July 2006 Archives

Retail growth continues its torrid pace within Inland Southern California as both an existing mall and one currently under construction added to their ever-expanding tenant list.

The Galleria at Tyler, located at the 91 Freeway and Tyler Street in Riverside, has begun work on the first of two "lifestyle" components flanking the north and south ends of the 1.1 million square-foot mall. The "North Village," adjacent to the current Macy's (formerly The Broadway), will include outdoor plaza-style retail/restaurants topped by a 12-screen AMC theatre complex. Leases signed thus far include Elephant Bar restaurant and Orange County-based Robbins Bros. jewelers.

2006
Nordstrom - Galleria at Tyler


2006
Galleria at Tyler
near "North Village" project area


Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos
Poag & McEwen

The "South Village," on the freeway side of the mall directly in front of the former Robinson's-May (and soon-to-be Macy's), will essentially become the new southern entrance for the mall. This second expansion will include a free-standing PF Chang's (already underway) among other shops and restaurants, including an expected Yard House upscale brewery/restaurant:

Both projects, including a parking garage expansion, are expected to be completed in Fall 2007.

Major tenants already established at the two-level, 170-shop Galleria include JCPennys, Macy's, Nordstrom, Barnes & Noble, Disney Store, Abercrombie & Fitch, Ann Taylor Loft, Guess, Anthropologie, Hollister, MetroPark, Victoria's Secret, Carlton Hair Int'l, Gymboree, Hot Topic, PacSun, Jimmy'Z, LoveSac, Sharper Image, and Thomas Kinkade Gallery. A fourth anchor spot is currently open following the Macy's/Robinson's-May merger.

Down the road in Corona, construction continues on that city's first major shopping plaza and is on track for an October 2006 grand opening. Located at the junction of I-15 and Weirick Road in southern Corona, The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos will be a 360,000 square-foot, outdoor lifestyle center within a pedestrian-oriented plaza overlooking twin lakes.

Developed by Memphis-based Poag & McEwen, the "Craftsman-styled" center is already 88-percent leased, including Banana Republic, Coach, Coldwater Creek, Z Gallerie, Ann Taylor Loft, Anthropologie, Victoria's Secret, Eddie Bauer, White House Black Market and Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill. As of yet, there are no major anchor tenants, though this may change with future phases as the center expands to an expected 575,000 sq. ft.

The Promenade Shops are part of the 543-acre, master-planned Dos Lagos development, which includes residential, retail, offices, an 18-hole championship golf course and 135 acres of open space.

The Riverside and Corona developments come on the heels of the highly successful, October 2004 opening of the upscale Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga and during a time when Inland Southern California continues to post impressive growth in many demographic categories. Between 2000 and 2004, the region's population grew 18% (3.25M to 3.82M), total personal income rose 71% ($25B to $43B) and taxable retail sales increased 40% ($75B to $104B), easily outpacing the rest of Southern California. (Source: LAEDC, Feb. 2006).

Needless to say, the numbers haven't slowed much since 2004 as the region continues to march toward the 4 million mark in population.

Now, if only the region could get that elusive professional sports team and much-needed local TV station...

The first significant portion of the soon-to-be rebuilt 60/91/215 interchange in downtown Riverside opened this week, bringing some long-awaited relief for locals and commuters alike, many of which have come to despise the antiquated interchange.

2006
Westbound flyover
Flash: View photo overlay

The new eastbound connector, though still somewhat temporary in nature, should allow for smoother transitioning from eastbound Highway 91 to eastbound Highway 60/southbound I-215. Reconfiguring a portion of the existing eastbound 91 adjacent to the new connector will come next, eventually allowing for the full implementation of the new transition.

When fully completed in late 2007, the interchange will also sport two new freeway-to-freeway connector ramps, auxiliary lanes and a wider main line allowing for future carpool/lane additions.

Also included in the overall $320 million project are major improvements on the 60/215 portion between downtown Riverside and Moreno Valley, with new overcrossings, improved access to UC Riverside, carpool lane extensions and an eastbound truck-only lane.

Though partially delayed due to initial funding obstacles and rising costs, the downtown interchange project was one of the key elements of a half-cent sales tax/transportation improvement package (Measure A) that Riverside County voters overwhelmingly approved (79%) in 1988 and extended an additional 30-years (69%) in 2002.

No doubt, residents old and new alike will be glad to finally see the end is nearing for 'malfunction junction.'

Photo Gallery: 60/91/215 interchange project

Related

• Caltrans - 60/91/215 project
• Riverside Co. Transportation Commission

Previous

• RaincrossSquare.com - Interchange project progresses (Apr. 2006)
• RaincrossSquare.com - Work on interchange resumes (Mar. 2005)
• RaincrossSquare.com - Malfunction junction (Feb. 2005)
• RaincrossSquare.com - Uncorking the bottleneck (Mar. 2004)

2004
Westbound flyover

2005
Westbound flyover
above Spruce St.

2006
Westbound flyover

Last month, one of Southern California's notable post-modern architects, Herman O. Ruhnau, passed away at the age of 93 in Riverside, a city in which he left a distinctive architectural legacy.

A German by descent, Mr. Ruhnau was born Sept. 1, 1912, in Santa Barbara, eventually moving with his family to Pasadena before permanently relocating to Riverside. Ruhnau studied architecture at USC and served as an architect in the Navy during World War II, returning to Riverside following the war.

2006
Riverside County
Administrative Center (1975)


2006
Riverside City Hall (1975)


Original model of City Hall
Ruhnau

In 1950, Mr. Ruhnau was a founding partner of the Riverside architectural firm now known as Ruhnau, Ruhnau & Clarke. Among the buildings designed by Ruhnau's firm are two of the city's most prominent buildings: Riverside City Hall (1975) and Riverside County Administrative Center (1975):

Ruhnau's firm specialized in public buildings and built numerous schools throughout Inland Southern California, including La Sierra High School (1969), Norte Vista High School and Sherman Indian High School, all in Riverside. Ruhnau also designed the city's Marcy Branch Library (1958) and worked on the designs for Corona Naval Hospital in Norco.

Probably the most unique feature designed by the firm for Riverside that remains today is the downtown Main Street pedestrian mall (1966). Designed in response to the suburban exodus of retailers for large shopping malls -- including Riverside Plaza (1956) -- the pedestrian mall is making a comeback today as both residents, retailers and businesses alike rediscover its uniqueness and charm in the heart of downtown Riverside.

The non-vehicular, park-like mall stretches for 7 city blocks (Tenth to Third streets) with only one interruption (Fifth to Sixth streets) and one yet to be fully developed portion (Fourth to Third streets). Major anchors along the mall include the Mission Inn, California Tower, UCR/CMP, UCR/Culver Arts Center, Riverside Marriott as well as two civic buildings: Raincross Square Convention Center and the aforementioned City Hall.

Although a number of similar pedestrian malls were created as a response to the suburban phenomenon that deserted many downtowns during the post-war years, only a handful remain intact today, something residents and city leaders alike should remember when major changes are proposed.

In 1974, Mr. Ruhnau was inducted into the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects. He received a lifetime achievement award from the Inland Chapter of the AIA this past April.

Related

• Los Angeles Times - Herman Ruhnau, 93; Architect Designed Riverside City Hall

2006
Pedestrian Mall

2006
City Hall

2006
City Hall

@1973
Riv. Co. Admin
Rhunau

@1976
Riv. Co. Admin
Rhunau