Just east of Temecula in southwestern Riverside County lies a cluster of vineyards and wineries collectively referred to as Temecula Valley Wine Country. Though not nearly as well-known as California’s famous Napa Valley nor even the Central Coast vineyards of Santa Barbara County (which garnered prominent recognition in “Sideways“), Temecula’s Wine Country nonetheless is an…
A handful of plans currently in the works will reshape downtown Riverside and, for the first time in a long time, include serious mixed-use development with an emphasis toward residential uses. The projects, which include a mix of condos, townhomes, lofts, commercial, and arts uses are expected to begin taking shape throughout 2006. Each will…
Can a reborn shopping center inject new life into an older suburban neighborhood? Indeed it can as witnessed with the recently rebuilt Riverside Plaza. Opened as an outdoor shopping plaza in three phases between June 1956 and September 1957 and enclosed during a 1983/84 renovation, Riverside’s first mall-like center has now come full-circle with its…
It’s that time of year again when downtown Riverside’s historic Mission Inn is aglow with millions of holiday lights and hundreds of animated figures. Each year, the crowds get a little bit bigger and the lights a little bit brighter as visitors stroll the downtown pedestrian mall, the tiny shops and boutiques, and streets surrounding…
Planners from Riverside and Orange counties are in the midst of an 18-month study to determine the best way to relieve commuter congestion between housing-rich Riverside and jobs-rich Orange. As it stands now, only two roads link the two counties: 91 Riverside Freeway and Highway 74 (Ortega Highway). Of these, the 91 is the primary…
It appears life as a mall is about to end for downtown San Bernardino’s Carousel Mall — formerly Central City Mall. A buyer has agreed to take control of the 72-acre property with plans for replacing the aging retail center with a more vibrant mix of condos, apartments, offices, and shops. Opened in 1972, Central…
Three recently released reports by commercial real estate brokerage CB Richard Ellis Inc. says that, although housing remains big within Inland Southern California, both the commercial and industrial sectors are doing brisk business as well. All together, the reports indicate 34 million square feet of on-going construction activity in retail, office, and industrial projects within…
Some decry it, while most embrace it. Faux fantasy or pure escapism? Whatever the stance, there’s no denying that Disneyland has left a huge imprint on American culture. This weekend, the “Happiest Place on Earth” officially turns 50. Yes, five-zero. A lot has changed in both the Park and America in those five decades. But…
A few weeks back, two articles in the local newspaper caught our eye, if only because they were a few days apart and both were about emerging trends within Inland Southern California’s housing market. And yet, they could not have been more diametrically opposed. The first article shows the emerging trend — even here, in…
This weekend, Riverside — and Inland Southern California in general — celebrates its heralded citrus heritage with the annual “Orange Blossom Festival.” You can thank Eliza Tibbets for the 11th Orange Blossom Festival that will transform 30 square blocks of downtown Riverside this weekend into a happenin’ place. Organizers expect more than 200,000 visitors. Riverside Press-Enterprise –…
