zone.
Frederickson said Fortify Holdings has applied for an amendment to the zoning code text which seeks to modify the zoning code to allow residential uses on the first floor if a hotel/motel is being converted for such.
“This code amendment went to the city’s planning commission for public hearing on Dec. 6 and the planning commission recommended approval of the amendment with city staff recommended revisions,” Frederickson said.
The Walla Walla Planning Commission recommendation will be reviewed by the city council at its work session on January 10 and taken up at the Jan. 12, 2022, regular meeting.
