Groundbreaking held for ‘transformational’ mixed-use project at busy downtown Grover Beach intersection
GROVER BEACH, Calif. - Groundbreaking was held Thursday morning for a transformational mixed-use development at one of the busiest intersections in downtown Grover Beach.
City officials, representatives with developers Coastal Community Builders, local business owners, along with members of the public were on hand to mark the ceremonial start of construction of Palladium, a multi-story project located at the corner of W. Grand Avenue and 4th Street.
"It is very, very momentous for our city," said Grover Beach Mayor Karen Bright. "I believe just the concept of this project itself, to me, is very exciting."
Initial construction work on the site recently began on the vacant property that is located on the southeast corner of the intersection, directly across the street from a 7-11 store and catty-corner from the Rib Line by the Beach restaurant.
When completed, Palladium will feature 37 new luxury condominiums, as well as commercial space on the ground floor just four blocks from the beach.
"It consists of two commercial units on the ground floor, one of which is suitable probably for a restaurant," said Cam Boyd, Coastal Community Builders Chief Operating Officer. "The other one is suitable for perhaps a coffee shop or an ice cream shop or a small deli. In addition to that, we've got 37 residential condominiums, which will be for sale between one bedroom and two bedroom units, so the two bedroom units are all on the fourth story, most of which will have ocean views, and there's a rooftop deck associated with it. That is going to be available for residents, and that rooftop deck is going to have an outdoor kitchen and some lounge facilities and it will have ocean views as well."
The development represents a significant step forward in the city's overall vision of revitalizing its downtown core along W. Grand Avenue, which the City Council members have long targeted since it adopted the West Grand Avenue Master Plan in 2011.
"That articulated a forward looking vision for our main commercial corridor, a vision of residents, businesses, tourism, pedestrian, walkability, just really transforming West Grand Avenue into the beachfront boulevard that it could be," said Grover Beach City Manager Matt Bronson. "There's been some progress over time on that, particularly the West End area of the city, but we haven't seen the kind of development elsewhere along the corridor until now."
Grover Beach officials believe Palladium will help spur additional growth and development in the important business sector that runs along Grand Avenue between Highway 1 and the city's border with Arroyo Grande near Oak Park Boulevard.
"This project is really the catalyst for us to West Grand Avenue," said Bronson. "It's been a vacant lot for over 40 years now. It will be a neighborhood. It'll be full of residents, neighbors, customers for our local businesses and usher in a new era of revitalization and growth on West Grand Avenue."
Bright highlighted the importance of adding more housing to the city, especially since available space to build on in the city is limited.
"We are basically at buildout," said Bright. "So wherever we can bring more housing to the area, I think it's very important. It is one of the council's major goals of housing and not only for the for the residents, but also for our businesses, which are really the lifeblood of our city. We don't have, you know, large commercial businesses here. So it is a the small businesses that truly we need to nurture and foster and these types of projects where you have residents that live right there near the businesses so they can participate in the economic development, It's it's just I think it's a win win."
A major draw to the housing development will be its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, which sits within easy walking distance just few blocks west at the very end of Grand Avenue.
"I think location is a big part of it," said Boyd, when asked about it's appeal. "Being three blocks from the entrance to the beach. There is quite a value having ocean views and also being part of the broader redevelopment of the W. Grand Avenue. "We envision that this is going to become more of a pedestrian oriented commercial corridor similar to what you have in Pismo Beach, which is going to be a destination, not just for tourists and people from out of the area, but also for locals, people, residents of the City of Grover Beach, as well as residents of (San Luis Obispo) county."
In addition to Palladium, Coastal Community Builders is also set to begin construction later this year on a second project called Encore, which will be located across the street from Palladiue.
Also a mixed-use development, Encore will cover a full city block on W. Grand Avenue, between 4th and 5th Streets, where a used car dealership and liquor store were once open.
"It's very similar to this project and a number of ways the architectural style is going to look very similar," said Boyd. "(Encore) consists of two separate buildings. One is going to have two commercial components on the ground floor and 37 residential units above. The second building is going to have two commercial units on the ground floor and 22 residential units above."
Even as Grover Beach begins to see its long-awaited revitalization efforts begin take shape, and with additional developments either approved or going through the process of approval, Bronson assures residents the city will retain its appeal and charm that has drawn many here.
"It's important to keep in mind that we're still a small community," said Bronson. "We're going to become a slightly bigger version of Grover Beach and done so in a way that's still consistent with our community vibe. We're a small beachfront community that will not change even as we add several hundred new housing units and more residents, we're still going to have that small town beachfront community character that people cherished about Grover Beach."
Construction is expected to last 12-14 months, with completion estimated to be March 2025.
"I am just so excited to see the West Grand Avenue plan starting to take shape and come to fruition," said Bright. "12, 13 years ago, it almost seemed like a pipe dream, but the wheels in the public sector do turn slowly, but once they get moving, you can really see that great transformation, and that's what I believe we'll see here. "
For more information about Palladium, click here.
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