RiversideCA.gov
1 RE-PURPOSE RIVERSIDE: ADAPTIVE
REUSE ORDINANCE
Land Use Committee
December 8, 2025
Community & Economic Development Department
RiversideCA.gov
2 • 6th Cycle Housing Element Adopted by City Councill in 2021 • Implementation underway:
– (✓)Pre-approved ADU plans
– (✓) Streamlined development processes (Zoning Code Updates) – (✓) Infill development standards
– (✓) Small lot subdivision ordinance
– (~)Pre-approved Missing Middle Housing Plans (In Progress) – (~) Adaptive Reuse Ordinance (In Progress)
BACKGROUND
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3 GRANT BACKGROUND
• Awarded SCAG $231.5 million to
support local agencies with 6th cycle
Housing Element implementation
• Grant expenditure deadline of June
30, 2026
Regional Early
Action Planning
Grants of 2021
(REAP 2.0)
• SCAG awarded WRCOG $1.5 million
to support member agencies
• City staff coordinated request with
SCAG and WRCOG
• Project kick-off July 2025
Western Riverside
Council of
Governments
(WRCOG) –
Technical
Assistance Request
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4 Repurposing existing non-
residential structures (offices,
retail, or commercial
buildings) into new land uses
– Incentivize housing
production;
– Revitalize neighborhood
and commercial corridors;
and
– Preserve historic structures
or architectural heritage
ADAPTIVE REUSE
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5 200 W Ocean, Long Beach CA
Office to Residential
RiversideCA.gov
6 PasadenaSanta AnaLos AngelesLong BeachSan Francisco
20252020199920142023Year
Adopted
Housing
production,
historic
preservation
Historic
preservation,
housing
production
Incentivize
housing
production,
neighborhood
revitalization
Neighborhood
revitalization, historic
preservation,
economic
development
Incentivize housing
production &
revitalize Financial
District
Purpose
Citywide: non-
residential
buildings
Focused
geographic
areas
Citywide: non-
residential
buildings
Multi-family,
commercial, industrial
– downtown focus
Commercial zoning
districts within
geographic area
Applicability
Height
allowances
Permit
residential
development in
nonresidential
zones
Flexible density,
open space,
parking waivers
Modified
development
standards
Reduced fees,
waive lot coverage,
open space,
streetscape/pedestri
an improvements
Incentives
Variances
Alternative
historic
preservation
standards
adopted
Flexibility for
building/fire
codes
Existing historic
preservation
standards apply
Streamlined Admin
Certificates of
Appropriateness
(COA) & minor
permits
Historic
Preservation
Notes
ADAPTIVE REUSE
11/25/2025
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7 Farmhouse Collective
ADAPTIVE REUSE IN RIVERSIDE
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8 1. Existing Mixed-Use Zoning Designation
• Non-residential structures within mixed-use zoning districts don’t need to rezone
2. SB 6 & AB 2011 (2024)
• Permits standalone or mixed-use development on commercially zoned lots • Project may be CEQA-exempt & ministerial depending on affordability of units; labor standards apply
3. AB 2097 (2024)
• Eliminates minimum parking requirements within ½ mile of HQTA • Helps to address parking and design barriers of adaptive reuse projects
4. AB 507: Effective 07/01/2026
• Permits by-right adaptive reuse projects if certain building age, zoning, affordability, labor and location requirements are met
• Authorizes local governments to create adaptive reuse investment incentive program
EXISTING TOOLKIT
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9 PROJECT SCOPE
PROJECT GOAL: STREAMLINE THE CONVERSION OF NON-
RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES INTO STANDALONE RESIDENTIAL AND
MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT
Technical Tasks
• Two case study properties
• Land inventory analysis
• Barriers in current development process
• State law integration
Community & Stakeholder Outreach
• Interviews with developers and industry leaders
• Roundtables with local property owners and stakeholders • Community public open house
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10 NEXT STEPS
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11 That the Land Use Committee:
1.RECEIVE AND FILE an update on the preparation of an
Adaptive Reuse Ordinance.
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