Several new developments are under construction in Merced — and the city says more are coming.
“We’re going to need, actually, more commercial land to take care of the demand that we’re going to have within our population,” said Merced Deputy City Manager Frank Quintero.
Quintero says since he moved here 36 years ago, Merced’s population has doubled, and he expects it to surpass 100,000 people by next year.
“A lot of that is attributed to UC Merced and Merced College,” he said.
Campus Parkway leads towards UC Merced, and Quintero says that’s why bringing in more business along it is ideal.
Already, new residences are being built near the parkway and Coffee St., and soon several businesses will be built at the nearby Gateway Marketplace.
Among them, Costco will relocate to the complex from its current location in the central-western part of the city.
“Folks have often expressed wanting to see a newer facility. This facility has been around since 1995,” said Francisco Mendoza, the Economic Development Administrator for the City of Merced.
Ross, Burlington, and Five Below will be adding second Merced stores to the complex, which will also be the home of the city’s first TJ Maxx and Homegoods locations.
The new development means continued growth for Merced.
“That has really caused interest to spike up in Merced. That was sort of the catalyst for larger developers to start looking at Merced again,” said Quintero.
City leaders are still discussing what to do with the old Costco facility.
Meanwhile, Quintero says they’re already working on bringing even more new businesses to the city.