Tahoe City eyesore soon to be developed

A developer has bought the 76 gas station site at the Tahoe City wye, paving way for a new development.

The gas station, which has been vacant for at least two years, closed in escrow last week and demolition began Thursday on the site, according to Amanda Blackwood, general operations for Rippey Commercial, LLC, which bought the property.

Blackwood said plans propose a mixed-use housing development with a restaurant downstairs and four units of timeshares or condominiums upstairs. She said the ideal would be to have year-round residents live in condos, but that the property is currently zoned for timeshare units.

She said several people have said they would like to see an Italian restaurant in Tahoe City.

“We want the aesthetics to be similar to the Tahoe design,” Blackwood said. “It would be so cute.”

David Rippey, owner of the Folsom, Calif., development company, had a second home in Tahoe and noticed the old gas station.

“He always drove past it and thought, ‘What a junky area,’” Blackwood said. “It could be so nice.”

Rippey Commercial is responsible for the environmental cleanup on the property and demolition is scheduled to take two weeks, Blackwood noted. She said Rippey is also seeking help on the project from the Placer County Redevelopment Agency.

The project is currently in the permit approval process stage, Blackwood said.

Kendy Hooper, owner of Hooper Real Estate, agent for the property, said he posted a sold sign on the property and has received positive feedback from residents.

“As soon as people saw the sold sign they were excited,” Hooper said. “It is perfect. They want to turn it into a good development.”

Ron Treabess, director of community partnerships and planning with the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association, said redevelopment is a step in the right direction for Tahoe City, although he could not comment specifically on the project.

“To be able to redevelop a piece of property that has sat vacant and is an eyesore is a positive to Tahoe City,” Treabess said. “To be able to show what can happen for redevelopment of buildings is a win for Tahoe City.”