The fictional animated children’s TV show character “Bob the Builder” would proud of all the hammer and nail activity in Placer County. His optimistic slogan, repeated over and over to children every morning across the country, is, “Can we build it? Yes we can!” But, so much activity has left some residents confused and the rumor mill is in full churn. Auburn resident Jacque Erdrich wrote, “You would be doing a lot of us ‘nosey neighbors’ a favor if you would print [the] latest news about the various commercial construction projects around town. You have probably mentioned them all at one time or another [but] sometimes we have ‘senior moments’ when there is a long delay between announcements and actual construction. [Also,] what about the biggest rumor of all? Is Costco really going to build on property across from the theater (on Nevada Street)?” She had plenty of other questions that I don’t have room to reprint, so let me see if I can’t track some those answers down for our readers.
COSTCO – As reported previously by Jim Ruffalo in his AJ column, Jim Conkey is now negotiating with Costco to build in unincorporated Auburn (that’s county territory, by the way). Years ago, this same patch of land was going to house Wal-Mart until local residents blocked that deal. When I spoke to District 3 Placer County Supervisor Jim Holmes, he said the land between Highway 49, Canal Street and Luther Road had originally been approved for Wal-Mart, and after that project was killed it was then approved for a 118-unit housing development. The land in question was once the thriving Cal-Ida Lumber Company, but now sits vacant. According to the City of Auburn, no plans for Costco were submitted for the property across from the theater on Nevada Street. A new Environmental Impact Report needs to be submitted to the county for the newly proposed Costco site.
GRASS VALLEY HIGHWAY – The Nevada Street intersection at Grass Valley Highway is one that has been on the mind of Supervisor Holmes for quite some time. Despite a lack of funding, Holmes and the county have worked out a deal with CalTrans to pay to replace the outdated traffic signals and create two left-hand turn lanes onto the highway. Other improvements on the stretch of Grass Valley Highway up to Bell Road are paid for from a variety of sources including a Community Development Block Grant, county traffic mitigation funds, developer fees and a low-interest loan from the state. ... Moving north along Grass Valley Highway, the old spot that once housed Pasquale T’s (before the Italian eatery moved to Downtown) is slated to be another restaurant. According to Holmes, he was under the impression the new tenant was going to be a barbecue place. They’ve practically torn down the old building to make way for the new eatery. A report in the other paper indicated it may become a Carrows restaurant. A quick call to Carrows corporate office, Catalina Restaurant Group, revealed they have no plans to open an Auburn restaurant. A franchisee may have hopes to do so, but no one has informed the corporate office at this stage. I’d consider that answer a “maybe,” but it looks more likely that the original barbecue place is going in. ... At the Kemper Road intersection, Walgreens is still slated to build on the vacant lot across the street from Chevy’s. Traffic safety concerns, particularly that of the curve just prior to the traffic signal, is something the county’s planning department is trying to work out with the developer.
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT K-MART? – The K-mart Shopping Center has seen a lot of activity lately. Best Buy will be moving into the old Ralph’s store and Beverages & More, commonly called BevMo, will also be opening. Above the AT&T wireless store (which is also the building that houses Starbucks), you’ll soon find Auburn’s newest financial institution, 1st Northern Bank. Juanita Holmes will run the new branch office. ... Rite Aid is eyeing the parking lot area across from its current location to build a smaller store featuring a drive-through window. That would free up their current site for another retailer. ... The parking lot that’s fenced off between Rite Aid and McDonald’s is simply an improvement project that will feature some pedestrian friendly areas. The other large fenced off parking lot area will sport new landscaping, parking improvements and some landscaping. Also, plans are still in the works for a K-mart expansion. ... Across Bell Road, long-range plans call for the extension of Quartz Drive (which dead ends behind Target) to the Auburn Greens. Issues facing those plans include the riparian area and tree mitigation, so they are still only in the “hopeful” phase. The land is currently for sale or lease.
WHAT’S GOING ON WITH HOME DEPOT? – Construction crews are busy working on the new Home Depot, despite rumors that corporate was pulling the plug on the project. According to Holmes, Home Depot is paying to widen Willow Creek Drive and will continue Education Drive through to Bell Road. The site also has a massive water storage unit for fire suppression. Home Depot is planning to open their doors in 2009.
AUBURN CITY LIMITS – In Old Town Auburn, work is progressing on the Tsuda’s Market building. An eatery and deli will move into that space but Ty Rowe, owner of Bootleggers Restaurant, won’t be heading up that effort. ... Reese Browning and his family are planning to open a dessert café in the Shaw Building, located across the street from his family’s business, Old Town Pizza. ... The Hayes Lot, owned by Brian Hayes and located between Awful Annie’s and the Auburn Alehouse, was approved to become a private paid parking lot. The parking meters have gone up and I hear the lot was in full use for the first time last Saturday. ... In & Out Burgers purchased the lot behind the fast food chain on Garfield Street and they plan to convert it into more parking and another entry and exit point. ... Wilfred Wong, the city’s community development director, told me plans for construction of the 104-room Hampton Inn at Lincoln Way and Russell Road will be going before the city’s Planning Commission on Tuesday night (after the Sentinel’s press deadline). ... The new office building on Elm Avenue, across from the Auburn Town Center, is nearing completion. The building also sports an apartment on the top floor. ... Sanders Auto has vacated its Palm Avenue and Grass Valley Highway location. Early plans call for a complete teardown of the existing structure with a new building to go in its place. ... Talk about musical businesses! In Old Town, Tea Thyme Treasures is moving into the Martha’s Vineyard location while Mahogany is moving from the mall up the street to Tea Thyme’s spot. In Downtown, Victory Velo Bicycle Shop has moved into the old Georgetown Clothing Spot (and was slated to open this week) since the clothier has moved across the street to the space previously occupied by Rikki Dees (which went out of business). The Auburn Country Grill, meanwhile, is undergoing renovations which will include new flooring and a new look. I hear they will also be sporting a new menu.
Don Chaddock is the executive editor of the Sentinel. His column, “Biscuits & Gravy,” publishes weekly. He may be reached at
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or by calling 530-823-2463.
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