The Buzz: Former Costco site on Oasis Road is on the market, with high interest – Redding Record Searchlight

Neighbors opposing Costco’s plan to move to south Redding are convinced the Oasis Road property where the big-box retailer at one time wanted to land can still be in play.

The city just needs to sit down with Donald Levenson, the Oasis property owner, and Costco and hash out a deal, they contend.

Soon that might not be an option.

A representative from the real estate firm recently hired to market the Oasis property told me that interest there is high, especially for the 36-acre portion of the site that he calls “close to being turn-key” ready.

“Whatever happens with Costco, happens,” Russ Moroz, of Marcus & Millichap, told me. “We are not in discussions with them.”

Interest in Oasis is so high that Moroz says he has a hard time responding to all the inquiries.

The big news, Moroz says, is that Levenson has bought out the property’s minority owner, who Moroz said was a big reason why Levenson could never come to an agreement with Costco or other national retailers eyeing Oasis.

“They held this as tenants in common, which means both parties needed to sign off on anything that happens,” Moroz said.

But that won’t be an issue moving forward, and Moroz is eager to let everybody know, including the city. He recently sent a letter to Mayor Julie Winter.

“The ownership is now excited to report they have completely resolved their internal disagreements by finalizing the buy-out of the minority partner’s interest and making them sole owner,” Moroz wrote to Winter.

The 36 acres that Moroz said is getting a lot of interest was the first phase of the Oasis Towne Center project, where Costco had planned its store and gas station before the big-box retailer walked away from the project in early 2016 and pivoted to south Redding.

Those plans, on the northeast corner of Bechelli Lane and South Bonnyview Road, are on hold again after the attorney representing Bonnyview Bechelli Coalition, a group that opposes Costco, sent a letter to the city raising questions about the final environmental impact report’s traffic and air quality impacts.

The letter came after the Planning Commission on July 23 unanimously voted to send the Costco project to the City Council for final approval.

The draft EIR now will be recirculated for a second time and will have to come back to the planning commission, which will probably happen in early 2020.

Moroz said they are looking for a Costco-sized retailer to anchor the 36-acre site.

“If there is a retailer that expresses interest in that site, we certainly would bend over backwards,” Moroz said. “They basically would create value for the rest of the project.”

Axiom Theatre finds home

While Riverfront Playhouse works to get its new downtown theater open, another local theater company has found a permanent home in a Bechelli Lane building that’s been empty for years.

Axiom Repertory Theatre will stage “Rocky Horror Show,” its first play in the new space, on Oct. 17.

Calling it a pop-up theater, Nancy Hill of Axiom told me her company has done the play in Old City Hall and wants to debut the new theater with the production this year.

“We will launch the new space, warts and all, with ‘Rocky Horror Show,’” Hill said.

RELATED: Anderson teacher wants to put Redding ‘on the road’ to becoming a theater hub

Axiom is moving into the former home of Club H20 and Club Ice.

Club H20 closed in August 2009 after being open for only a few months. The club’s liquor license was later suspended by state Alcoholic Beverage Control officials for violations.

Club Ice closed about a month before Club H20’s June 2009 opening, after a fatal dance-floor punch triggered a 15-day liquor license suspension.

The building has been largely vacant for a decade.

“We have been nomads for three years. We have been in five different places … and it’s gotten to the point where we are ready to take the next move and we’re pretty excited about it,” Hill said.

Axiom has signed a five-year lease.

“We are here to stay; we’re not going anywhere,” Hill said.

Nancy Hill is the theater company’s executive director and producer. Her husband, Ken Hill, is chief executive officer and artistic director.

The new theater will start out with about 200 seats while work continues on more seating.

“We could go between 350 and 400 once we have the permanent seating in,” Nancy Hill said. “We will go dark in November and December and open in January with the play ‘Oedipus.’ ”

Royal Indian Cuisine closes

After just two years in business, Royal Indian Cuisine has closed in downtown Redding.

The space the restaurant occupied, on Placer Street just steps away from Nor Cal Vape, has housed a few different eateries over the years.

Other restaurants that have operated there include Yaadgar, Fuji Japanese, and Nouvelle. Fuji has managed to last the longest, opening in 2004 and closing in 2012.

A note on the front door thanked Royal Indian Cuisine customers and apologized for the inconvenience.

When I contacted one of the owners a few days before the restaurant was scheduled to close, she said they are not from Redding, but she did not have time to elaborate on why they were closing due to customers.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly “Buzz on the Street” column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-225-8219. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

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