A year after Lowe’s put off possible construction of a Hollister
site until sometime in 2010, the mega-retailer remains in limbo
about a timeline for developing off the Highway 25 bypass. With no
definitive schedule ahead and no signs of movement, a developer
hoping to trigger economic activity around the store on Monday
openly criticized local leadership for the indefinite delay.
A year after Lowe’s put off possible construction of a Hollister site until sometime in 2010, the mega-retailer remains in limbo about a timeline for developing off the Highway 25 bypass. With no definitive schedule ahead and no signs of movement, a developer hoping to trigger economic activity around the store on Monday openly criticized local leadership for the indefinite delay.
“Everybody in the whole world is in a funk. We’ve been in a funk for eight years,” said Al Guerra, whose family sold the site to Lowe’s for the proposed retail center and owns surrounding property where it plans to develop 13 other buildings. “We’ve got our money out there and our risk out there trying to develop something.
“It’s frustrating when government has to be more worried about lawsuits, low-income housing, frogs and snails.”
Guerra acknowledged there is no timeline at this point for a Lowe’s construction and that he would be “totally guessing” if he provided any kind of estimate. His comments came nearly three years to the day after the San Benito County Planning Commission unanimously approved the project and a year after the Guerra family said its prospects for construction had been delayed until 2010.
Under the still-existent plans, Lowe’s would build a 140,000-square-foot home-improvement center along the bypass between Meridian Street and Hillcrest Road, where a sign remains telling drivers it is the “Future Home of Lowe’s.” Planning commissioners approved of the project, though the county worked to meet Hollister standards because it eventually would be absorbed into city limits, noted San Benito Planning Director Art Henriques.
In criticizing local leadership for a down economy and stagnant growth seen in recent years, Guerra did note how local government agencies had contributed to spurring activity by hiring new Economic Development Corp. President Nancy Martin. He indicated not much was happening beyond that.
Supervisor Reb Monaco, the board chairman this year, disagreed with that sentiment. He pointed out more recent moves such as efforts to streamline the planning process, easing of affordable-housing restrictions and a revision to the general plan. He said he also has requested reviews of commercial and manufacturing districts.
“We’ve done a lot as far as I’m concerned,” Monaco said.
Lowe’s representative Jack Mandell, a senior site development officer with the company, could not be reached before press time to comment on prospects for a Hollister store.
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