Turner imagines use for Wells Fargo building

PENDLETON – Portland real estate executive Jordan Schnitzer owns the old bank building at the corner of Southeast Dorion Avenue and Main Street. He purchased it in 2016, and it has been used as a pop-up space during Round-Up, but has no permanent tenant.

There has been talk that Schnitzer could gift the building to the city. Mayor John Turner says that’s prompted some talk about what the city would do with the former Wells Fargo branch.

“If that building were to be gifted to the city, one of the things we’re talking about is potential makers building, where you’d have kiosks inside,” Turner said. “We’ve got two major hat makers downtown, half a dozen leather workers in the Pendleton area. Could they have a permanent presence in there seven days a week?”

There has been no official announcement of whether a deal between Schnitzer and the city is in the works, but if one does come through, Turner said a makers building would give people from throughout Pendleton and on the Umatilla Indian Reservation a place to showcase their skills. Schnitzer is a frequent visitor to the Pendleton Round-Up, gives scholarships to both the Round-Up and Happy Canyon courts, and has supported the arts and young artists from the Pendleton area for many years.

Photo of Jordan Schnitzer via jordanschnitzer.com

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Elkhorn Media Group

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