Hanford's foreclosure crisis has struck what could have been the latest addition to Hanford's auto mall, a partially built auto and commercial center off 12th Avenue, north of Highway 198.

The westernmost lot at Hanford Auto Mall was sold by Hanford Development to a Nevada-based firm in 2006, indicating its interest in bringing a new business to the mall.

But this month, the property has received a notice of foreclosure from lender Marc Lantzman, president of a San Diego-based private mortgage fund, according to the lender's foreclosure serving company.

Windemere Associates LLC of Las Vegas owed more than $1.17 million to Lantzman, the records show, and that's how much the property is going for at a public auction scheduled for March 11 at the front entrance of the Kings County Government Center.

It hasn't been confirmed what Windemere intended to build on the five-acre lot, just across the street from the existing College of the Sequoias building.

An attempt to reach Windemere officials wasn't successful this week. Lantzman declined comment this morning, citing the confidentiality of the matter.

Hanford city officials said they weren't aware of any plans for the property. Nothing had been officially or unofficially proposed for the site, said Cathy Cain, interim planning manager.

Hanford Auto Mall was touted at its 2007 opening with the potential to become the county's new one-stop center for car shopping.

And the lots are slowly but surely filling up.

First to open was Valley Toyota. Then came Serpa Hyundai.

A 90-room Holiday Inn Express -- a mid-priced hotel chain within the InterContinental Hotels Group family of brands -- is slated to be built on the lot just west of the Hyundai dealership. The hotel is expected to bring a restaurant as well as a meeting hall. The construction schedule is unknown.

Meanwhile, construction is well under way on an Arco gas station, car wash and a convenience store at the easternmost area of the auto mall.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2429.

(Feb. 19, 2009)By Eiji Yamashita

eyamashita@HanfordSentinel.com

Hanford's foreclosure crisis has struck what could have been the latest addition to Hanford's auto mall, a partially built auto and commercial center off 12th Avenue, north of Highway 198.

The westernmost lot at Hanford Auto Mall was sold by Hanford Development to a Nevada-based firm in 2006, indicating its interest in bringing a new business to the mall.

But this month, the property has received a notice of foreclosure from lender Marc Lantzman, president of a San Diego-based private mortgage fund, according to the lender's foreclosure serving company.

Windemere Associates LLC of Las Vegas owed more than $1.17 million to Lantzman, the records show, and that's how much the property is going for at a public auction scheduled for March 11 at the front entrance of the Kings County Government Center.

It hasn't been confirmed what Windemere intended to build on the five-acre lot, just across the street from the existing College of the Sequoias building.

An attempt to reach Windemere officials wasn't successful this week. Lantzman declined comment this morning, citing the confidentiality of the matter.

Hanford city officials said they weren't aware of any plans for the property. Nothing had been officially or unofficially proposed for the site, said Cathy Cain, interim planning manager.

Hanford Auto Mall was touted at its 2007 opening with the potential to become the county's new one-stop center for car shopping.

And the lots are slowly but surely filling up.

First to open was Valley Toyota. Then came Serpa Hyundai.

A 90-room Holiday Inn Express -- a mid-priced hotel chain within the InterContinental Hotels Group family of brands -- is slated to be built on the lot just west of the Hyundai dealership. The hotel is expected to bring a restaurant as well as a meeting hall. The construction schedule is unknown.

Meanwhile, construction is well under way on an Arco gas station, car wash and a convenience store at the easternmost area of the auto mall.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2429.

(Feb. 18, 2009)