October 2010Retro ‘blade’ signs being added 1930sOriginal ‘blade’ signs The first of two old-style neon signs went up this past week on the Fox Performing Arts Center in downtown Riverside. The signs are replicas of those that adorned the theater in the 1930s and 1940s. According to The Press-Enterprise, the signs are 22 feet tall…
This past weekend, we stumbled upon a bit of retail archeology when we noticed the false-front of a now-shuttered Mervyn’s had been removed to reveal the zig-zag roofline of the building’s original occupant — The Treasury. (The removal is part of refurbishing the former Mervyn’s space for an incoming Kohl’s, expected to open in September…
Long-time Riverside photographer, Michael J. Elderman, has spent nearly 3 years photographing the restoration of downtown Riverside’s Fox Theater as it transforms into the 1,600 seat Fox Performing Arts Center. Riverside’s Fox Theater:An Intimate PortraitMichael J. Elderman Hired by the restoration’s project manager to visually capture the massive renovation of the Fox, Elderman soon realized…
Crews work on the new crossing at Mission Inn Avenue as part of the pedestrian mall makeover in downtown Riverside Slideshow: Out & About This week found us taking a stroll along downtown’s Main Street pedestrian mall during a workday lunch, where we encountered others also taking in the fall-like weather. Further up, we noticed…
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…
Fifteen months after beginning construction, Regency Tower in downtown Riverside is poised to receive its crown. Sitting alongside the under-construction office building is a 45-foot high, 80,000-pound steel and aluminum dome. In about a week, the dome will be perched atop the 10-story building. Developer Moshe Silagi says a special crane will used to perform…
Familiar name eyeing Gottschalks 2009Riverside Plaza In January, Fresno-based Gottschalks filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, raising questions on what might come of the chain’s 58 department stores spread over six states. Seven of those stores are located at malls within Inland Southern California, including Riverside Plaza. Less than two weeks before a March 30…
Work began recently on the final phase of the Main Street Pedestrian Mall renovation in downtown Riverside, continuing the first complete refurbishment of the outdoor mall since its 1966* opening. 2009Phase twoUniversity block 2009Phase twoMission Inn block The first phase, which wrapped up in the fall, revamped the two blocks (one | two) located between…
Interchange project put to bed 200960/91/215 interchange After nearly 5 years of construction — and 20-year wait for local commuters — Caltrans says it has finally closed the books on the 60/91/215 interchange/freeway project in downtown Riverside. The final tally for the rebuild comes in at $437 million, approximately 40 percent over initial estimates and…
Flash: Out & About slideshow 2008Incorporating the old RIR logo 2008March Field Air Museum 2008An original WWI-era planetraced back to March Field This past weekend saw us check the status on a few ongoing projects in downtown Riverside, including Regency Tower and Main Street Pedestrian Mall as both projects continue moving along. We also managed…
