Riverside City History
Business Boom

The most dramatic business boom in Riverside began in the 1980s, despite soaring interest rates and high unemployment. Although it started at a snail's pace, buildings such as an industrial office facility for Getty Refining (now owned by Conoco, Inc.) laid the foundation for what today is one of the area's brightest industrial areas, the 9 Highway corridor.

In 1983, a giant step was made when a new zoning district was established titled "Light Industrial." This made way for Riverside's first Industrial Park developed by John Brown & Company, located adjacent to Red-X where the old Riverside Drive-In once stood. Today, the Riverside Business Park consists of 18 acres and is complete with a total of seven buildings representing almost five million dollars in development. These multi-use office/warehouse buildings can be utilized or divided to accommodate 50 to 70 tenant spaces depending on square footage requirements. Over the next three years, the momentum continued. This also was a time when many existing homes and businesses underwent considerable remodeling. In 1984 Windemere Retirement Center constructed the second phase of its facility where they now house 59 residents.

The year 1987 marked the beginning of major development for the corridor of property south of 9 Highway, which first included the Woodbridge Foam/Riverside Seat manufacturing plant. Mild weather conditions in 1988 were a factor in marking an all time high in construction dollars - $4,779,408. The city also saw the construction of the Conoco Products Terminal facility and the initial phase of office/warehouse buildings constructed in the new Platte Valley Industrial Park both located along 9 Highway.

Early in 1989, the city approved a land use guide plan and zoning changes in an effort to better serve the community. Another building was added in the Platte Valley Industrial Park. New construction of the Earth Dental Lab was completed on Gateway (next to Eagle Animal Hospital). Peeler Oil began construction of their new location on Tullison Road. Although none of these were huge by standards of larger communities, the total comprised a signficant trend. Most importantly, groundwork was laid for further growth that continues today

A significant aspect of Riverside's past and future involve a unique series of light industrial buildings along Highway 9, operated by ProLogis Trust. Since 1994, ProLogis has owned and expanded the former John Brown and Associates properties in Riverside, the Riverside Industrial Center and the Platte Valley Industrial Park. Originally Security Capital Industrial Trust, ProLogis is far more than a local real estate company. The firm had a name change in 1998 in order to expand into Europe with its unique concept of consistent service. "The idea is that any of our tenants can walk into one of our offices anywhere and know what to expect," explained Kathryn Hershewe, marketing representative for ProLogis Riverside. ProLogis became a Riverside business with purchase of the John Brown operation in 1994. Based in Denver, ProLogis is an industrial real estate investment trust located in 98 markets throughout the world. The company owns and manages an amazing total of 200 million square feet of property. In Riverside, the firm controls more than 1 million square feet in 21 buildings, including two constructed since the purchase.

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