As a Lakeshore Drive property owner, I too am concerned about the City of Clearlake”s proposed development of the “Lowe”s property.” I share Ted Mandrones” concerns about the impact of Lowe”s upon existing businesses. Four Corners and Mendo Mill already offer excellent products and services immediately within the city of Clearlake. Furthermore, Mendo Mill just completed an extensive remodeling, expansion and re-merchandising of inventory that will only be replicated by Lowe”s. There are only 70,000 people in all of Lake County. Building starts, and even remodels, are almost nil. The laws of market share dictate that there will be no new production of sales, only redistribution. Therefore there will be no increase in sales tax.
I cannot imagine that people will drive over the hill to come to Lowe”s as a tourist attraction. In my commute I see very few, if any, vehicles full of building supplies coming from Santa Rosa. Those things are already purchased locally due to transportation costs. That revenue is already coming to the city and county. And how many employees that can help you have you been able to locate on a visit to any Lowe”s?
But there is a bigger issue at stake. What happened to the funds for the Lakeshore Drive redevelopment project? Businesses and properties along Lakeshore Drive were led to believe that not only had a comprehensive improvement plan been developed, but also that there were redevelopment funds dedicated to it”s implementation. A tremendous amount of citizen time and input was devoted to developing this plan. Many business and property owners invested funds in Clearlake in good faith that the city would partner with them and make good on its” redevelopment plan.
Lakeshore Drive is currently a blighted sight in many areas. The tourist industry, which does bring additional sales and revenues to the city, is suffering greatly due to the lack of appeal of Lakeshore Drive. As Gertrude Stein said, “there is no there, there.” It appears to be a hasty act of gross negligence to dedicate those funds to a strip mall out on the highway that will bring no additional revenue, nor improvement, to the city proper.
I hope the city council will respond to the needs and suggestions of its” citizens rather than chase the windmill of profits from Lowe”s. They need to critically evaluate the true job creation of a Lowe”s versus a thriving Lakeshore Drive. They need to critically evaluate the source of actual increased revenues from a Lowe”s versus a thriving Lakeshore Drive. And they need to evaluate the impact on the reputation and demographics of the city of Clearlake that a thriving Lakeshore Drive provides.
Lynn Rossman, owner
Lakehouse Inn, Bistro & Lounge
Clearlake
