LAKEPORT, Calif. — Work is continuing to advance on the renovation of the former Kmart shopping center in order to welcome new tenants.
Kmart closed its doors at the end of 2019, and after several years of effort that involved the city of Lakeport’s retail consultant, The Retail Coach, a new plan for it emerged last fall.
In December, the Lakeport Planning Commission gave the go-ahead for an application from Upward Architects, a Tempe, Arizona-based commercial architecture firm, for a use permit and an architectural and design review for a new commercial project at the building, which sits on eight and a half acres at 2019 South Main St.
The plan calls for the 90,852-square-foot building to be renovated and subdivided into three tenant spaces.
So far, two tenants are confirmed: The department store Marshalls and Tractor Supply Co., which sells farm, ranch and garden supplies and tools. This will be Lake County’s second Tractor Supply store; the other is in Clearlake, in the former Ray’s Foods supermarket building.
Lakeport Associate Planner Victor Fernandez told Lake County News this week that, so far, the third tenant — which would take the center space in the renovated building — hasn’t been determined.
Renovations began this spring as workers began to revamp the facade, removing the well-known big red Kmart sign and the Spanish-themed roof tiles, as Lake County News has reported.
The project was back at the Lakeport Planning Commission on June 14, when the commission unanimously approved Upward Architects’ application for the adoption of a master sign program review and categorical exemption.
The application is to allow the construction of a free-standing 35-foot-tall sign as well as a 6-foot monument sign for the shopping center.
Fernandez told the commission that the signs will comply with the city’s sign ordinance, and will include 150 square feet of signage on each side.
Commissioner Nathan Maxman noted that in its comments on the project, the Lakeport Fire Protection District requested that the signs for each store have separate addresses.
While the city has no official requirement for distinct addresses for tenants, Fernandez said the request was forwarded to the applicant, and a company representative told the commission the owner had no objections to doing it.
In two separate 4-0 votes for the adoption of a categorical environmental exemption and a master sign program that conforms with the city’s zoning ordinance, the commission approved the project application. Commissioner Mark Mitchell recused himself from the matter due to his connection to the project.
What’s next for the project?
“The next step is that they will need to submit building permits for the construction of the signs,” Fernandez told Lake County News this week.
In addition, Fernandez said that the city’s Building Division has issued the building permits for the facade and interior building division in order to create the three tenant spaces.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Lakeport Planning Commission approves new signage for former Kmart shopping center renovation
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On