A key city site that has sat unused since Orange City Council bought it several years ago is now up for sale.
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However, the council says it is not letting the city entrance site at 1 Summer Street and an adjacent block in Woodward Street go for just any use.
It is seeking expressions of interest about how the city can capitalise on a resourceful use of the site.
Orange mayor Cr Reg Kidd said he was pleased to see the site being offered. "I hate seeing dead assets," he said.
Cr Kidd said the site offered a number of uses including as a shop.
"I have been told that a business house in Orange has already [lodged] an expression of interest for it about 12 months ago," he said.
The site had been occupied by a corner shop, known as Aspros' store, and an adjacent double-storey house for many years.
After council bought it the site was bulldozed.
"Because this site is such a significant site for Orange, we're taking a different path to simply putting it up for sale. We'd like to see a quality development on a site like this. We would like to see a venture that would add to the local neighbourhood and make the most of a strategic intersection," he said.
"The 'expressions of interest' path lets the council look at the quality of what an investor or business has in mind for the site, before we agree to sell."
Cr Kidd said it was hoped council would make a profit over the purchase price.
However he said council's costs included purchase, demolition and the several years of it sitting vacant not earning money.
The site was considered to be added to the adjacent Esso Park as part of a land swap however council decided in February to keep the sites separate by approving the Esso Park land to continue to be a recreation reserve.
Cr Kidd said it was 'high-profile' location.
"If you were looking for a high profile location to start a new venture right on the highway and at a key entrance to Orange, you'd be hard-pressed to do better than this," he said.
"Tourists by the thousands use the roundabout that's right out the front of this spot. People on their way to wineries, the lake or Mount Canobolas will drive past this site, so if they are your market, this site is worth looking at."
The expressions of interest form and information package about the site is on the council website.
Submissions close on May 21.
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