The City of Riverside’s recent purchase of the old QuikTrip property has become a cause for speculation.
At a recent meeting of the Riverside board of aldermen, aldermen said they are fielding questions about the purchase and what will go on the site, located at Vivion Road and Gateway Avenue. QuikTrip built a new location across the intersection from the old store.
According to city staff the property’s location adjacent to city-owned Welcome Plaza and Renner Brenner Park and high visibility make the property a key component in the city’s long-term vision for the downtown district.
“As the city continues thinking strategically about the future, being able to guide the redevelopment of this critical property is essential to our vision of what the heart of our community can and should be,” said mayor Kathy Rose. “We are excited for the possibilities now open to us with the purchase of this parcel.”
Earlier this year, the city hired CBC Real Estate Group to assist in establishing a plan and recruiting partners for the future redevelopment of the site. Those discussions are ongoing and the city anticipates announcing a project involving the site sometime next year.
The property is just under 1.5 acres and was purchased for $650,000. The city expects to demolish the existing structure in the coming months.
The board also discussed the Park Hill School District’s redistricting process at its Tuesday, Nov. 20 meeting, with board members stating their constituents are voicing concerns about the district’s plans. Currently, Riverside students attend one of three elementary schools, Lakeview Middle School and Park Hill South High School. Rose said the community wants all community children to attend the same middle and high school.
Rose and other members of the board of aldermen attended the Thursday, Dec. 6 board of education meeting in support of their stance that the community should not be divided.