Oasis Academy has purchased the building that once housed Walmart on 920 W. Williams Ave. Current tenants are Big 5 and Dollar Tree.
Oasis Academy purchases old Walmart building
After more than a decade of serving students in the Fallon community, Oasis Academy Charter School has purchased the building they are currently located on West Williams Avenue.
The building and property was once home to Walmart, which moved to its present location in 2007. The building currently houses Oasis Academy, Big 5, and the Dollar Tree. The sale was finalized on April 25. No other terms were released.
The expansion comes at a critical time as the school’s slow growth model has led to three classes in grades K-5 for next year. Plans also include moving Oasis Academy College Prep to a section of the newly purchased property.
“This has been a long time coming,” said Oasis CEO Melissa Mackedon. “Purchasing this building puts the school in a better financial position as our mortgage is less than our monthly rent was. We plan to put that savings aside so that we can renovate the building into the space we want it to be.
Mackedon said Oasis Academy has many long term goals and spaces the school wants to see incorporated into the learning environment. She said this puts Oasis one step closer to making that vision a reality. The purchase would not have been possible without the collaboration efforts of several groups. This included financial partner Nevada State Bank, and the property was purchased from Old Fallon LLC.
“More than three years ago the board started to review sites for the construction of a new school,” said Oasis board member Frank Woodliff. “It became apparent with the high costs of site improvements when developing a vacant piece of land and the ever-increasing building construction costs we needed to look at new options. Fortunately, we were presented with the option of purchasing the building that Oasis Academy currently occupies.”
Oasis said the West William Avenue location is great, and the city of Fallon provides the utilities to the academy.
“The building is over 100,000 square feet which will allow Oasis Academy to grow and expand its offerings to students,” Woodliff said. “The board is excited about working with all of Oasis Academy’s stakeholders to develop the future improvement plans and enhance Oasis’ goals of educational excellence.”
According to Oasis Academy, both Big 5 Sporting Goods and Dollar Tree will continue to lease their current locations.
“I am really excited to finally have what will be a permanent home for the school,” Mackedon said. I’m excited to start thinking about and firming up a design. Good things are in our future.”
Angela Viera is the public relations coordinator for Oasis Academy.
