STILL WAITING—The site of the old Kmart on Tierra Rejada Road remains just as it was when the store closed in January 2008. It seems that plans to build a long-anticipated Target store on the western end of Simi are moving forward—albeit slowly and out of sight.

“As far as we know, they are moving ahead, they’re processing their plans, they’re spending money,” said Assistant City Manager Brian Gabler, director of economic development. “Understandably, they are not moving forward (as quickly) as they would have three years ago when the economy was chugging along.”

The project was unanimously approved by the City Council almost a year ago.

At that time, Target representatives hoped to have the store open by early 2010, but the failing economy soon changed those plans, and the former Kmart site at the western gateway to the city remains unchanged today.

Located at the northwest corner of Madera and Tierra Rejada roads, the project includes a 143,828squarefoot Target anchor store. Plans also call for 9,200 square feet of shops adjacent to the east side of the building facing Madera Road and the remodeling of another 7,700 square feet of existing retail space on the west side.

In April, Target Corp. looked to the council for relief from some of the costly conditions put on the project when it was approved, hoping to shave about $2 million off its cost.

A reduction in landscaping and the elimination of some architectural features were among the changes Target was seeking.

The company also wanted to be released from its agreement to do off-site improvements on Madera Road that include the installation of a traffic signal at Strathearn Place, a southbound right-turn lane and two bus turnouts.

In addition, Target didn’t want to underground the utility lines running behind the store or pay for its portion of the storm drain improvements Casden Properties is undertaking on Madera Road.

At that time the city held its ground on the conditions placed on the project before it was approved.

Anna Anderson, spokesperson for Target Corp., said the company is in the same place it was the last time it spoke to the Simi Valley Acorn: It is continuing to have discussions with the city, and it is still searching for a “financially feasible solution” for bringing a new Target to Simi.

Yet, according to Gabler, there haven’t been any further discussions with the city in regard to letting Target off the hook for the offsite improvements, which have been a major sticking point ever since the project was proposed.

However, Target recently submitted an application for an adjustment to the project that would designate the 9,200 square feet of shops on the east side of the building as a separate phase. Target plans to sell that element of the project to a different developer to build, Gabler said.

Other than that adjustment and a minor architectural change to the west side of the building, the project remains as it was approved last August.

While Target hasn’t told the city when it intends to start construction, the company has submitted civil drawings to be checked by the planning department, Gabler said.

Target could still request the significant changes it proposed a few months ago, but the company would have to file an application for a modification to the planned development approval. The application would go first to the planning commission and then most likely be appealed to the City Council.

As of now, Target must build the store as approved, with the offsite improvements.