The Loma Brewing Co. now under conduction is the next piece of “The FEZ” puzzle.
The FEZ is the City of Manteca’s shorthand for its family entertainment zone.
It’s some 100 acres of city-owned land anchored by Great Wolf Lodge and Big League Dreams.
It is being actively marketed to capitalize on local and regional growth to lure entertainment venues, dining options, and such.
The goal is to use the land to create more jobs and generate more municipal tax revenue.
The land was originally purchased for the expansion of the wastewater treatment plant spray fields that are no longer needed due to changes in treatment technology.
The city has made a sizeable investment approaching $20 million in redevelopment agency funds to punch Daniels Street through to McKinley Avenue with the accompanying infrastructure if you count the de facto first phase that allowed the Stadium Retail Center anchored by Kohl’s, BLD, and Costco to be built.
A 2023 investment of $580,000 with Hunden Strategic Partners is leading to the development of a new FEZ masterplan plus creating a focused environmental impact report to streamline the development process for interested projects.
The city has been shopping the FEZ around by using a dedicated in-house staff to pursuing economic development. That has generated private sector interest in the FEZ.
It also helps that:
*The McKinley Avenue interchange that gives FEZ two access points to the 120 Bypass over a mile-stretch with the other being Airport Way has been completed.
*The key street — the extension of Daniels Street complete with three intersections complete with traffic signals — is in place.
*Major trunk lines for sewer, water, storm drain, and other utilities are in place.
*Great Wolf has been open for three years with a proven track record of snaring guests beyond the 70 percent average capacity originally projected for the resort.
The brewery being built on the northwest corner of Milo Candini Drive and Daniels Street will be capable of an annual 1,000 barrel production.
It will feature a 10,500-square-foot brewing facility, a 2,300-square-foot tap room, and a covered patio to serve as a seating lounge with televisions. It likely will include a whiffle ball field to keep with the BLD theme.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
