downtown riverside

Old Riverside Foundation’s annual Vintage Home Tour

Celebrating Riverside’s citrus heritage is the theme of Old Riverside Foundation’s 21st annual Vintage Home Tour, which takes place this Saturday, May 19. The self-guided tour showcases four privately owned homes near Victoria Avenue in the city’s historic orange greenbelt as well as a downtown church with strong citrus ties. The four homes are the…

Donated items salvaged from Fox Theater for sale

Want to own a piece of Riverside history? Here’s your chance! In cooperation with Habitat for Humanity Riverside, the Old Riverside Foundation is selling recently donated items salvaged from the historic Riverside Fox Theater. The items — doors, windows and power switches — were saved during the theater’s 3-year, $32 million renovation that was completed…

Latest plans for downtown library: renovation, not demolition

After several recent attempts, Riverside officials have now scrapped expensive plans to construct a new downtown library in favor of a more modest renovation of the existing building. We realize this new directive from the city council may not serve all interests and parties involved, and we do agree a modest renovation/refurbishment is warranted. However,…

|

Out & About – Historic walking tours of downtown Riverside

From the eclectic Mission Inn and magnificent County Courthouse to the modern City Hall and mid-century public library, downtown Riverside is rich in architectural history and variety. Fortunately, many of these gems are within walking distance down a few adjoining streets. As such, we’ve created a few short circular, self-guided tours — Mission Inn Avenue,…

Nov. 2011 - 1930s-era facade for the former Westbrook's at 3750 Main Street (RXSQ)

Inside the long-shuttered doors of 3750 Main Street

What does one find upon entering a building that’s been out of public use for much of the past 40 years? A few weeks back, we were lucky enough to find out as we ventured along with fellow Old Riverside Foundation members into the long-shuttered Franzen’s/Westbrook’s/Imperial hardware building located on the pedestrian mall at 3750…