New businesses for Mare Island

Article Last Updated: Monday, Mar 14, 2005 - 11:07:07 pm PST

New businesses for Mare Island

By Matthew Bunk

VALLEJO - Slowly and surely, jobs are cropping up at the former military compound on Mare Island.

Seven businesses have moved into Building 117, a remodeled industrial structure located along the waterfront at the corner of Nimitz Avenue and 7th Street, and the island's developer is touting the building's re-use as a major step in the ongoing effort to turn the closed naval base into one of Vallejo's primary economic engines.

The new businesses in Building 117 - Vallejo Floor Company, DL Construction, Hot Water Inc., Cat Tech, European Custom Millwork, Hal Pierce Electric and R.D. Council & Associates - will generate 40 jobs, according to a statement by the island's developer Lennar Mare Island, LLC. Nearly half of those businesses are new to Vallejo.

"The successful reuse of commercial and industrial buildings such as Building 117, as well as 690 Walnut, which is now 100 percent leased following completion of renovation in 2004, represents a key component of the effort to create jobs and stimulate the (island's) economic revitalization," Lennar said in the statement.

Lennar's plans for Mare Island include the rehabilitation of several other buildings and new construction on unused parts of the island, some of which must undergo environmental cleanup before it can be redeveloped. In the end, the company hopes to create more than 7 million square feet of commercial space, which would make it one of the largest commercial campuses in Solano County.

Lennar and the city hope Mare Island will one day provide jobs for 8,000 people. Developers have replaced roughly 1,600 jobs since 1996 when the base closed and as many as 10,000 military jobs disappeared.

Public safety tops list of Fairfield business priorities

FAIRFIELD - City officials on will discuss business priorities for 2005 at a morning meeting Thursday at the Fairfield Center for Creative Arts.

City Manager Kevin O'Rourke will focus his speech on what the city is doing to ensure public safety and how those efforts will affect business owners.

The meeting, open to the public, will start at 7:45 a.m. Continental breakfast will be served.

For more information and to reserve a seat, call Anita Horwath at 428-7462.

Biz bits . . .

-- Starbucks Coffee Co. recently opened a store at 1600 North Texas Street. The company held a grand opening event Saturday.

-- Lisa Marie Theis, a noted real estate agent for Kappel & Kappel in Dixon, was recently honored at the Annual Dixon Chamber of Commerce Dinner Dance and Awards Ceremony with the "Ambassador of the Year" award. She was recognized for her successful fundraising efforts and tireless volunteerism to benefit the Chamber.

"Business Matters" is a regular column that runs Tuesdays and Fridays. If you know of a newsworthy business item or event, call the Business desk at 427-6934 or e-mail mpugh@dailyrepublic.net