WATSONVILLE — Plans are underway to redevelop a property at Main Street and Auto Center Drive, and once complete, it will significantly transform one of the busiest intersections in the city.
Santa Cruz Seaside Company, which owns the property, is looking to construct three buildings that add up to roughly 15,000 square feet of space, featuring restaurants and other retail establishments.
The property, at 975-1075 Main St., is currently home to Street Scene, JV Towing and Eclipse Window Tint. Mi Ranchito Supermercado and Taqueria Mundial have recently vacated the three-acre property, which features buildings constructed in the mid-20th century.
With more than 20,000 vehicles traveling through it daily, the Main Street/Auto Center Drive intersection is one of the busiest in Watsonville, according to data collected by Caltrans.
Karl Rice, president of the Santa Cruz Seaside Company, said the company has been in dialogue with the city for the past year about redeveloping the property.
“It’s a great piece of property, and I think it has a lot of potential,” he said. “The property now is old and needs some attention.”
Rice said the Santa Cruz Seaside Company has hired Boos Development to lead the project. While the project is still in the preliminary stages, Rice estimates construction could begin at the end of 2019.
The project follows other redevelopment work the Santa Cruz Seaside Company has completed in the area. Across the intersection, the Grocery Outlet building at 1000 Main St. has seen three more buildings constructed around it, which have since been filled with Dollar Tree, Santa Cruz Community Credit Union and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen.
Farther down Auto Center Drive, the vacant Cabrillo Lanes bowling alley was demolished in 2015 to make way for Tractor Supply Company.
“Watsonville is a great community, and an attractive community to support,” Rice said. “We are trying to support efforts around the core of Watsonville, and make sure the primary service corridors are places the residents of Watsonville and the county want to visit.”
An artist’s rendition of a proposed retail project at the intersection of Main Street and Auto Center Drive. (Courtesy of McKently Malak Architects)
He added that the company has been “mindful of the tenants currently there,” keeping them updated on the project while also offering them help finding a new location.
It is a far cry from 2016, when the property owner of the Crossroads Center served eight businesses with 30-day eviction notices to make way for Kaiser Permanente.
Rice said the Seaside Company is aware of such instances, and is being “respectful” of its tenants.
“We have not called our tenants and said, ‘Hey, 30 days from now you’re gone,’” Rice said. “We’re trying to be very proactive and keep them updated.”
Bill Bray, owner of Street Scene, said he has been kept informed of the project by the property owner, and has been operating on a month-to-month lease.
“They’ve been very gracious with keeping us informed,” he said. “I give the property owner an A-plus for keeping us in the loop.”
Street Scene will be moving to 27 First St. after the Watsonville Planning Commission approved the permit on Dec. 4.
Bray said he has been aware of the redevelopment project for about five years, and has been looking to move, but couldn’t find a spot within city limits until the First Street location opened up.
“It’s got reasonably good visibility,” he said. “It’s just such a superior facility to work out of.”
Street Scene, which offers aftermarket parts for cars, trucks and trailers, as well as provides installation services, has been located on Main Street for 19 years.
Bray estimates the business will begin moving in to its new location in February, and opening not too long after that.
A handful of Street Scene customers attended the Dec. 4 planning commission meeting to voice their support of the business.
Greg Estrada of Watsonville said Street Scene has installed fifth wheel trailers for four pickup trucks for his family farming endeavor.
“There’s no other place in town where we can get this work done,” he said. “Without him, we will have to do business elsewhere. The options in town are limited.”
Watsonville resident Woody Vega said Street Scene has completed several jobs for him.
“It’s a wonderful business,” he said. “He’s always been right on time.”
Bray added that had the First Street location not been available, he would’ve had to move his business out of Watsonville.
“We love Watsonville, and we love doing business here,” he said.
