Today’s Chamber of Commerce luncheon featured developers Ted Moore and Dave Watson to discuss their upcoming projects and development for Nipomo. Ted is developing a second phase at the current Longs shopping center at the corner of Tefft Street and Frontage Road in Nipomo. The development known as The Village at Nipomo will include a new drive through Starbucks, a Wells Fargo Bank, and possibly Hollywood Video. Ted hopes to begin construction by August of this year. Wells Fargo’s goal is to be open by March of 2007.Ted envisions creating an outdoor plaza atmosphere. He also anticipates a couple of restaurants at The Village. Gone will be the old Hunter’s Landing Coffee shop, and eventually Pacos. Mary Street will extend across Tefft Street right through where Hunter’s Landing currently sits.
The southbound freeway on ramp at the intersection of Tefft Street and the 101 will move further south and begin at Hill Street. The old onramp will be taken completely out. This is one of the most major overhauls of the core commercial district ever undertaken in Nipomo.
Dave Watson, of King Ventures also discussed his project, which once anticipated a movie theater and a small hotel. Gone now is both the theater and the hotel; however, what remains includes a retail center, about 75,000 feet in retail space, three fast food restaurants, and mixed used projects including some residential. Dave has been working on this project for over the last 10 years, and recently did a major rework in order to accommodate some required changes. He thought that the theater he once envisioned here on the west side would be better situated in the Olde Towne area. Dave also hopes to break ground sometime this summer. He anticipates approximately two years work to complete his project.
This is an exciting time for Nipomo. These projects have been submitted to the community, including the NCAC and also the County Board of Supervisors. It will be exciting but at the same time nostalgic to see our small town community undergo these huge changes.
I know a lot of Nipomo residents like the “small town” feel of the place. I wonder how these changes will make a lot of people feel?
Many people I speak with are interested in these developments. From what I have read there have been many positive comments from community members. That said, we are a small rural town, and people out here overwhelming want to stay that way. While curbs, sidewalks, and gutters are fine for the downtown commercial district, most folks want to maintain that rural feel, and small town atmosphere. I’m certain no one wants to lose any of that which makes Nipomo so desirable.
If Nipomo’s residents were smart, they would inspect the last project King Ventures did, which was (and still is) the Nipomo Village. After all the homes were built and sold, the developer is still there ripping homes apart to fix what short-cuts were taken. No county supervision. No NCAC oversight. And many residents who aren’t as excited as Dave Watson about their next project. Have you seen our new street the county approved and King Ventures left us?