RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING THE APPLICATION UNDER PLANNING CASE NUMBER DP-2024-01600 DESIGNATING THE MERCANTILE HALL – ORANGE VALLEY MASONIC LODGE #13 LOCATED AT 2931 TWELFTH STREET, AS CITY HISTORIC LANDMARK #150.
WHEREAS, in Planning Case No. DP-2024-01600, an application to designate the Mercantile Hall – Orange Valley Masonic Lodge #13, located at 2931 Twelfth Street, on the north side of Twelfth Street between Howard and Park Avenues, in the City of Riverside, California, Assessor’s Parcel Number 211-203-015, as more particularly described and depicted in Exhibit “A” attached hereto incorporated herein by reference, was found to be eligible for listing as a City Landmark; and WHEREAS, on January 15, 2025, the Cultural Heritage Board of the City of Riverside conducted a duly noticed public hearing on said application and recommended the approval of the designation of a City of Riverside City Historic Landmark for the Mercantile Hall – Orange Valley Masonic Lodge #13 described above; and WHEREAS, this process is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15308 of the CEQA Guidelines as set forth in Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations; and WHEREAS, all legal prerequisites to the adoption of this application have been met.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Riverside, California that based on substantial evidence presented to the Cultural Heritage Board during the above-referenced public hearing and thereafter to the City Council, including written and oral staff reports, together with public testimony pursuant to the provisions of Title 20 of the Riverside Municipal Code pertaining to the designation of a Historic Landmark, the City Council hereby finds that the Mercantile Hall – Orange Valley Masonic Lodge #13, located at 2931 Twelfth Street, on the north side of Twelfth Street between Howard and Park Avenues, in the City of Riverside, California, Assessor’s Parcel Number 211-203-015, as more particularly described and depicted in Exhibit “A” attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, a Historic Landmark eligible for designation under criteria set forth in the Riverside Municipal Code Section 20.50.010(U) and based on the following facts and findings:
FINDINGS: Criterion 1: Exemplifies or reflects special elements of the City’s cultural, social, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering, architectural, or natural history.
FACTS: Mercantile Hall was established as an African American owned business in 1905 and served the African American and Latino communities in Riverside’s Eastside Neighborhood. As stated in the Colored Citizen newspaper, “This was the biggest enterprise undertaken by the colored people of Riverside.” The structure provided a gathering place for the community and supported Black fraternal orders, social meetings and gatherings, community engagement and education, and local civil activism significant in the broader Civil Rights movement. Further, in 1965 the building served as a Freedom School during the boycott of de facto segregation in Eastside public schools.
The building continues to be home of the Orange Valley Mason Lodge #13, which was established in 1905. Restricted from Caucasian fraternal organizations and social clubs prior to World War II, the African American community established their own. By the 1950s, the building was owned by the Masonic Lodge, who still retains ownership to date. Thus, the residence is eligible for Landmark designation under Criterion 1.
FINDINGS: Criterion 2: Is identified with persons or events significant in local, state or national history.
FACTS: The social hall was originally constructed and operated by David Stokes, a member of an early African American family in Riverside. Joining his uncle Robert, David Stokes came to Riverside for better opportunities than were available in the South at the time. Stokes opened Mercantile Hall in 1905 and operated the African American owned and operated Stokes & Wiley Grocery Store with Aaron Wiley. Stokes was an active and prominent member of the African Americans of the community, serving as the treasurer of the Second Baptist Church and was a member of the Orange Valley Masonic Lodge #13. Through his entrepreneurship and civic engagement, Stokes worked for the betterment of Riverside’s early African American community; therefore, the residence is eligible for Landmark designation under Criterion 2.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT pursuant to Title 20 of the Riverside Municipal Code, the City Council hereby approves the above-referenced application and designates the Mercantile Hall – Orange Valley Masonic Lodge #13, located at 2931 Twelfth Street, on the north side of Twelfth Street between Howard and Park Avenues, in the City of Riverside, California, Assessor’s Parcel Number 211-203-015, as City Historic Landmark #150.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the proposed historic landmark designation is exempt from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15308 of the Guidelines for Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act (Title 14, California Code of Regulations, commencing with Section 15000 as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment, and said action is intended to preserve the historic character of the building.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City Clerk of the City of Riverside shall cause a certified copy of this resolution to be recorded in the Office of the County Recorder of Riverside County, California.
ADOPTED by the City Council this ____ day of _______________, 2025. _________________________________
PATRICIA LOCK DAWSON
Mayor of the City of Riverside
Attest:
__________________________
DONESIA GAUSE
City Clerk of the City of Riverside
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I, Donesia Gause, City Clerk of the City of Riverside, California, hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was duly and regularly adopted at a meeting of the City Council of said City at its meeting held on the _____ day of ________________, 2025, by the following vote, to wit:
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Riverside, California, this ______ day of _______________, 2025. _____________________________
DONESIA GAUSE
City Clerk of the City of Riverside
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