MEMORANDUM
DATE May 20, 2026, Updated June 3, 2026
TO Daniel Palafox, Associate Planner – City of Riverside SUBJECT Riverside Downtown Station TOD Action Plan Stakeholder Engagement Summary PROJECT NUMBER WRC-09.3
Stakeholder engagement was an important part of the Downtown Metrolink Station Area TOD Action Plan.
The project team spoke to property owners, developers, agencies, and various city departments and leaders with property interests in the station area. Table 1 provides a list of the stakeholders, documents the date of meeting(s) and the key takeaways of discussions held throughout the project. To assist with this aspect of the project PlaceWorks also drafted an outreach email and list of questions which are attached to this memo for reference.
Table 1. Stakeholder Engagement
Stakeholder and Contact
Information
Relationship to
the Area
Meeting
Date(s)
Key Take Aways
Philip Falcone
City Hall
Council
Member
3/18 A goal of this project should be to protect the
neighborhoods to the east and not to expand
downtown – station area TOD could be an in
between area/ buffer.
Mike Futrell
City Hall
City Manager 3/18 Area needs a vision, remove old Marketplace signage, create images that show what is
possible for development. Noted including of
Lincoln Park neighborhood group in next
phase.
Blue Zones
Erin Edwards
Paloma Montes
Office in the
Study area and
City partner on
Blue Zones
Riverside
Project
initiative
3/18 Partner in the community for policy, people,
and places that support healthy outcomes.
Housing, physical mobility, shade, access to
food and reducing tobacco uses are priorities.
Also see the need for 3rd spaces and public art
in the station area. Recommended looking at
UC Labor Center’s outward commuting study.
Jason Hunter Representative
for properties
owned by
Warren
Diamond
3/26
and
Follow
up on
6/3
Team feels they bring an East Coast
perspective to TOD here in Riverside. Wants
large scale development possibly partnering
with RCTC to make the most of the property
along Vine Street. Would like a Specific Plan
June 2026 | Page 2/8
and focus of the study to be on the West side
of the tracks. Parking lots for the site has a
reciprocal parking agreement with the
IronWorks building owner. Expects for
redevelopment in the area to face significant
soil remediation. Curious about pipe capa city
for the area and other infrastructure,
wondered if a WSA will be conducted. Ideas
for senior housing on the site. Would like to
think of this area as an extension of
Downtown for entertainment.
Riverside County
Transportation
Commission (RCTC)
Sheldon Peterson
Lorelle Moe-Luna,
Multimodal Services
Director
Owns Station,
Platforms and
Parking Lots
within the
Study Area
4/15
and
Follow
up 5/29
Discussed the need for a vision and actionable
plan with policy for joint development
agreement or P3 development opportunities.
Open to development on the surface parking
lots as long as 1,000 spaces of dedicated
parking is available for riders who use th e
station. At pre -pandemic ridership all spaces
were utilized, still not quite to that level yet.
Currently looking at expanded service that
would need track expansion and platform for
a future extension of Perris Valley Line,
implementation of the SCORE p rogram and
other Metrolink/RCTC initiatives. RCTC has not
built a parking structure since North Corona
station. For this Downtown Station will be
expanding layover facilities on the existing
property that RCTC owns. Noted that this area
does not have day t ime users so mixed use is
not needed but housing is. But housing should
have its own parking. Noise concerns and
issues with horns blowing due to the layover
facility and requirements for safety. To
integrate better with housing new
development should incl ude designs that
buffer the tracks with parking, sound
deadening windows and insulation. Has
marketing partnership with Mission Lofts
promoting ridership.
Riverside Transit
Authority (RTA)
Jennifer Nguyen , Director
of Planning
Owns and
Operates the
Vine Street
Mobility Hub
4/17 Mobility Hub was a decades long project.
Noted Riverside Public Utility easement at the
end of the property. Contamination was an
issue during development of the mobility hub
would expect that throughout the area.
June 2026 | Page 3/8
Metrolink riders can take RTA for free using
the same pass. Buses sync with train times for
connections and works closely with service to
keep the transfer time consistent. Rapid link
service was not brought back after COVID.
Route 1 runs on Vine in this area and is
heaviest ridership extending from Corona to
UCR and utilizing the Magnolia corridor.
Agency is currently working on its
comprehensive 10-year service plan. Safety is
important. Supportive of bike paths and
pedestrian connections. Has also partnered
with cities who have affordable housing units
providing 1 pass per unit with travel training
assistance, could be a program for new TOD
units here.
Transitioning to zero emission vehicles. 40’ is
largest bus for street geometry and median
clearance; agency does not expect to
introduce articulated buses. Omnitrans also
uses the hub.
Ian Davidson
Owns
IronWorks
Building and
Associated
Surface Parking
4/20 Excited by new opportunities through this
study and possibly re-look at the Marketplace
Specific Plan. Brought Fullerton station project
as idea for the RCTC parking lots. IronWorks
building has reciprocal parking agreements
with Applebee’s and former Coll ege site.
Would also like to see something new for the
packing house site. Is seeing new
development with structure parking, cited
Mission Grove Project in comparison to
Mission Lofts, suggested the parking
structures would be needed for TOD.
Recommends the following: 1. Initiate a Quite
Zone at Mission Inn Avenue for the trains; 2.
Relocate the layover tracks and improve the
Mission Inn crossing; 3. Consider Housing
Health Risks between the freeway and train; 4.
Focus on development along Vine Street; 5.
Restore the Marketplace signage, lighting, etc.
bring them back and identify this as a unique
area of the City.
Realm
Darrin Olson
Owns Mission
Lofts and
proposed Iron
4/14 Excited to be bringing Iron Lofts forward.
Shared entitlement for Mission Lofts: GP
Amendment, SP Amendment, Rezone
June 2026 | Page 4/8
Lofts properties
w/in the Focus
Area
Certificate of Appropriateness, Historic
Preservation- is a long process. Has 2 different
housing types on site: Townhomes and 4 -
story, slab-on-grad, Type IV with elevators. All
surface parking, structures do not pencil. For
entitlement process would like to see City
remove the ground floor commercial
requirement - 80% building frontage/ active
ground floor on an arterial street. Also should
consider parking standards, even though state
law support low/no parking financing/banks
require it because tenants want it otherwise
they won’t rent. Parking ratio is around 1.29,
on street parking helps.
Riverside Public Utilities
Blake Yamamoto - Water
Fady Megala - Electric
City
Departments
with property
along Vine
Street
4/30 Water- Mulberry pump, well and booster
station is located near Applebee’s (share
parking lot). The station is automated and is
inspected weekly. The group discussed the
possibility of relocating that testing well to
open up the property to TOD opportunitie s
(which would take additional coordination
with surrounding owners). Has an abandoned
well and easement on the RTA Mobility Hub
property.
Electric Substation has plans to expand on -
site, within the existing walls of the substation.
The utility may be looking to buy land nearby
since this station will soon reach capacity. The
substation feeds Downtown and is one of the
largest in the City. No active Plans to
underground electrical lines, they will remain
on Vine Street.
Riverside Public Utilities
Blake Yamamoto - Water
Follow-up
correspondence
via email.
5/5 The Mulberry facility can be relocated;
however, it also serves as an office and
storage space for our Water Operations team
and due to its central location, is used daily as
a delivery point for our laboratory contractor
and Water Operators to pick up water samples
and drop off water sampling kits. In looking at
relocating this facility, we would need to find
a nearby site that would be able to account for
these uses, offer easy access for deliveries and
pick-ups to be made, provide similar floor
space for storage, and be in close proximity to
the 997 Zone and Chicago 1100 Zone water
lines for the booster station. Regarding the
well, only water levels are taken from the
June 2026 | Page 5/8
Mulberry Well, and this data could be
collected from another nearby well.
Public Works- Traffic
Nathan Mustafa
Ethan Sun
Craig Brett
City
Department
responsible for
streets,
sidewalks and
other mobility
related matters
5/18 Working on RFP for study of alignment
alternative for a bike and pedestrian bridge to
connect downtown to the station over the 91
freeway- expected release summer 2026.
3rd Street grade separation is an active project
in the area.
New/future development in the area should
include raised crossings and curb extensions
for pedestrians.
Paving, bike lane and sidewalk improvements
underway on Vine street from 14 th to Mission
Inn.
Grade separation at Mission Inn is not likely to
happen, should expect that to remain at grade
crossing.
Could partner on funding opportunities for
TOD opportunities with HCD VMT mitigation
bank.
Supportive of Bus Rapid Transit service on
University should RTA pursue it.
Apple Bees
Not able to
make contact
with a property
owner
N/A N/A
Public Works- Advocacy
Ethan Sun
Plus Kimley Horn
Associates
Advocacy for
Planning
5/29 Connect on Regional Transit Advocacy Plan
UC Transit Service
ONT Airport to Downtown w/trolley to UCR
Advocacy to increase transit service in the City
Tracking grant opportunities and partnerships
June 2026 | Page 6/8
Outreach Email
Dear [Property Owner/Agency]-
The City of Riverside has initiated a study in partnership with the Western Riverside Council of Governments (WRCOG) focused on the Downtown Metrolink Station area. The next step in our work plan is hosting discussions with property and business owners within the study area. As a local property/ business owner/operator in the area we would like to hear from you regarding topics such as future plans for your property, ideas that you have for the area (i.e. uses you would like to see nearby like restaurants, housing, etc.), and other feedback you have related to this project.
We will be coordinating meetings at your convenience via Zoom and/or are happy to meet in person if you would prefer.
Could you please confirm if you are interested in participating and/or if there is anyone else that you would like us to include in this discussion?
Once confirmed a member from our consultant team, PlaceWorks, will be reaching out to coordinate a day and time.
Kind regards- [or however you would like to end the correspondence]
June 2026 | Page 7/8
Stakeholder Questions
The following list of questions was used to assist with discussions and learn more about the area, properties, and services. Questions were not asked as a checklist and some may not have been asked or may not have been applicable to the stakeholder, instead they were intended to provide a starting point for the project team to facilitate information sharing.
Area Property Owners/ Managers
a. Tell us about your property or properties (location, existing uses, year built, current vacancy levels, tenant mix, etc.)
b. What drew you to Downtown Riverside and this area?
c. Do you see a synergy with other uses in this area?
d. What are your long-term goals for your property?
e. What are your observations about this area? Of other properties/businesses? f. What can/should the City be doing to boost economic development in the area? g. Do you think that housing or mixed-use that allows residential would benefit this area? h. Do you think a streetscape improvement project (new street trees and landscaping would improve the area?
Area Businesses
a. Tell us about your business. How long have you been in Riverside? What drew you to the City? b. Do your employees live in the City?
c. What other businesses do you or your employees buy from or get services from in the City? d. What are your observations about the area?
e. What are your long-term growth goals? Do you have enough space where you are? If not, are you hoping to find a new location in the City?
f. Tell us about your experience in getting entitlements/permits with the City? g. What are the top issues that need to be addressed by the City? h. Do you think a streetscape improvement project (new street trees and landscaping would improve the area?
Agencies
a. Tell us about the service you provide.
b. If your agency owns property in the area do you have any future plans for it? c. Do you have any plans for upgrades or service improvements in the Downtown Station area?
June 2026 | Page 8/8
d. Do you have long-term service improvements or changes to service that could impact this area? e. Do you have a joint development agreement or P3 policy for properties the agency owns? f. What would you need to maintain for operations in the area? Operators/ Developers
a. Tell us about your company and history in Riverside. b. Do you have any properties you are representing in the area? Location? Description? Status? c. What’s been your experience working with the City? Are there barriers to new development that the City could address?
d. What do you see as the major opportunity sites within this area of Riverside? e. Do you have any existing or planned projects in Riverside? If so, tell us about them (process, entitlement timeframe, etc.)
b. Did you need a GPA or ZC Amendment? Were there any other barriers to getting entitlements? c. What are your impressions of the real estate market in Riverside? d. From a location standpoint, what are the advantages of the Downtown Station area? e. Based on your knowledge of the area, what’s missing? f. Would you be interested in developing in the area? If so, what kind of use and under what conditions?