South of Sunnyside

Yesterday’s Business Journal outlines plans for Fresh & Easy’s continued expansion. According to the article, it seems Tesco PLC (the parent company) is growing wary of the potential in northern California after the widespread economic collapse we’ve see over the last year (no surprise there, I suppose). Still, there are additions to the store’s local plans:

• Ashlan & Cornelia
• Herndon & Milburn
• Herndon & Fowler
• Shaw & Fowler

Several locations are already in development:

• Downtown Fresno at Tulare & R
• Cedar & Nees
• Shaw & Willow (construction was recently completed)

I’m a bit confused by the mixed signals in the article, but I also don’t see any mention of plans for a store at Clovis & California, which I’ve seen elevation plans for. What’s the deal?

UPDATE: I added the referenced image(s)…

In cleaning out the closet in my home office, I found a few publications that I’ve collected over the last few years. I was about to toss the Fall 2006 edition of FresnoState: The Magazine of California, State University, Fresno into a pile of recyclables, when I realized who was on the front cover (I’ll only imply a comment about the photo…).

From the article, “Fresno State’s efforts vital to Improving the region’s economy:”

“Ashley Swearengin, RJI director and director of Fresno State’s Community and Economic Development, says the goal is to create 30,000 jobs by 2008 through partnerships in key industry clusters.

The focus is on taking advantage of the area’s competitive assets to help create a ‘healthier, more vibrant civic infrastructure,’ she says.”

I’m not sure I know what Fresno’s competitive assets are, but I do know that Swearengin is now top of the chain in the (ah hem…“vibrant”) civic infrastructure she’s been working toward.

Welcome to office, Mayor Swearengin. I look forward to following your lead.