May 13,2016-
Four Local Dairies Closing
Low milk prices are convincing four Tulare County dairies to shut their barn doors. “China was buying from us like crazy in 2014” says local dairy operator Tom Barcellos,but they pulled the plug since helping to depress world milk prices. “Now more of my neighbors are calling it quits.” CME milk futures have dropped from $16.50 in mid-November to just $12.33 this week, below the cost of production for many operators
In the next few weeks four Tulare County dairies will auction off their cows and rolling stock or schedule a sale.The farms include Visalia’s Bar 99 Dairy owned by Gary Zysling and family at 8061 Ave 360 – selling off 1000 cows at a May 20 auction; The Henry Brower Dairy near Lindsay with a May 25 auction; Also closing is J&E Dairy of Tulare owned by John and Edie Simoes at 3231 N Oakmore selling their cows May 24, and a 4th operator that will be announced soon.
More Dairies Go Solar
Tulare County dairies are installing solar on their farms in a big way with 29 projects on the books in the past year says county economic development director Mike Washam.”Last year at this time we had only 3 dairies who were installing the technology.” The 29 projects add up to 28MW. A number of the county’s dairy leaders signed up to cut their power expenses and take advantage of incentives. Barcellos Dairy of Tipton headed by Tom Barcellos says “it just makes sense.” Barcellos is a board member at Western United Dairymen.”We lease the panels for 10 years for the same price I am paying the utility and after that the panels are mine – and these are 30 year panels.” Another local advocate is dairyman Ben Curti of Tulare.
Developer Pitches Mooney Megaplex
Packwood Creek developer Patrick Orosco has ”dusted off” their 2013 proposal to build a megaplex theater on land they own on Cameron off South Mooney Blvd. ”We’ve seen renewed tenant interest” he says, declining to name the theater chain he is working with.Filing the site plan with the city that will be heard next Wednesday “is just a step we need to take – we are ready to get going.“
The plan is the same he proposed before that would build a new retail center anchored by a 30,000sf theater across Cameron Ave. from Costco. Orosco offered no timetable.
Old Caskey Building Could Be Reborn As Mixed-Use Project
Includes Restaurant , Micro brewery, Apartments & Office
Calling their project 720 W Center – a development team is closing escrow on the former Caskey Paper building next week says representative Matt Ainley of Four Creeks Engineering.”They don’t want to disclose their name yet” says Ainley, although they have submitted preliminary plans to the city. The ambitious project would convert the warehouse into multiple-uses oriented toward Mill Creek to the north. Uses include a 4000sf restaurant , 4500sf micro brewery,8000sf of office use, 8500sf of apartments and 4000sf of indoor parking. The building is currently owned by Bill Jordon.”We will have a rooftop terrace looking over Mill Creek”,he adds.This would the first such new development to take advantage of the future view toward the new Civic Center-children museum area and planned Mill Creek walkway. ”This is the kind of project you might see in a big city.” Ainley predicts the complex could open in 2017.
Tulare’s Former JD Heiskell Office To Become Church
The former headquarters for grain company JD Heiskell is being leased to a church group according to plans field this week with the City of Tulare. Seeking a lease and city approval is Transition Christian Outreach Center. JD Heiskell corporate office is now at 1939 Hillman as of a year ago.