Though blessed with the same natural assets as our neighboring cities, the City of Grover Beach has historically had a much lower economic base. Positive economic change is a high priority goal of the City Council and City Staff. This feature article will highlight several projects that are taking place at the west-end of Grand Avenue and Highway One. These projects, when completed, will expand economic opportunities and increase property tax revenue within the City's redevelopment area.

Residents and visitors traveling along Grand Avenue and Highway One can not help but notice new development activity taking shape. The first project currently under construction is called Grand Junction, a 7,187 sq ft mixed use commercial building. The architecture is closely designed to tie into the Grover Beach Train Station. The early California/Spanish Colonial design, with complementary colors and materials similar to the Train Station, will be aesthetically inviting to tourists as well as our citizens. The developer intends to have restaurant and retail commercial uses downstairs and office uses upstairs.

The second project, receiving Planning Commission approval but not yet under construction, will be known as Beach Place. Adjacent to Grand Junction, this project will continue development that was begun several years ago with the construction of the multi-modal transportation facility. Beach Place, a mixed commercial/residential building, will consist of 11,787 sq ft of retail space, 649 sq ft of office space, and 15,771 sq ft for residences (10 apartments). Each residence includes a one-car garage. The project design includes two buildings connected by a pedestrian bridge as depicted in the illustration in this Sea Breeze article. The building has been designed with a neo-Victorian architectural style and includes many design features contained in the design guidelines of the approved Grand Avenue Facade Program.

These two projects provide a key component to our community's revitalization in that grouping such developments for planned activity centers with a dominant purpose or theme such as commercial, business office, or medial complex has proven to be highly successful in other communities. Once completed and occupied with businesses, restaurants, and residences, the west-end of Grand Avenue will be another center of activity and should lend itself to more economic development opportunities.

Additional business activity planned for the west-end of Grand Avenue includes the City negotiating to bring in a deli-style coffee shop into the small commercial space at the Train Station catering to travelers and working commuters of the Five Cities area. Renovations to the Las Tiendas Shopping Center have also visually enhanced the west-end of Grand Avenue and encouraged additional business development and relocation.

In the near future, other development projects and proposed plans may be submitted for review and consideration by the City of Grover Beach which will provide the momentum necessary to create the west-end of Grand Avenue as another gateway to our community - strengthening the City's image as a tourist destination.