Out & About – 12/29/2010

Main Street
A trolley strolls along Main Street near City Hall on a rainy Wednesday
in downtown Riverside.


Since 1980, Inland Southern California’s population has more than doubled from 1.5 million residents to 3.6 million (Census – 2003 county estimates). If ranked separately, it would be country’s 13th most-populous region (sandwiched between Miami and Seattle metro areas). Along with such phenomenal growth has come large jumps in other demographic stats, such as job…
With an expected completion date later this year, work continues on the $30 million restoration of the historic Fox Theater in downtown Riverside. Feb. 2009Fox Theater Oct. 2008Renaissance The renovation of the soon-to-be, 1,600-seat Fox Performing Arts Center includes a complete overhaul of the 1929 theater — everything from new ventilation systems, theater seats and…

Just as Riverside was about to roll out its new “Smart Park” parking plan for downtown, city officials decided to make some minor, yet significant changes, most of which were the result of complaints. Gone are the multiple rates and times of enforcement — they’re now uniform at all Smart Park locations ($1/hr, 8 a.m….

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…
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…
The past two weekends saw us at opposite ends of Riverside. Last weekend, we had the chance to take in the reopened Arlington Branch Library. While there, we took a few photos of the nearby Arlington Village commercial area. This weekend, we spent some time downtown checking in on the refurbishing of the Main Street…