- April 20, 2024
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Work to remodel two buildings along Granada Boulevard finished recently. And store owners say, the project's completion couldn't come soon enough.
BY MATT MENCARINI | STAFF WRITER
It’s a slow process, and there are bumps in the road, but Granada Boulevard continues to undergo aesthetic improvements.
For months, scaffolding covered much of the front of the businesses on the 100 Block of Granada Boulevard, while the building underwent renovations.
“(The ultimate goal) is to improve the appearance of Granada,” said Dorian Burt, project coordinator for Highlander Corp., the company that owns the building, as well as several others on the street. “Make it a more attractive, enticing area to come to as a destination.”
But during the time the building was being renovated, from roughly late May to just two weeks ago, business owners said their operations suffered.
“We had just opened and things were going well for us because there was no other yarn shop,” said Pauline Orlowski, co-owner of Ball of Yarn. “We had terrific business.”
But when the scaffolding went up, Orlowski and her business partner, Sandi VanEpps, say revenue took a dip. Some regular customers were scared to walk under the scaffolding, and others didn’t know they were there.
During the exterior construction, the partners sometimes only brought in $10-$30 in business each day.
But soon a sign was posted, which helped. And in the short time since the scaffolding was removed, Orlowski and VanEpps say business has returned to what it was prior to the construction.
“We are well aware that it took longer than projected,” Burt said. “The rain, and some issues we had with utilities, delayed the project.”
The two buildings, one white and one pink, were designed based on the vision of Bill Jones, the building's owner, who Burt says is “immensely creative” and draws on his experience and knowledge of architecture and art.
The white building was inspired by streamline modern architecture, an art-deco style, and the pink building by the Beverly Hills Hotel.
More work ahead
One Granada Boulevard project might be done, but others are still to come for Highlander Corp. and Bill Jones, although no definite plans have yet been made.
However, work to resurface the road, underground utilities and build a median is scheduled to begin Jan. 7.
The project is estimated to last nine months.
A community meeting, to answer any questions about the project, will be held 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, in Training Room at City Hall.
