What stores would you like to see to come to San Luis Obispo, Ca?

[the city]

Originally Posted by mono#9

Having just returned from another yummy meal at the Cheesecake Factory in Arcadia, I have to ask--what's the deal with no Cheesecake Factory on the central coast? There are now three of them within less than half an hour of where I live. Surely they belong in Santa Barbara or SLO. I'm planning to move up to Paso Robles in another year and I want one there when I move in! Please?

I can explain this one. Cheesecake Factory at one point had plans to go in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara, but then chain stopped expanding and with it the end of expanding to the central coast. I don't think they have a cheesecake factory in Santa Cruz or Monterey either.

Yurt: Yeah, I think you are right. I found out that Grover Beach has a good portion of the demographics being hispanic, and I found out that the city is in desperate need of tax revenue. Which is why I think the Hilton Garden Inn and a regional mall would bring in needed tax revenue.

Oh, and I'm still in support fo San Luis Obispo going rural to suburban. The 2007 annual report of the general plan estimates that 3,291 homes will be built from now until 2022 with roughly 2.19 per home. That will bring the city 50,000 population in 2020, and 51,500 in 2022, and 52,000 population in 2030. The state told the city council to plan for more low-income housing in San Luis Obispo, and it's Councilman Andrew Carter and Mayor Romero's goal to get more familes into San Luis Obispo. Come on people, share the SLO life with other people!

Another interesting fact to note. It's possible young proffesionals from college, that are moving into San Luis Obispo county, plan to have kids. Which means the estimates might be higher than anticipated, and the elderly people moving in are the parents of those young couples moving in.

[FresnoFacts]

Originally Posted by the city

Yurt: Yeah, I think you are right. I found out that Grover Beach has a good portion of the demographics being hispanic, and I found out that the city is in desperate need of tax revenue.

Careful how you interpret demographics there, you need to look at larger pictures. And ethnicity does not necessarily reflect income.

Grover Beach is roughly 23% Hispanic, that is only 2/3 of the California percentage. Heck, the city of Santa Barbara is 35% Hispanic which is almost exactly the statewide percentage. The US percentage is roughly 15 to 16% Hispanic.

Be aware that you need to not just look at a local number but compare it to statewide and national numbers. The demographics of San Luis Obispo County and the Central Coast do not reflect other areas.

What may seem a large percentage is actually out of step with trends and numbers in most other areas, particularly other California areas.

[the city]

Okay, here's a bit of update.

The development in Grover Beach is on West Grand Avenue and only consists of 100,000sq. ft. It's not much, just a small mixed-use development anchored by the Hilton Garden Inn.

Now, we still know Dalidio's back-up plan is a lifestyle center or regional mall if the county doesn't pass his power center project.

And, then I found out the next community in runner-up for a regional mall is in Arroyo Grande. They have land, they meet the reguirements, and a developer could annex land for the development and build right away. It's all a matter of when Arroyo Grande needs the tax revenue.

Regional malls need 150,000 population in a 25 miles radius and at least 415,000sq. ft. of land to be built. 400,000sq. ft. for the mall and 15,000sq. ft. for parking.

[allan16]

Interesting that the thread title is "what stores would you like to see to come to SLO", but the survey is "what stores...Daildio Ranch mall".

If the OP isn't Guy or David from other blogs and forums, he has a number of clones.
His remarkably strong promotion of non-stop paving and malling of SLO is scary to say the least. Why does SLO need ANY of the stores mentioned. It's clear the malling, and strip-malling is progressing at break-neck speed north and south of the town. The ability to shop at ubiquitous strip mall, big box retailers would not be diminished if SLO doesn't join the lemming like charge into retailing oblivion. It would be bit farther away, but the trade off would be less traffic, more local agriculture, more open space, higher property values, and perhaps more support for locally owned business.
Malls, strip, open, or closed, have never increased property values, local incomes, or local tax revenues. Locally owned businesses, however, do.
At this time we do not live in SLO. We are native Californians (San Francisco) currently exiled to New England. I'm old enough to have dug for clams at Pismo Beach, and spent a lot of time in the central coast over the last 3 decades.
We are at the point where we are exploring areas to settle after the kids are off to college. Our plan is to take our, quite comfortable, assets, and our business and move to, hopefully, CA. Even in a scaled down version, our business would employ about 40-45 people, and would cover low skilled up to college degree positions. SLO was at the top of our list.
After reading the Babbit like boosterism for the paving and mindless development, we have to reevaluate SLO. What made SLO attractive to us , and our employees who will move with us, is the LACK of mall type developments and, what seemed to be, a focus on a vibrant town style environment. It is very sad to read the very aspects that make SLO such an attractive place are being threatened by a desire to be like everyplace else, or the chance to make a quick buck.

[SHNYROQ]

allan16, don't write it off yet. All of the projects being mentioned have been talked about for years and years. The only new shopping in SLO is the Costco/Home Depot center on the edge of town. Unlike the original poster (high school kid) I am an architect who previously worked in SLO for years - nothing happens fast. I would still encourage you to see it again for yourself, it really hasn't changed much, and that's a very good thing!

[the city]

Originally Posted by SHNYROQ

allan16, don't write it off yet. All of the projects being mentioned have been talked about for years and years. The only new shopping in SLO is the Costco/Home Depot center on the edge of town. Unlike the original poster (high school kid) I am an architect who previously worked in SLO for years - nothing happens fast. I would still encourage you to see it again for yourself, it really hasn't changed much, and that's a very good thing!

Yeah, don't get so mad. It would be at least 10 years before we get a regional open-air mall in San Luis Obispo or Arroyo Grande or wherever in this county.

The only reason I see Arroyo Grande getting a mall is if there tax revenue is down and they need it. Just like when they got the Wal-Mart. Pismo Beach could get a regional mall, but I see no reason since they have the outlet mall.

And, we'll have to see how Dalidio Ranch's project progresses...

The stores I would like to see the most in this county are: Hot Topic, Orange Julius, No Fear, and other mall stores etc...

[allan16]

Originally Posted by the city

Yeah, don't get so mad. It would be at least 10 years before we get a regional open-air mall in San Luis Obispo or Arroyo Grande or wherever in this county.

The only reason I see Arroyo Grande getting a mall is if there tax revenue is down and they need it. Just like when they got the Wal-Mart. Pismo Beach could get a regional mall, but I see no reason since they have the outlet mall.

And, we'll have to see how Dalidio Ranch's project progresses...

The stores I would like to see the most in this county are: Hot Topic, Orange Julius, No Fear, and other mall stores etc...

I'm not mad, but saddened we can't see the writing on the wall. Malls, of any kind, rarely, if at all, provide any tax revenue. The tax incentives given to developers and chain store corporations eat up what advantage they may offer. Any positive return takes 7 years, at the minimum, and usually runs 10-12 years for a return to the municipality.
We are currently moving our main facility out of a tilt-up industrial park near a suburban center to an older, distressed, New England mill town. The new building will be a rebuilt NE mill. The town was a major textile manufacturing center until it all went away. The location was one of 6 we had chosen. The decision was made by the employees. They voted for it because it ISN'T suburbia. It is an old town where they can buy a reasonable house, raise their kids, walk to work, walk to the movies, to the store, etc.
It was quite a surprise to us, but it was pretty clear, these folks are getting tired of the kind of development you are describing.
As we look to open an west coast facility (and offer ourselves a place to escape), it is, again, sad to see the lack of understanding of what makes town/community attractive and sustainable. If you want some west coast examples, look at Pasadena, Burlingame, Alameda, Orinda, Corte Madera, Larkspur. What made these places valuable and attractive wasn't malls or big box stores. SLO has such a wonderful opportunity to truly become the jewel of the central coast. It's to bad many want it to be another cookie cutter suburb.
BTW, at $4+ per gallon, how many people do you think will be driving to the mall ?

[allan16]

Originally Posted by the city

Yeah, don't get so mad. It would be at least 10 years before we get a regional open-air mall in San Luis Obispo or Arroyo Grande or wherever in this county.

The only reason I see Arroyo Grande getting a mall is if there tax revenue is down and they need it. Just like when they got the Wal-Mart. Pismo Beach could get a regional mall, but I see no reason since they have the outlet mall.

And, we'll have to see how Dalidio Ranch's project progresses...

The stores I would like to see the most in this county are: Hot Topic, Orange Julius, No Fear, and other mall stores etc...

BTW...last I checked, there is an "open air mall" in SLO...it's called downtown

[the city]

Originally Posted by allan16

BTW...last I checked, there is an "open air mall" in SLO...it's called downtown

if u want to call it a street mall, fine. but an open-air mall commonly refers to a regional mall. regional malls include 20-50 mall-only clothing stores that r generally low-income for teens and families that buy them, two department stores, 400,000sq. ft., and food courts and arcades.