“We just want to make sure we’re all on the same page,” Carpenter said. “Sometimes we’re all trying to get different goals accomplished, and this way we’re all working toward the same ones.”
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Carpenter and city council determined that the most important goal for the city is the economic development of three empty spaces in town: the Center of Flight across the street from the Air Force Museum, the former K-mart building on Woodman Road and the former MTC building on Felspar Road.
Riverside Mayor Bill Flaute expressed concerns over developing the Center of Flight.
“How do you market the Center of Flight? We’ve done everything we can think possible to market the property,” Flaute said.
Carpenter said he would develop a marketing plan for the properties and distribute those marketing materials to at least eight developers for the three sites. Carpenter also plans to work with a stakeholder group to determine the best business or businesses to go into all three properties.
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Carpenter and the city council defined four goals, including applying for and possibly using CDBG funding to rehabilitate several homes in Riverside. The city manager also plans to develop a website that will showcase available properties in Riverside for development, redevelopment or for sale.
Council will formally sign off on the city manager’s goals at a future meeting.
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