Economic Development Committee
February 20, 2025

1 2/7/2025
RiversideCA.gov1
MAGNOLIA CORRIDOR Reinvestment, Resilience, RevitalizationEconomic Development CommitteeFebruary 20, 2025Community & Economic Development Department RiversideCA.gov2

BACKGROUND
•Corridors connect opportunities for living, working, and playing•Goal: identify, articulate and prioritize strategies for reinvestment, resilience, and revitalization to strengthen and support corridor communities•Case Study: Arlington Village

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STUDY AREA
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STAKEHOLDER & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Small Business Grant MeetingArlington Library 11/30/2023 Stakeholder Meeting Bourns Innovation Center3/18/2024
Community WorkshopArlington Library 5/29/2024

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WHAT WE HEARDF A V O R I T E P L A C E•Traditional Downtown 56%•Food Hall/Dining: 9%•Big City: 12%•Beach: 22%T O P P R I O R I T I E S•Health and Safety: 31%•Public Realm/Mobility: 27%•Catalytic Projects: 17%•Events: 17%•Planning Initiatives: 6%•Small Business: 4%•Partnerships: 2% RiversideCA.gov7
COMMUNITY VISION & THE SPECIFIC PLANEXISTING SPECIFIC PLANWHAT WE HEARDCreate design standards and guidelines, focus on streetscapePedestrian scale village feel is erodingEconomic revitalization through business improvementDiminishing quality and unclear responsibilityBalance traffic with pedestrian and bike improvementsGateway treatment at the 91 freeway Speeding cars, auto orientedLand assembly and alley closuresLots too small to developDiscourage “strip” development, encourage mixed useToo many drive through uses and vacant storefrontsExtend Arlington Park to MagnoliaArlington Park hidden from Magnolia AvenueCatalytic projects with residential focus Not enough residents

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SWOT ANALYSISW E A K N E S S E S•Confusing/disjointed land use pattern•Magnolia/Van Buren intersection•Cars moving too fast/low pedestrian activity•Concentration of City/County services•Specific Plan implementation•High Vacancy RatesS T R E N G T H S•Historic Core/Corridor•Invested Community•Successful institutions nearby•City Leadership committed to change•Stable neighborhood•Some successful businessesT H R E A T S•Perceived lack of safety•Market forces creating commodity rather than community•Absentee ownership•Complexity of economic barriers•Lack of financial resourcesO P P O R T U N I T I E S•Leverage committed leadership•Funding opportunities •Partnerships with local institutions•Magnolia/Van Buren corners and intersection•Preserving a sense of quality•Changing perceptions/creating a buzz RiversideCA.gov9

WALK AUDIT
Observations on private property•Noncompliant wall, window, and temporary signs•Unpermitted outdoor storage•Damaged/vacant buildings•Damaged paving/wallsObservations in the public realm•Damaged curb/sidewalk•Damaged streetlights and trash receptacles•Empty tree wells and planters 5 2/7/2025
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ONGOING STRATEGIES•ARPA Grants•57 businesses assisted in W5•$685,000 awarded in W5•Private security•Enforcement on graffiti removal•Enforcement on blighted buildings•Increased PD presence and Operation Streetsweeper•Magnolia Repaving/Median Improvements•Arlington Park improvements•Economic Development•Vacant storefront inventory•Property owner research RiversideCA.gov11
3R STRATEGY OVERVIEWIMMEDIATE
Clean up and ComplianceActivating street frontage•Work with property owners to activate street frontage and improve storefronts. Temporary Sign Policy ReviewProperty owner engagement •Assist w/connections for catalytic development Property Owner Technical Assistance•Lease Structure•Permitting Assistance•CPTED Training•Others? Pilot Projects•Art, banners, tactical urbanism, eventsEvaluate cost estimates for various strategiesSafe Streets For All Grant SHORT TERM 1-3 YEARS Economic Development Incentive Programs•Façade improvements and signs – Support Program•Incubator model - Short-term leasing opportunities for small businesses (e.g. City of Ontario)Explore Streamlining•Code updates •Process Streamlining•Fee reductions and WaiversPlace Making•Parklet/Outdoor Dining Program, Storefront Design Guidelines, Wayfinding, gateway signageStreetscape, hardscape landscape improvements along Magnolia (potential CIP)Adaptive Reuse OrdinanceMID TERM 3 -4 YEARS Micro-mobility options•Bike improvements such as cycle tracks, bike lockers, bike share programs, etc.Infrastructure & Intersection Improvements•Midblock crossings, curb bump out, sidewalk widening, etc. Study potential for EIFD within districtEvaluate transit service and amenities along the corridor to identify mid & long-term service improvementsModernization of Specific PlanLONG TERM Partner with surrounding institutions (CBU, UCR, Kaiser, etc.) for potential satellite projectsLarger catalytic development opportunities for intersection of Van Buren and Magnolia; Muir and MagnoliaLand Assembly•Land acquisition•Lot consolidations•Alley closures 6 2/7/2025
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KIT OF PARTSTime FrameKey RoleCostLevel of EffortStrategyImmediateCode Enforcement, PW$LowClean Up & Compliance•Graffiti •Maintenance and repair of private propertyImmediateEDev$LowActivating Frontage – working with property owners to improve store fronts to activate street frontageImmediateCode Enforcement$LowTemporary Sign Policy Review with Committee•Cooperative compliance effortImmediateEDev$LowProperty Owner Engagement•Assist with connections for catalytic developmentImmediateEDev$LowProperty Owner Technical Assistance•Lease Structure•Permitting AssistanceImmediatePRCSD, CEDD$$MediumPilot Projects•Art, banners, tactical urbanism, eventsImmediatePW, EDev, Planning$LowEvaluate cost and assign funding sources for various strategiesImmediatePW$LowSafe Streets For All Grant•Safety Action Plan Development RiversideCA.gov13
KIT OF PARTSTime FrameKey RoleCostLevel of EffortStrategyShort TermCEDD$MediumExplore Streamlining•Code updates•Process streamlining•Fee reductions or waiversShort TermPlanning$$MediumPlace Making•Parklet/outdoor dining program•Storefront Design Guidelines•Wayfinding and gateway signageShort TermPW$$$MediumNew streetscape, hardscape, and landscape improvements along Magnolia Short TermEDev$$$HighEconomic Development Incentive Programs•Façade improvements and signs – support program•Incubator model - Short-term leasing opportunities for small businesses (e.g. City of Ontario)Short TermPlanning$$MediumAdaptive Reuse OrdinanceShort TermPW$MediumPublic Realm Maintenance •Sidewalks, curb, cross walks, street lights, landscaping, trash receptacles etc) 7 2/7/2025
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KIT OF PARTSTime FrameKey RoleCostLevel of EffortStrategyMid TermPW$$$HighMicro-mobility options•Bike improvements such as cycle tracks, bike lockers, bike share program, etc. Mid TermPW$$$HighInfrastructure & intersection improvements•Midblock crossings, curb bump out, sidewalk widening, etc, PACT implementationMid TermEDev$$HighStudy potential for EIFD within districtMid TermPW, Planning$$HighEvaluate transit service along corridor to identify mid and long-term service improvements Mid TermPlanning$$HighMagnolia Avenue Specific Plan ModernizationLong TermEDev$HighPartner with surrounding institutions (CBU, UCR, Kaiser, etc) for potential satellite projectsLong TermCEDD$$$HighLarger catalytic development opportunities for intersection of Van Buren and Magnolia; Muir and MagnoliaLong TermCEDD$$$HighLand AssemblyAcquisitionLot consolidationAlley closures RiversideCA.gov15
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENTENVISION RIVERSIDE 2025 STRATEGIC PLANStrategic Priority 3 - Economic OpportunityGoal 3.3 – Cultivate a business climate that welcomes innovation, entrepreneurship and investmentStrategic Priority 5 – High Performing GovernmentGoal 5.3 Enhance communication and collaboration with community members to improve transparency, build public trust, and encourage shared decision-making Cross-Cutting Threads

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That the Economic Development Committee:1. Receive and file update on the Magnolia Corridor 3R Strategy; and2. Provide direction on selection and prioritization of “kit of parts”revitalization strategies for the Arlington Village district.RECOMMENDATIONS