Demolition and clearing of a High Street lot has begun, three years after a fire roared through an empty home across from the Riverbank Scout Hall there.
The residential property had been for sale at the time of the fire, not the first at that location.
After negotiations to purchase the property and the burned out hulk fell apart, the city was able to acquire it at a foreclosure auction, held on the steps of the Stanislaus County courthouse, according to Riverbank City Manager Sean Scully. He said the city got a pretty good deal on the purchase.
The lot will be added to the nearby city Corporation Yard, allowing for construction of additional office space and storage of Public Works equipment.
Scully said the city had been wanting to expand the facility for a while, but was constrained by the nearby BNSF railroad right of way. Now, with purchase of the lot concluded, the city has that needed room to expand the corp yard.