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Vacant gas station drawing attention from downtown


Downtown businesses are awaiting a change to an out-of-business gas station, but there's no end to the vacancy in sight.

The Exxon Mobil station on Mill Avenue and University Drive has been closed since January.

Mill Avenue business owners said they would like something to take its place, but the process is slow.

"It takes some time," said Mindy Korth, senior vice president of Trammell Crow Co., which handles Exxon Mobil's real estate.

Rod Keeling, executive director of the Downtown Tempe Community, a nonprofit organization that supports the downtown area, said he thinks the process might include environmental contamination from underground gas tanks.

Tempe officials say they were unaware of the plans for the business or property.

"Anything I say would be personal speculation," said Chris Solomone, Tempe community development manager. "We have nothing from the property owners."

Sahara Middle Eastern Restaurant is located near the gas station and general manager Ali Aziz said the gas station gave his restaurant exposure.

Aziz said he is dissatisfied with the gas station's current condition.

"Of course we are unhappy about it," he said.

Aziz said the area is now less safe and dirtier as the lot sits empty.

"Anything is better than it right now."

Exxon Mobil owns the property and plans to sell it, Korth said.

Korth said Exxon Mobil would notify her when it is ready to sell the property.

"We have already received expressed interest on this," Korth said, "But there is nothing I can do right now."

Keeling said though it is a small lot, the location should be valuable.

"That [property] will bring in a lot of money," he added.

Ruby Tuesday's general manger Sean Lay said he'd like to see anything other than a restaurant in that area.

"I would like to see parking go in there," he added.

Joey Curtis, shift manager at Caffe Boa, said another gas station in the area would be nice.

"[I would like] something not corporate," he said. "Everything on Mill is corporate."

Reach the reporter at katherine.ruark@asu.edu.


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