Orange City group buys lot left vacant by fire
By Michele Linck | Posted: Friday, December 05, 2008
ORANGE CITY, Iowa -- The Orange City Development Corp. has purchased the vacant property at the corner of Central Avenue and First Street in the city's downtown and is working to develop a plan for the site as part of a vision for the entire downtown, but especially for the retail sector.
The lot has been vacant since the rubble was cleared following the June 29 fire that destroyed historic Hawkeye building there.
The Development Corporation bought the property from longtime owner Wally Tschopp-WWD Inc., of Hartley, Iowa, it said in a statement Thursday. The former Hawkeye Hotel building held a Hallmark store, photo processing business and a Curves for Women studio at the time of the fire.
Board president Lyle Korver said the development corporation, the city of Orange City and the Orange City Chamber of Commerce have already met with architectural and planning consultants in the early stages of developing a design for a new building and an overall strategic plan for economic development downtown.
When that work is finished, the group plans to present several options to the community in a public meeting.
Marty Guthmiller, a member of the corporation board, said Thursday that while the new plan will include constructing a new building on the vacant lot, it would take support from the public for the corporation to do it. He said the board is not ruling out private development.
The lot has been vacant since the rubble was cleared following the June 29 fire that destroyed historic Hawkeye building there.
The Development Corporation bought the property from longtime owner Wally Tschopp-WWD Inc., of Hartley, Iowa, it said in a statement Thursday. The former Hawkeye Hotel building held a Hallmark store, photo processing business and a Curves for Women studio at the time of the fire.
Board president Lyle Korver said the development corporation, the city of Orange City and the Orange City Chamber of Commerce have already met with architectural and planning consultants in the early stages of developing a design for a new building and an overall strategic plan for economic development downtown.
When that work is finished, the group plans to present several options to the community in a public meeting.
Marty Guthmiller, a member of the corporation board, said Thursday that while the new plan will include constructing a new building on the vacant lot, it would take support from the public for the corporation to do it. He said the board is not ruling out private development.
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