One of the most unfortunate stories at the Chico Municipal Airport concerns the building at 370 Ryan Ave.
That's the one-time home for a major Chico manufacturing company, FLEETWOOD MOTORHOMES.
For years before its 2001 closure, the business was a key employer, with more than 100 high-paying jobs. It opened in 1979, and thousands of motorhomes rolled out the door.
But then the motorhome industry took a hit, prompted by changes in the industry and high gas prices. Fleetwood decided to consolidate the Chico plant with one in Southern California.
For years, the building stood vacant.
Then ANDREW MEGHDADI of Chico purchased the building for $3.2 million in 2005, and made several thousand dollars' worth of improvements, painting it and changing the big hulk of a building into condominium offices and warehouses.
That seemed a good way to go because small businesses can't afford big spaces, no matter how good their ideas are.
There were a couple of takers, but most of the building remained vacant.
Now, I noticed the three buildings and several surrounding parcels are up for auction from Realty Marketing/Northwest of Portland, Ore., with a reduced price of $1,395,000 less than $10 per square foot, according to the auctioning company, with no hidden reserves.
Dabbling in the real estate sales, Meghdadi had been forced to file for bankruptcy protection, and it looks like this building was repossessed. A press release from the auction company says it's being sold by Umpqua Bank.
Sealed bids for the auction are due Nov. 16 and information is at www.rmnw-auctions .com.
Auction company owner JOHN ROSENTHAL said there has been "a lot of interest" in the building, mentioning about a dozen requests for bid packages. I asked about the possibility of a sale, and he thinks there is a good chance, considering the asking price. He suggested warehousing and storage was the likeliest use.
"A new business, probably not," he said.
Elsewhere in the E-R archives I found that the building had a one-time price tag of $1,999,000.
It sure would be nice to see this building occupied, but with this economy that's a tall order.
And in case you know DIESTCO MANUFACTURING, the company at 370 Ryan is still actively working in one of the smaller corner suites.
It's owned by DAN DIESTLE of Chico, and primarily is a manufacturer and distributor of equipment and accessories for individuals with disabilities.
According to Rosenthal, three small units in the big building are owned by others.
A packet about the property can be ordered from the auction company by calling 1-800-845-3524.
A few weeks ago, I missed a call on my cellphone that originated in the Washington, D.C. area. Who would call my personal cell from Washington? Other than politicians, I don't know anyone there, and I wouldn't share my personal cell with them anyway.
I was suspicious, so I googled the number. Glad I did. It was a scam. The number is 202-480-5620. There's a lot written about this number on the Internet.
Internet entries warn not to answer a call from this number because the caller is looking to gather information on the pretense of a chance to win a cruise if you take a survey.
If you answer the phone, you'll hear a ship's horn and message from "your captain," according to the entries.
Don't answer the call and don't answer the survey, the entries recommend.
Recommendations include getting your phone on the National Do Not Call registry by going to www.donotcall.gov or calling 1-888-382-1222.
If you happened to get that call, you can complain to the Federal Communications Commission website, www.fcc.gov/complaints or by calling 1-888-225-5322.
Business Editor Laura Urseny can be reached at 896-7756 or [email protected]
