PHOTO BY JENNIFER COLTON
Headed by hotelier Hasu Mistry, McNary businesses have pitched an idea for a new pylon sign at the entrance to McNary in Umatilla.
Mistry is one of the three owners of the McNary Quality Inn, formerly the Desert River Inn. On Tuesday night, he approached the Umatilla City Council with a tentative proposal to replace the existing sign at the McNary entrance on Highway 730.
Instead of repairing the existing sign, the hotel owners would like to replace the structure in front of McNary Market with a new pylon sign in the median on Willamette Street. The sign would sit just behind the power poles and “Umatilla” metal artwork, and the business would lease the median property from the city.
“By putting all this onto that particular island, we would be improving the image and the visibility,” Mistry said. “By cleaning up that area and having a brand new sign, it will benefit everybody.”
In addition to showing the new name of the Quality Inn, the structure would highlight numerous Umatilla businesses and organizations, such as Big River Golf Course, the Port of Umatilla offices and McNary Heights Elementary School.
The height and width of the pylon would be the same as the current sign, and Quality Inn would cover most of the cost. Mistry stressed all plans would go through the proper process before being implemented, including approval from the planning commission and city council.
“At this stage, we just need your approval if you think this is a good idea,” Mistry said.
The Umatilla City Council agreed by consensus with the project, and Mistry and other involved individuals will move ahead with the planning process.
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