It's been over four years since arson gutted the former Goodwill store in the heart of downtown Petaluma, and all the while, the high-profile corner property has sat boarded up and forlorn looking.
But heavy construction activity last week piqued the curiosity of local business owners and residents, happy to see some life blooming again in the 140-year-old building at Petaluma Boulevard North and East Washington Street.
Goodwill, at the site for 25 years, moved to another location shortly after the July 9, 2006, fire caused $325,000 in damage to the structure, on the north end of the main downtown business district. When the then-owners weren't able to repair the building quickly, Goodwill decided to stay permanently in its Lakeville Highway shop.
In 2008, San Francisco-based Sing Chong Investments bought the property. The front windows have remained covered in plywood, and side of the building — with a larger-than-life mural of Petaluma's heritage — stayed shrouded in black mesh.
Construction crews have been inside recently doing fire reconstruction work, according to the city building department.
Last week, cranes dropped huge steel girders and I-beams into the inside of the building, shoring up the walls and roof for earthquake protection.
Sing Chong representatives couldn't be reached for comment, nor could a lawyer listed in property ownership documents.
It's unclear from the work permits what the owners intend to do with the building once it is refurbished. But local business owners are hoping it will contribute to downtown Petaluma's mix of offerings.
Barbara Mendez, an assistant manager at Summer Cottage Antiques on Kentucky Street in Petaluma, said other merchants have been hoping a new business would open there soon.
"We're happy because it was such an eyesore," she said. "We're all standing around waiting, hoping they keep the integrity of downtown."
Councilwoman Teresa Barrett said she'd heard a couple years ago that the space was possibly going to be turned into a grocery store or deli.
"But I haven't heard what the new status is," she said Monday. "It's always nice to see something being saved and being invested in."
Because the site is zoned for retail, a similar use wouldn't have to be approved by the planning commission or city council.
Sing Chong owns several properties in San Francisco, operating out of the Peking Bazaar on Grant Street in Chinatown. The store sells jewelry, Asian-inspired women's clothing, silk and linen accessories, silk bedding and cushions, porcelain dishes, chopsticks, Asian and contemporary home decor and various furniture.
Fire Battalion Chief Mike Ahlin, who served as the incident commander during the fire, said no suspects were ever apprehended for setting the blaze.
A witness reported seeing two males running from the back of the Goodwill store at the time of the fire, with a couch up against the rear of the building in flames.
No one was injured in the fire, which took more than 60 firefighters from nine agencies to bring under control.
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