Voices: What Should Replace Crestview Lanes?
Carmichael Patch hit the streets to speak with residents about the vacant land.
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At the northern edge of Carmichael, a huge swath of land sits idle where a bowling alley once entertained residents for decades.
Crestview Lanes, which sits on a lot of two dozen acres in the Manzanita District of the Fair Oaks Boulevard Corridor Plan, closed in 2010 and is now surrounded by a chain-link construction fence.
The property near the corner of Manzanita Avenue and Winding Way is large enough for many big-box retailers, among countless other uses. So what should go there?
Carmichael Patch hit the streets last week to see what residents would like to see replace the longtime bowling alley.
Nick Thompson, Carmichael:
"In all honesty I think they should have a youth center. There's not really any around here."
Quiin Maheras:
"Maybe something with the deaf community."
Mikel Haipek, Citrus Heights:
"I'd like to see a skate park for the kids. I used to live across the street. When I was a kid and lived over there, there was nowhere to skate."
Tammy Wynette:
"There's no affordable grocery store around here. A grocery store -- either that or a community center for the kids."
Amberlyn Wilson, Carmichael:
"A skating rink, because there's not really one around here besides Foothill."
Lori Wilson, Carmichael:
"A big, huge Wal-Mart on that whole lot, because it would be close to me and it would be convenient."
According to county records, the property is owned by Richard Holesapple of Beverly Hills. An agenda from a 2011 meeting of the Carmichael-Old Foothill Farms Planning Commission says real estate manager and developer The Evergreen Company "is under contract to purchase the 24 acres known as the Holesapple Holdings."
An official from The Evergreen Company declined to comment for this story. A 2010 letter from that company to the county asked for fewer restrictions on regional, big-box stores–hinting that a large business could someday come to the Manzanita Avenue property.
A county planning department website doesn't show any pending developments at the former Crestview Lanes property.
But not everyone is happy about the prospect of a big-box grocery and retail store. In March 2011, the store director of Carmichael's Bel Air Market said in an email to the county that a trend toward big-box grocers had forced Bel Air to reduce many of its employees to part-time status.
"It is my hope that you carefully consider rezoning the Crestview Lanes (Holesapple Site), to allow for more residential growth, or for a non-retail grocery based business," Bel Air Store Director Lynn Luperini wrote. "This community already has a great many vacancies that need filling. Allowing another 'Box' store would devastate our established businesses and can lead to future layoffs and more hours reduction."
Carmichael, what do you think? Should the former Crestview Lanes be replaced with a big-box store, or would you prefer something else? Let us know in the comments section below.
Haleh
6:48 pm on Friday, February 10, 2012
A Nugget! A Nugget! A Nugget! We need a Nugget! And if there is room, throw a Jamba Juice next door!
Herbert Holeman
8:39 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
Worthwhile additions to the hood would include a Noah's Bagel shop, Jamba Juice, and possibly a Nugget store. Not sure about the latter because of the impact on the nearby existing supermarkets. While, it would be a good location for many, I would think a Walmart would decimate the nearby Crestview and Bel Air shopping centers.
bruce coulter
9:35 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
I'd like to see a community vented with a movie theater. Right now I have to go to Century Greenback to see a movie.
Sandra
11:13 am on Saturday, February 11, 2012
HOW ABOUT SOME SENIOR HOUSING.
Sanford Kozlen
2:14 pm on Saturday, February 11, 2012
If it does not contribute economically, then someone will have to pay for whatever goes there. We now are supporting three markets and another market could close one of the three we now support. I would like to see some kind of commercial, office space that would support our current retail and not generate through the day traffic. The full parcel would make a great campus for a software company tenant, if one could be found that would employ graduates of ARC and Sac State. Those employees would then want to buy homes in Carmichael, shop at our retailers and send their kids to San Juan Schools.
Margaret Condon
11:55 pm on Saturday, February 11, 2012
Has anyone noticed the number of commercial vacancies in the Carmichael-Fair Oaks area? There is already a supermarket and clothing stores within walking distance of that area. We don't need any more. Affordable housing would be a nice infill project. More families would bolster the local economy by shopping the stores nearby.
Haleh
3:18 pm on Sunday, February 12, 2012
I'm sorry, but the last thing Carmichael needs is SENIOR HOUSING. Are you serious? We have so many senior living facilities/communities and we have home care popping up left and right in our residential areas. Software company? Good luck with that! Silicon Valley is barely holding on during this economic downturn. Intel and HP are laying people off. Affordable housing? Across the street from the miles of apartments that are being neglected and not taken care of which in turn is inviting an element that, in now way, improves Carmichael? Real estate prices are the lowest we've seen - all housing is affordable. And yes, we do have 3 grocery store supermarkets in the area - but we don't have a specialty store like The Nugget which in turn would encourage a plaza like Loehman's plaza: jamba juice, cold stone, boutiques, chipotle, etc. Look, Carmichael is established - we have pretty much 'everything'. We are a family oriented area and so we need to consider options that cater to several generations. However, until Sac PD takes care of the meth commune that hangs out behind our existing grocery stores and in our existing parks, we have to think about not providing another spot for these oxygen thieves to hang out. The only people that will bolster the Carmichael economy are people who have funds to spend/invest in it. It's an ugly statement that no one wants to make - whatever we put needs to be somewhat "high-end" and not invite a lower income bracket.
Victor Calderon
9:45 am on Monday, February 13, 2012
Thanks everyone for your comments. I agree that something should go in there that can provide jobs and provide services for the community. I agree with Bruce Coulter that a movie theater is a strong option, so that Carmichael residents can keep their entertainment dollar in Carmichael. Or Sanford Kozlen's idea of a tech company that could hire local graduates. A Jamba Juice would be a nice add-on, as the closest are in Citrus Heights and Loehmann's Plaza. A great local option for a smoothie is Hagen's Orange Freeze.
Sanford Kozlen
12:47 pm on Saturday, February 25, 2012
Facebook would be a great company to contact for a call or tech center in our area. We have the schools and educated base of people to support their industry without the high cost of housing that they face in the Bay area. That could lower wage costs and when you add SMUD electrical, reliable water, lower construction costs, excellent San Juan Schools, local shopping and medical services we would offer some real attractions to a rapidly growing company like Facebook.
Rich Russell
5:31 pm on Monday, March 5, 2012
I wish someone would re-open and refurbish the bowling alley, along the lines of Strikes or the west coast chain Lava Lanes.
Victor Calderon
11:30 am on Tuesday, March 6, 2012
I agree Rich. It would provide entertainment for all ages. I have been to the Strikes in Elk Grove and Country Club Lanes at Watt and El Camino. Carmichael could use one and soon.