New bus barn owner hopes to use facility for RV and boat storage

August 13, 2024 | By J. Robert Gough, Publisher

Quincy School District attorney David Penn goes over paperwork with Trina Casburn of Quincy Storage and Transfer after she won the high bid for the former bus barn property at 20th and Hampshire. — Photo by J. Robert Gough

QUINCY — Every time a different bidder pondered whether to offer another $5,000 for the 13,000 square foot building at 20th and Hampshire, Trina Casburn was quick to counter with another $5,000 more.

It was pretty evident during the bidding that the owner of Quincy Storage and Transfer wanted the property, which she got for the price of $345,000 at Monday’s auction at the former headquarters of the Quincy Public Schools Transportation Department.

Brothers Sam and Max Dancer were also interested in the property as were a couple of other bidders who tossed out offers. The Dancers hung with Casburn until the end, but when attorney David Penn asked them if they wanted to go $350,000, Sam Dancer said with a smile, “She can have it.”

QPS put the property up for bid after moving the Transportation Department to the former K&L Arena site at 1600 N. 43rd. The district’s maintenance and IT departments will also be fully housed there later this year.

Casburn said she intended to use the property for boat and RV storage and it will be in addition to the company’s main facility at 2925 Wismann Lane. She said she had not yet discussed with the City the zoning changes that will be needed for her to utilize the property as she intends, but she said the use will be low impact with minimal traffic.

The property is currently zoned R1C, which is residential in a single-family district. QPS operated the facility under a special use permit as did the city when it housed Quincy Transit Lines buses before they moved out to Central Services at 2020 Jennifer Lane.

The Quincy School Board will vote on accepting Casburn’s bid at its Aug. 21 meeting.