Old Building Downtown To Be Turned Into Housing Retail Restaurant Space

An old building in downtown Yakima is about to get some new life. Yakima city officials say the 107 year old former Hotel Tieton at 1st Street and Chestnut has been purchased by a development company that plans to make a $2 million investment to turn it into modern housing, retail and restaurant space. Over many years the three story building has been the home to restaurants and nightclubs. City Economic Development Director Sean Hawkins says "construction is already underway and people could move into the building by late this year." Plans call for converting the upper two floors of the brick building into 16 residential units.
City officials hope the development inspires other building owners to also develop buildings that are near the planned downtown central plaza.
The developer is participating in the city of Yakima’s Downtown Redevelopment tax incentive program, which would provide a property tax exemption on the housing improvements for up to 8 years.