Unnamed buyer for Sequoia Mall has property in escrow says the broker on the deal John DuBois of Core Commercial based in Sacramento.”With a purchase agreement the buyer has 60 days of due diligence”says DuBois.”We expect the deal could close in 90 to 120 days.”
Still hope for an east side high speed rail alignment that would put a future station closer to Tulare County. Last April staff at the California High Speed Rail Authority said they favored a route that would swing west of Hanford with a potential station site near Armona. But the Authority board has twice postponed a final decision. At a meeting with Kings Co officials this week HSR board chair Dan Richard was quoted as saying “Right now, we’re not leaning toward either one,” Richard said. “I am sitting here today to say we’re back to neutral here.” Visalia leaders have been lobbying the board members to favor a station site closer to the big population centers of Tulare County – just east of Hanford.
Visalia City Council moving more quickly on the new Civic Center approving a plan this week to underground utilities in the area around Oak and Burke to the tune of $2.6 million funded through SCE and moving forward on a series of design workshops through consultants Darden Architects.The city increased funding for the stepped up effort at $352,450 that would look at how the new Civic Center would lay out with the planned 911 Center.
Dollar Tree To Open In Exeter:National discount retailer Dollar Tree plans to open a store in Exeter by fall in the former Nichols Payless grocery location. Owner of the property Steve Richmond confirms a lease for 18,000 sf in the building adjacent to his Rancho Pharmacy on Kaweah Ave. Dollar Tree has applied for a city building permit to do tenant improvements. Richmond estimates the work could take 4 months.Dollar Tree is one of three fast growing chains of dollar stores being opened across the nation and here in Tulare County. The retailer has 6 locations in the county including one in Farmersville and a location scheduled to open later this year in Lindsay.
News that Odwalla – owned by Coke – would move their corporate office from Half Moon Bay to Dinuba sounds good but comes with no new new staff or investment says a Coke spokesperson. Some 33 people in Half Moon Bay lost their jobs.
The cities of Tulare and Visalia would like to study the possibility of creating a shuttle between the Visalia and Tulare COS campuses.TCAG approved funding for the study this month.
Who You Gonna’ Call … about potholes? Grand Jury wants to know the phone number for the TCAG pothole department. Measure R taxes Tulare County residents 1/2 cent in sales tax for transportation projects but no agency is responsible to fill all the potholes.The Grand Jury visited remote Atwell Island solar project in west Tulare County and were nearly swallowed by foot deep gaps they say. Potholes are filled by agencies only when they get a complaint according to the Grand Jury report.