BARSTOW — An 800,000 square-foot shopping center with as many as 40 to 50 tenants probably seems too good to be true for many long-time residents of this community.
It would be the largest retail project ever attempted and completed in Barstow. Just before the City Council approved an exclusive development agreement in May between the city and Malcolm Riley & Associates and the Bradco Companies, City Councilman Richard Harpole asked Malcolm Riley how soon could it be built. Riley’s answer was “not tomorrow.”
In fact, it could take years before the project is completed, if ever. But Bradco Companies President Joseph W. Brady says he’s “excited and optimistic.” But he said neither he nor Riley are naive and are well aware of the daunting hurdles the project may have to clear before becoming reality. According to Riley, there are “strings attached” to the project.
One of the hurdles occurs during the next two weeks. The Planning Commission and the City Council will hold hearings the next two Mondays to consider an amendment to the Spanish Trails specific plan. The planning commission will meet Monday and the City Council will meet April 6. Both meetings start at 7 p.m. inside the City Council chambers.
Economic Development and Planning Manager Gaither Loewenstein said the amendment is minor and will add approximately 2.6 acres to the project area. He said the lands are being added to allow for greater flexibility in site planning.
“In particular for a possible relocation of the existing Caltrans park-and-ride lot to the eastern corner of the project area,” Loewenstein said. “The lands to be added also include a small, city-owned parcel upon which an on-premises pole sign will be erected.”
“It’s really more of an administrative function, but it needs to be done publicly,” Brady said
Tuesday. While he will not be able to attend the hearings, Brady said there is a “great working relationship” with city staff.
According to Brady, the project requires 33 acres of Bureau of Land Management land to be transferred to the state Lands Commission which will then hopefully transfer 21 acres to the city. Brady says it’s a process that hasn’t been done in a long time, but it’s being pushed along with help from Congressman Paul Cook and California Assemblyman Jay Obernolte.
“It was a pleasant surprise that our congressman has been very supportive in working with our assemblyman,” Brady said. He said there was a meeting two weeks ago that involved Riley and himself meeting with city officials and Obernolte to talk about some of the issues that need to be worked out.
Brady says if everything goes to plan, ground could be broken by 2017. He said it still could take up to three to five years to complete.
Riley said he has had some good discussion with potential tenants.
“We can only go so far until we get an understanding between the local, state and federal agencies. It’s kind in limbo. We are still talking to people,” he said. “We will know a lot more in 2016.”
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