After a month-long delay in receiving Planning Commission recommendations, the Riverside City Council this past Tuesday approved a portion of Fox Plaza, the large mixed-use project proposed for downtown. Phase One site of Fox Plazawill include a Hyatt Place hotelMetroPacific Properties, LLC Fox Plaza – overviewMetroPacific Properties, LLC Project siteMS Virtual Earth 2007Stalder Building Located…
After nearly 2 years of construction and renovation, Riverside’s Arlington Branch Library reopened to the public this past week following an 8,000 sq. ft. addition to the 99-year-old building. The new wing nearly triples the size of the current library to 13,000 sq. ft. The new addition mimics the original building’s Greek Revival styling, which…
We’re not certain of the exact year, but this postcard appears to be sometime during the 1950s. Based upon “Int’l Airport” being used for notating Ontario Airport, it’s likely post-1946 — the year Ontario Municipal Airport was re-named Ontario International Airport. Likewise, the lack of Lake Perris means it’s pre-1974. Note also the current-day routes…
Last week, two city commissions delayed for a month their votes on the much anticipated Fox Plaza development proposed for downtown Riverside. Members of both the Cultural Heritage Board and Planning Commission — comprised of city-appointed residents — said the postponement was necessary until after the public comment period for the Draft EIR is closed….
After 35 years of being seemingly frozen in time, the mid-century facade of the old Imperial Hardware Company store in downtown Riverside is no more. The city, which recently finalized the purchase of the long-shuttered building, began dismantling Imperial’s modern false front early Monday. By midday, nearly three-fourths of the aluminum covering had been removed,…
This past Thursday, the city of Riverside held a “Restoration Celebration” open house for the Fox Theater in downtown. Over a thousand people showed up to take a sneak peek inside the long-shuttered theater prior to its forthcoming $30 million renovation into a 1,600 seat performing arts center, which is expected to be completed in…
Before there was a Main Street Pedestrian Mall in downtown Riverside there was, well, an actual Main Street, with actual cars — and curbside parking. Seen here in photos approximately 50 years apart is a view of Main Street looking north toward Mission Inn Avenue (formerly Seventh Street) from near University Avenue (formerly Eighth Street)….
Sunday, January 21, 2007 – If one visits downtown Riverside, as we did today, they will notice the historic Fox Theatre is now fenced off, awaiting a $30 million renovation. As one of the centerpieces of the $780 million Riverside Renaissance Initiative — which outlines 25 years worth of citywide projects in about 5 —…
Palm trees, snow-covered mountains, sunny blue skies, citrus groves and mild temperatures — no where else but Southern California. But this isn’t Los Angeles nor even Orange County. In fact, it’s Inland Southern California — once simply referred to as the “Orange Empire.” For well over a century, the Orange Empire’s landscape — combined with…
Saturday, September 16, 2006 – A few photos and thoughts while strolling the Main Street Pedestrian Mall in downtown Riverside. The weather was sunny and mild as folks browsed the quaint stores or grabbed a bite to eat. Paper covers the windows of the future Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, which is scheduled to open…
