More big changes are coming to the . According to the property manager, Megan Gast, ’s lease will be expiring in February and the bank will be moving into the building that formerly housed at 300 Ignacio Boulevard.
Pacheco Plaza management sees this as an opportunity to redevelop the bank site once Westamerica leaves. Plans are to demolish the dated-looking Westamerica building that fronts the plaza right on Ignacio Boulevard.
Gast says that they are currently in discussions with several architectural firms to come up with a design for a new multi-tenant retail building with between 6,000 and 9,000 square feet of space.
Westamerica Bank's chief financial officer, Robert Thorson, says that the new location is being remodeled. "We are investing money in the new location to make it a nice environment for our customers."
The new site will have a drive-up window and two external ATMs. Thorson also says that the new bank location allows faster access to the freeway for customers.
Thorson expects the bank to be ready when its Pacheco Plaza lease expires in Februrary. "We'll make it on time."
75 Rowland Way Off the Market
The building that is home for Novato’s city staff at is no longer for sale, according to an article in the North Bay Business Journal.
Barker Pacific Group and Rockwood Capital have decided to take the 168,000-square-foot Rowland Plaza, which includes 88 Rowland Way, off the market and refinance it after a prospective buyer walked away before the deal closed, according to agent Brian Eisberg of Cornish & Carey Commercial Newmark Knight Frank.
Eisberg says that due to a change in zoning that allows the property to lease to medical offices, all of the property at 75 Rowland Way is leased and only 3,500 square feet remains at 88 Rowland.
The city of Novato pays about $700,000 annually to lease the space at 75 Rowland and from Barker Pacific Group. The sides could not find common ground and talks broke down. Now, the city is for a new complex in the Old Town area. The city expects to pay $12 million to $15 million for the .
Free Pre-Thanksgiving Feast
For the seventh year in a row, Novato resident Surinder Pal Sroa, will host free Indian buffets on Wednesday, Nov. 23 from 5-9 p.m. at his Lotus family of Indian restaurants in Marin, including on Grant Avenue.
“Marin has been very good to me over the years, so I wanted to start a tradition of giving back,” said Sroa in a press statement.
Rather than classic American-style Thanksgiving turkey dinners, Sroa’s restaurant will serve vibrantly colored Indian feasts with more than a dozen dishes — meat, vegetable, legumes and gluten-free items, served buffet-style.
“In India, sharing food is the greatest way we can show appreciation for one another,” Sroa said in the release.
“It is my hope that in these difficult economic times, people who are homeless, needy, poor, or hungry will feel free to come in and let us give them a wonderful meal.”
Sroa says anyone is welcome. “We make sure we never run out of food, no matter how many people turn up.”
