Business & Tech

POLL: Fire-Ravaged Apple Growers Building May Be Sold

Cleanup from the April blaze is nearly complete.

The historic warehouse facility may change hands after more than eight decades of operation in Watsonville's industrial area, KION Central Coast News reported this week.

accidentally ignited April 20 and burned for three days at 850 W. Beach St.

The cleanup and demolition started this summer and is wrapping up, but the owners of the building likely will sell the property. They intend to meet as a board Friday to discuss their plans, Mark Corley of Redenbacher & Corley Construction Services told KION News.

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Watsonville Fire Department investigators back to a roofing crew mishap that sent sparks into the building. The fire smoldered inside the walls of the building, which were made of concrete, packed with redwood mulch and covered with cork to insulate the facility.

The warehouse facility, built in 1928, stored produce, plant starts for area berry growers and cases of Martinelli's apple cider products.

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The fire caused an estimated $10 million damage to the building and the property inside, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported. Both Apple Growers and Martinelli's were insured.


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