City Hall & KDDH Plan Moves
One item up for discussion at the latest city council retreat – what about moving city hall to east Visalia? Council member Warren Gubler appears to speak for the majority when he says he does not favor relocating the police and fire department from their current location on Johnson any time soon. “It’s a matter of priorities. I think our next move should be to plan on building a new Civic Center in east Visalia’” noting that “that we will get private development to follow.” Still, that is some years off. In a closer time frame the relocation of the Visalia Chamber from Santa Fe Ave will allow the move of city administration to the municipal-owned building from the upper floor of the Transit building later this year.
If the city is planning to retain their current Acequia property west of the hospital – Kaweah Delta appears to be planning to continue to move their way. This week the hospital held a closed door meeting that included the possible purchase of the Dr Tom Mitts property on Acequia. The half-block includes Mitts medical building and two others including the old pharmacy. Kaweah Delta already owns the parking lot next to the buildings.
Dr Mitts said when asked” we told them we would be open to selling. We think a lot of the hospital.” Mitts has been scaling back his practice and says he now works about half time.
The hospital is in the early stages of planning for a second tower now that the state will not allow the old Mineral King wing to used for acute care after 2030.
Furniture Store Opening
Mor Furniture For Less will be holding their ribbon cutting ceremony on Mooney next Tuesday.
Cold Storage Expansion
Sundale Vineyards on Lovers Lane has broken ground on two cold storage projects including a new 51,220 sf, $4.6 million facility as well as a 21,115 sf expansion of an existing cold storage valued at $825,000.
New Exec At BIA
Mike Lane has been named executive director of the Building Industry Association of Tulare and Kings counties. He replaces Bob Keenan, who has retired after 25 years leading the organization. Mr. Lane was past president and CEO of Lane Engineers Inc.
Local Home Builders Busy
Two local home builders have recently broke ground on large new projects.
San Joaquin Valley Homes has started construction on a 26-acre single-family residential project called San Marino that will offer 95 detached homes in northwest Visalia. A grand opening is tentatively scheduled for April 2015.
“We’re anticipating a very high demand due to a lack of inventory of larger new homes with high-end amenities,” said Lissa Walker, director of marketing for San Joaquin Valley Homes, which is based in Visalia. San Marino, located on a vacant piece of land at Riggin Avenue and South Shirk Road, will offer four floor plans and three elevations with three to six bedrooms. The homes will have tile roofs, courtyards, granite countertops and tile flooring.
Standing In line: Meanwhile one the busiest home tracts in the county is in Goshen where Smee Builders has broken ground on Cottontail Hollow – a 110 lot subdivision near Ave 308. Builder Gary Smee says when all phases are add in – there will be over 300 homes. Prices go from $150,000 to $180,000.”We got them standing in line to buy the product” says Smee, in part due to attractive USDA financing offered low income buyers.