Developers of the planned Lowe’s in Hollister have put off
scheduled construction of the 140,000-square-foot building until
2010, said Frank Guerra, the property owner who sold the land for
the home-improvement store.
HOLLISTER
Developers of the planned Lowe’s in Hollister have put off scheduled construction of the 140,000-square-foot building until 2010, said Frank Guerra, the property owner who sold the land for the home-improvement store.
Guerra told the Free Lance he attended a meeting a few weeks ago at which representatives from the city and county – which included two council members and two supervisors – along with a representative from Lowe’s met and discussed the latest prospects for the development.
That’s where he learned Lowe’s has pushed back its planned groundbreaking at the site to some point 2010, while Guerra expressed confidence the store’s construction will remain on the company’s dwindling list of new projects.
“They said it’s not going to be built this year,” Guerra said. “It’s planned to be started in 2010.”
Guerra pointed out that he was pleased with government officials’ involvement and their offer to the developer – that they were willing to help out however they can to speed up the adjusted time frame.
“The city stepped up and offered to see if there’s something they can do to move them up on the list,” he said.
He noted, however, that there were only four new Lowe’s stores planned in the Western states this year.
“They’ve cut everything way back,” he said. “They haven’t stopped building stores. They’ve scaled way back.”
Guerra’s family owns property adjacent to the approved Lowe’s along the Highway 25 bypass between Meridian Street and Hillcrest Road. They plan to develop 13 separate buildings around the Lowe’s center.
He has been in “loose negotiations” with some potential tenants, but Guerra said he expects other business’ interest to grow once Lowe’s starts building.
Look for an expanded version of this story in Tuesday’s Free Lance.
