New Monterey Mixed-Use Project Close to Completion

Month: April 2017

From the Monterey Herald

The mixed use project located between Lighthouse Avenue and Foam Street in New Monterey has a freshly-painted facade and a completion date in sight.

The three-story development that includes two structures, one which faces Lighthouse Avenue and the other that fronts Foam, is made up of ground floor retail space and apartment housing above it.

Developer Carl Outzen, who has spent an estimated $5 million on the project, said he expects the project to be completed by summer’s end.

“It’s been a long process,” said Outzen. “What you see now is what you’re gonna get.”

Outzen is referring to the building at 230 Lighthouse and its new outward appearance that includes stucco and siding in various earth tones, somewhat reminiscent of the T.A. Work Building on Alvarado Street in downtown Monterey. That project was completed last year.

The structure facing Lighthouse includes four retail spaces and 26 apartment units. The building at 255 Foam consists of six units.

Still to do, said Outzen, is the interior painting and installation of carpets and cabinets. On the outside, 13 awnings will be added and asphalt and concrete will be laid down in the parking area, which Outzen said will include a state-of-the-art runoff system.

“When it rains, water goes into porous concrete and then into underground piping and drainage where it gets filtrated before it goes out to the curb or through the sewer system,” he explained. “So there’s no runoff on the site.”

Outzen, who grew up Denmark, lived in a mixed-use development concept there where small businesses and residential units shared buildings. As a former Monterey City councilman, planning commissioner and architectural review board member. he remains a big proponent of the mixed use approach. Still, he never expected all the challenges he encountered with this project.

He bought the building in January 2013. In June 2015 that skeletal remains of a Native American man were discovered on the project site that Outzen said he ended up paying $30,000 of his own money to excavate.

That was after a nearly 90-year-old “Genuine ‘Bull’ Durham Tobacco” sign was discovered on the side of Carbone’s bar next door when the dilapidated buildings were demolished in July 2014.

In terms of the benefits, Outzen said there are many.

“First of all, it was an eyesore for several years,” said Outzen. “So now the city will generate the revenue from the businesses and a lot from property taxes. It also gained 32 apartments, which are sorely needed, while having housing close to workplace businesses that will reduce traffic and make it feel more secure.”


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