Lompoc is growing as new shops and developments are in the works.
In the last year, “Hilton Garden Inn opened, the Solvang Brewing Company, Starbucks opened, 805 Chop House, numerous other restaurants, Pizza Hut, Saki Sushi,” said Lompoc Interim City Manager Teresa Gallavan.
Soon more establishments will open for business, like a new Planet Fitness gym. Blaze Pizza is also coming to town – an empty building along H Street on the north end will be its home.
“This is an area that has a lot of unemployment. Jobs are a wonderful thing to come to Lompoc so people wouldn’t have to travel to Santa Barbara or Santa Maria to work,” said Nancy O’Leary of Lompoc.
Many locals are excited about the potential for Ulta Beauty to move in. The company submitted plans to open a store at the former Staples location. The project will be going before the planning commission soon.
“There is going to be more jobs for people here, which is kind of exciting. I know my daughters are going to be very excited about Ulta and it’s just exciting to see Lompoc growing,” said Tracy Batty, a Lompoc resident.
An abandoned building in Old Town is proposed to become a mixed-used building.
“The first floor would be all commercial and the second and third floors would be 7 condominium suites,” Gallavan explained.
On the other side of town, an open field just north of Purisima Highlands will soon be a community of 44 new homes. Construction is expected to start as soon as December.
“We do need homes. I think that there is a lot of people looking for rentals and to buy homes and there aren’t a lot available here,” O’Leary said.
City officials said the main goal of this growth is to have jobs for those who live there and open up homes for those who already work there.
