Category: Regional News

News from around the region and beyond

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2008
Festival of Lights


2008
Mission Inn

In case you missed it, the 16th annual Festival of Lights began this past weekend in downtown Riverside. With 3.5 million lights and hundreds of animated figures, the crown jewel of the nightly festival is the historic Mission Inn hotel. As usual, Friday night's "lighting ceremony" incorporated extra festivities, including live music and fireworks.

Also included are an ice skating rink, carriage rides and several vendors and shops along the Main Street Pedestrian Mall. Most stores have extended their hours during the festival (something we'd like to see more of them do at other times during the year).

The festival runs nightly through January 4th (excepting Christmas Day). We suggest parking in one of the two available Orange Street parking garages, particularly if you're visiting Friday, Saturday or Sunday evenings (parking is free after 5 p.m. and all day on the weekends). Another garage is also available off Market Street between Mission Inn and University avenues.

For those looking to make dinner plans (or simply grab a quick bite), several top-notch restaurants and eateries -- including Mario's, Restaurant Omakase, Duane's, Las Campanas, Cafe Sevilla, Old Spaghetti Factory, Simple Simons, Phood on Main, Pacific Stix and Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf -- are all within a few blocks.

Related

• InstantRiverside.com - Mission Inn lights up downtown


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Riverside's Festival of Lights kicks off in all its glory (Nov. 29)


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - 'Little kid' ideal shines behind Festival of Lights (Nov. 28)


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Riverside's Festival of Lights starts Friday, with some changes planned (Nov. 26)


• Mission Inn


• Mission Inn - Festival of Lights


• City of Riverside - Festival of Lights

Previous

• RaincrossSquare.com - GMA does FOL (Dec. 2007)

Barely 3 years into operations, cargo shipper DHL is closing its west coast hub at March Air Reserve Base near Riverside. The closing comes as the German-based shipper pulls out of the U.S. domestic cargo market. The final flights at March are expected by the end of January 2009.

DHL

Officials with both March Global Port, the private developer of the DHL facility, and March Joint Powers Authority, the local government agency overseeing commercial reuses at the base, are unclear what will become of the 262,000 sq. ft. cargo sorting center located at the southern end of the 90-year-old base.

Though the end of DHL's 8 nightly flights may be good news to the ears of some local residents, it couldn't have come at a worse time as the Inland region is suffering from some of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. Losing a long-term, job-creating catalyst like DHL certainly won't help.

Although we acknowledge -- and agree -- there were some serious missteps made during the initial landing of DHL at March, we hope the March JPA continues its steadfast search for future airside tenants. But in doing so, it must also work twice as hard in regaining the public's trust and support.

However, the JPA must not lose sight of the fact its biggest asset is March's 13,300-foot runway -- one of the longest paved runways on the west coast. Simply allowing the DHL facility to transform into non-aviation uses would be a disservice to the entire Inland region -- a region striving to keep the next generation of residents from becoming long-range commuters.

Related

• Riverside Press-Enterprise - DHL to unload U.S. operations, close West Coast hub in Riverside (Nov. 11)


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Inland airports' dream of cargo hubs grounded (Nov. 20)

Previous

• RaincrossSquare.com - Air cargo hub-bub (March 2006)


• RaincrossSquare.com - DHL opens West Coast hub (Oct. 2005)


• RaincrossSquare.com - The battle for DHL - part trois (Jan. 2005)

2008
Riverside National Cemetery


2008
Ysmael R. Villegas

This Veterans Day marks thirty years since the opening of Riverside National Cemetery.

Located across the I-215 freeway from March ARB on the former grounds of Camp William G. Haan, the 921-acre cemetery is one of the nation's largest and busiest national cemeteries.

The initial phase included 96 acres and cost $5 million when opened on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 1978. The first interment was local WWII hero and Medal of Honor recipient, Ysmael R. Villegas.

Read more about the history of RNC in a previous post from earlier this year.

Photo Gallery: Riverside National Cemetery

Related

• Riverside National Cemetery


• Riverside National Cemetery Support Committee

Update

• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Dearest at rest on sacred soil (Nov. 12)

Oct. 2008
Southeast entrance


Oct. 2008
Interior view


Oct. 2008
East end


Seating configuration - hockey

After more than a decade since first envisioned, several years of planning, a few false starts and 18 months of construction, a new day in sports and entertainment for Inland Southern California began Saturday as Citizens Business Bank Arena opened its doors to the public for the first time.

Dubbed "Community Day," the grand opening event saw several thousand people take a peek inside the new $150 million, 11,000 seat arena in Ontario. Located near the I-10/I-15 interchange, the arena rests on a portion of the former site for Ontario Motor Speedway. Immediately to the east is Ontario Mills mall while across I-10 sits LA/Ontario International Airport.

The facility, which is managed by AEG (who also oversee LA's Staples Center), is Inland Southern California's first major-league caliber arena and will play host to everything from sporting events and concerts to children's shows and community events. The facility's first official event is an October 24 exhibition game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder (formerly Seattle SuperSonics). Carrie Underwood's November 9 date will be the venue's inaugural concert. But the real acoustical test is likely to come December 12 when an already sold-old appearance is made by Metallica.

In between concerts and other sporting events, the arena will be home to the Ontario Reign, the new Double-A affiliate ice hockey club of the Los Angeles Kings. The Reign will play in the 24-team ECHL as a member of the Pacific Division along with Las Vegas, Fresno, Stockton and Bakersfield (the new Anaheim Ducks affiliate).

Designed by Rossetti Associates, the 225,000 sq. ft. facility contains 9,500 fixed seats with expansion risers allowing 11,089 for concerts, 10,832 for basketball and 9,736 for ice hockey. There are also 36 luxury suites -- 24 Club suites and 12 Skybox suites -- both with their own VIP areas and outdoor patios. An open-ended concourse fills a portion of the arena's western end.

Our first impressions? Top-notch and first class; comfortably large and yet intimate. The seats offer excellent sightlines and feel close to the floor, even from above. No matter where one sits, there simply is not a bad seat in the house. Not even the single seat atop section 219.

At two-thirds the size of both Los Angeles' Staples Center and Anaheim's Honda Center, we think Citizens' "big, but intimate" atmosphere will make it one of Southern California's premier concert venues. (With sincere apologies to Long Beach Arena -- a long-time favorite of local music fans -- Ontario's new arena is poised to overtake it as the region's best mid-major concert venue.)

Indeed, it's been a long time coming, but Citizens Arena is a venue that both Ontario and Inland Southern California can be proud of.

Photos: Citizens Business Bank Arena

Related

• Citizens Business Bank Arena


• Ontario Reign


• ECHL


• AEG


• Rossetti Associates


• Citizens Business Bank


• City of Ontario


• Inland Valley Daily Bulletin - Thousands get preview of Ontario's Citizens Business Bank Arena


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Public gets first look at Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Ontario Arena

Previous

• RaincrossSquare.com - Ground broken for Ontario arena (March 2007)


• RaincrossSquare.com - Citizens Business Bank Arena (October 2006)

Update

• Inland Valley Daily Bulletin - Reign earn win in debut (Oct. 19)


• InstantRiverside.com - Citizens Business Bank Arena makes its debut with Lakers (Oct. 23)


• Inland Valley Daily Bulletin - Lakers play curtain-raiser at Ontario's Citizens Business Bank Arena (Oct. 25)


• Inland Valley Daily Bulletin - Arena, Lakers magnetize I.E. (Oct. 25)


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Lakers break in Ontario arena with win (Oct. 25)


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Patton: Lakers a treat for Inland fans (Oct. 25)


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Alexander: Riverside misses out again (Oct. 25)

A small curbside swath of University Avenue in downtown Riverside was turned into an impromptu park earlier today as part of National Park(ing) Day.

Trust for Public Land

What began in San Francisco in 2005 aimed at bringing awareness to the need for more parks and open space, particularly within urban environments, has grown into a nationwide event. For one day each year, a few parking spaces in cities across the nation are temporarily replaced with tiny "public parks."

The local event was sponsored by Community Works Design Group in Riverside and, to our knowledge, is the first time Inland Southern California has participated in the 3-year-old event.

Related

• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Temporary parks spring up in downtown Riverside parking stalls | Photos | Video


• Official Site - National Park(ing) Day


• Trust for Public Land - National Park(ing) Day


• Flickr - National Park(ing) Day

Final approval was given this past week by the University of California for what will become the state's sixth UC medical school. Set to open in 2012 at UC Riverside, the new school will be the first public medical school established in California in over 40 years and will build upon the current UCR/UCLA Thomas Haider Program in Biomedical Sciences established at UCR in 1974.

2007
UC Riverside

Approval of the school comes during the first week in office for new UCR Chancellor Timothy P. White, who is taking the reigns from acting chancellor Robert D. Grey. White says searching for a "highly regarded pioneer in the medical field" to lead the medical school will begin immediately.

Formerly the president of University of Idaho, White was hired in May by the UC Board of Regents to replace France A. Cordova, who became president at Purdue University last July. Cordova was instrumental in launching the initial planning for UCR's medical school in 2003.

The program will use existing facilities upon opening in 2012 with construction of a new medical school complex planned to begin in 2010. The complex will be located on 40 acres at the northeast corner of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Chicago Avenue at the western edge of the UCR campus. Completion and occupancy of the new complex is expected by 2015.

Related

• Riverside Press-Enterprise - UCR medical school wins UC Board of Regents' final OK (July 18)


• UCR - School of Medicine

Previous

• RaincrossSquare.com - Regents endorse med school for UCR (Nov. 2006)

2008
Riverside National Cemetery


2004
National Medal of Honor


2008
National POW/MIA Memorial


2008
Memorial Day weekend


2008
Recent burials

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Riverside National Cemetery, one of the nation's largest national cemeteries. It is also one of the busiest.

Located along I-215 just west of March Air Reserve Base in southeastern Riverside, the 921-acre cemetery is the final resting place for nearly 180,000 veterans, former service members and their spouses from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Currently, the cemetery averages 150 services per week, totaling about 8,000 per year.

Riverside National sits on the former grounds of Camp William G. Haan, which served as an anti-aircraft training facility during WWII. In 1946, Camp Haan was absorbed into March Air Force Base and remained part of the base's sprawling western landscape before being transferred to the VA in 1976 for the then-planned 740-acre national cemetery.

The initial phase of 96 acres cost $5 million and opened on Veterans Day, Nov. 11th 1978. The first interment was local WWII hero and Medal of Honor recipient, Ysmael R. Villegas, whose family allowed re-burial from Riverside's Olivewood Cemetery to the newly-christened national cemetery. Within the first month of operation, the facility performed 355 interments, 163 of which were re-burials.

By 2003, when the Air Force transferred an additional 181 acres to the cemetery, the total overall acreage reached 921, with current development covering approximately 300 of those acres. With future development, the total number of interments is projected to reach well over 1 million.

Among those buried at Riverside National are two other Medal of Honor recipients -- Com. John H. Balch, WWI; and Col. Mitchell Paige, WWII / Korea -- as well as several distinguished persons, including Col. Aaron Bank (the father of the Army's Green Berets) and Capt. Lillian Kinkela Keil (an Air Force Flight Nurse Pioneer, who's one of the military's most decorated women). Also of note are several members of the Tuskegee Airmen; Ofc. James F. Van Pelt Jr., navigator during the dropping of the atomic bomb over Nagasaki; and Thomas Ross Bond Sr., best known as "Butch" in the 'Little Rascals' comedies.

Two lakes, an administration building, a small amphitheater and several monuments are scattered about the grounds, which ranges from gently rolling hills to wide open spaces. (Unfortunately, the newest portions tend to be a bit thin with regards to mature trees, a condition that with increased VA support, we hope changes sooner rather than later.)

Among the memorials is one of four nationally recognized National Medal of Honor sites, which was built in 1999. Other monuments include a Veteran's Memorial and the National Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Memorial. On the immediate horizon is a replica of the Vietnam Wall Memorial with several others representing the Civil War, WWI, WWII and Korea planned for the future.

Though far from being the "Arlington of the West" as first envisioned by its chief proponent and longtime civic activist David Goldware, Riverside National Cemetery has come a long way in a short 30 years. With the right guidance, diligent local support -- and kind Congressional budgets -- the cemetery may very well become the Arlington for a new generation of veterans.

Photo Gallery: Riverside National Cemetery

Related

• Riverside National Cemetery


• Riverside National Cemetery Support Committee


• Los Angeles Times - Riverside National Cemetery: Where a nation says farewell (May 2008)


• Los Angeles Times - Video: Honoring the fallen at Riverside National Cemetery (May 2008)


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Tributes to servicemen, women ring out (May 2008)


• CNN (AP) - Veterans' burials nonstop at national cemeteries (May 2008)


• KNBC-TV, Los Angeles - On The Road: Riverside National Cemetery (Oct. 2007)
  

Update

• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Riverside National Cemetery on track for record number of burials (June 15)

2004
Amphitheater

2004
Medal of Honor

2004
Lake "B"

2008
Ground
breaking
(June 1976)

2008
Dedication
(Nov. 1978)

WWII
Camp Haan*

WWII
Camp Haan*

*Photo courtesy of Robert F. Gallagher

This weekend, Inland Southern California welcomed the latest addition to the area's growing retail scene as The Shoppes at Chino Hills held its grand opening.

2008
Grand Opening


2008
Main Street


2008
Directory

Located just west of Highway 71 at the corner of Grand Avenue and Peyton Drive, the 400,000 sq. ft. outdoor mall is the fourth major "lifestyle" center to open within the region since 2004. Thus far, approximately 40 of the expected 60 retailers are open, with the rest to follow shortly.

Developed by Phoenix-based Opus West, the $200 million center is anchored by Barnes & Noble, Trader Joe's, Victoria's Secret, Banana Republic, H&M and Chicos. Also included are several specialty chains such as New York & Co., J. Jill, JoS A. Bank, and White House | Black Market. Dining is represented with the likes of CPK, P.F. Chang's, Wood Ranch BBQ and a Yard House Bar & Grill.

As with many recent open-air centers, The Shoppes is designed to mimic a main street setting, though with an updated architectural look and feel. Many of the Altoon + Porter designed storefronts sport high-tech styling with subtle old-school details. Several park-like benches scattered about offer a place to rest or simply people watch.

In general, the place was relatively inviting, but does have a few drawbacks.

First, there are no major department stores. Although not completely unusual in today's newer, mall-like retail developments, residents looking for a Macy's or Nordstrom will still need to travel to either Montclair or Riverside.

Second, the center has only one car-free promenade (and three vehicular thru-ways, which can be closed as needed). Though no real surprise considering the car-dominated city that surrounds it, the result was a very busy and active courtyard at one end of the mall with lightly scattered pedestrian activity elsewhere.

With that said, the center also suffers from a shortage of parking (which likely explains the interior thru-ways and lack of more promenade space). Located on a rather smallish parcel, The Shoppes could use a parking garage (and will likely need one sooner rather than later). Complicating matters is the fact that Peyton Avenue is currently undergoing major construction.

Overall, we like the look and feel. Though nowhere near a real downtown setting, we appreciate the notion of adding a small urban-like core of sorts to what is essentially a suburban-oriented city. With the adjacent civic center currently under construction and a possible residential component on the horizon, The Shoppes will no doubt play a large role in fulfilling that notion.

Slideshow: The Shoppes at Chino Hills

Related

• Inland Valley Daily Bulletin - Shoppers line up for opening of area's newest mall


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - New Shoppes at Chino Hills center takes up challenge of tricky economy


• The Shoppes at Chino Hills

Previous

• RaincrossSquare.com - Region's retail market still expanding (Jan. 2008)

This weekend, the skies over Inland Southern California will reverberate with the thundering sounds of the USAF Thunderbirds as the team performs during "AirFest 2008" at March Air Reserve Base.

2004
AirFest 2004


1920s
March Field


1940
March Field
USAF


2008
Aerial view
(note the outline of
the base's original quad)
MS Virtual Earth

The base, celebrating its 90th year, will once again open up the gates to the public during its annual open house/air show. The event, which attracts upwards of 250,000 people, has become the largest such air show in Southern California.

In addition to the Thunderbirds, flyovers will include the F-22, F-18, KC-135, C-130 as well an impressive short runway landing/takeoff demo performed by a March ARB-based Globemaster C-17. Also scheduled are precision parachute teams from the US Army "Golden Knights" and Canadian Skyhawks, a Red Bull MiG-17 aerial demonstration and several stunt pilots and vintage aircraft. On the tarmac will be over 50 aircraft available for up-close inspection, including several open for "walk-thrus."

Gates will be open 8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Sat. May 3 and Sun. May, 4. Free parking is available on base grounds.

March ARB was initially established in 1918 during World War I as Alessandro Flying Training Field under the command of the fledgling Army Air Service (later to become the Army Air Corps.) The base, which is the oldest Air Force base west of the Mississippi, immediately took the name March Field in honor of 2nd Lt. Peyton C. March Jr.

Through the years, the base was home to many of the nation's most celebrated pilots and commanders, including Hoyt Vandenberg, Curtis LeMay, Nathan Twining and Henry "Hap" Arnold. With its close proximity to Hollywood, March also played host to Bob Hope's first major USO show in May 1941.

Following World War II, March became part of the newly-formed Tactical Air Command (TAC), housing the 1st Fighter Wing for the Army Air Force. Upon establishment of the US Air Force as an independent branch in 1948, the base was renamed March Air Force Base, becoming a major Strategic Air Command (SAC) bomber base and headquarters for the 15th Air Force. For several years, B-29s, B-52s and KC-135s dominated the tarmac -- and the overhead skies.

In 1982, KC-10s replaced the last of March's B-52s as the primary mission changed from bombardment to air refueling and support. In 1996, as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, the base was renamed March Air Reserve Base.

Today, as the largest air reserve base in the nation, March ARB supports all branches of the US military. The base is home to the 4th Air Force HQ and several other units, including the 4th Combat Camera Squadron, the 163d Reconnaissance Wing, the American Forces Radio and Television Service, the Southwest Interdiction Unit of U.S. Customs as well as an air wing of Homeland Security.

With Southern California's longest paved runway, the now joint-use facility includes March GlobalPort, which serves as the West Coast hub for cargo shipper DHL.

Related

• March ARB


• March AirFest


• March Field Museum


• USAF Thunderbirds

Previous

• RaincrossSquare.com - March Field AirFest 2006 (April 2006)

Cash celebration in Corona

Friends, family and fans alike of legendary musician Johnny Cash will be marking his birthday this weekend with a 3-day celebration at the Fender Museum of the Music & Arts.

The event, which begins Friday evening, will include music, movies, videos and a special exhibit chronicling Cash's career, including items on loan from a Corona resident.

2004
Fender Museum


2001
California Speedway


2006
Montclair Plaza

Also on hand will be members of Cash's family, including daughter Cindy Cash and son John Carter Cash, who was an executive producer on the 2005 movie "Walk the Line." Both will be participating in Q&A sessions along with other special guests.

"Cash: An American Icon" begins Friday at the museum located at 365 N. Main Street, just north of the 91 Freeway in Corona.

New name for California Speedway

With the first of this year's two NASCAR weekends at the track set to begin, the California Speedway in Fontana is about to get a new name. The Roger Penske-designed track, which opened in 1997, will soon go by the name "Auto Club Speedway of Southern California." Although figures have yet to be officially released, the 10-year deal is reportedly worth between $50 to $75 million.

We admit our initial reaction to the news is mixed. Sure, it will bring additional revenue to the facility, but at what cost to the track's eventual legacy?

And, though we realize naming rights are a seemingly necessary evil in today's costly sporting/entertainment venue environment, such name changes can often lead to obtusive, sometimes strange combinations (e.g., EnergySolutions Arena, Jobing.com Arena, Izod Center, Pengrowth Saddledome, TD Banknorth Garden, Quicken Loans Arena).

Let's hope this is not the beginning of successive names for the Fontana facility, which may eventually require the use of asterisks in the racing record books. Fortunately, it's highly unlikely that the Auto Club will become the next Enron and simply disappear overnight, leaving a rather odd naming legacy for the track (e.g., Enron Field in Houston).

Details released for Montclair mall renovation

General Growth Properties released more details this week on the renovation and eventual expansion of the 40-year-old Montclair Plaza.

The renovation is intended to add a softer touch to the mall's industrial-looking interior with the use of new wood-like flooring, accent lighting, glass railings and furniture.

Also included in the project will be the demolition of the 1968 building that originally housed The Broadway (Macys), which has been vacant since the 2006 merger of Robinson's-May with Macys (and subsequent relocation of Macys). Although we're glad to see the mall renovate and expand, we're sad to see yet another 1960s-era department store building meet the wrecking ball.

The renovation is slated to kick into full gear by June with completion expected before the upcoming holiday shopping season.

Related

• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Family, fans to gather in Corona to mark Johnny Cash's birthday
• JohnnyCash.com
• Fender Museum
• San Bernardino Sun - California Speedway to change name
• California Speedway
• Ontario Daily Bulletin - Montclair Plaza renovation details given

Previous

• RaincrossSquare.com - Region's retail market still expanding (Jan. 2008)

Since 2004, Inland Southern California has seen an influx of large-scale retail developments, redevelopments and expansions. From new malls in Rancho Cucamonga (Victoria Gardens) and Corona (The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos), expansions (Galleria at Tyler) and revivals (Riverside Plaza) in Riverside, continuing growth within the periphery of Ontario Mills, to a number of "power centers" popping up throughout the region, retailers have been busy playing catch-up to the area's pent-up demand.

And although the recent housing slowdown will no doubt affect future growth, the region's fast-rising demographics and tremendous population growth -- 800,000+ since the 2000 Census -- means more expansion looms on the immediate horizon.

Montclair Plaza renovation
MulvannyG2


The Shoppes at Chino Hills
Altoon + Porter


Garrett Ranch site plan
Garrett Group, LLC

In Montclair, General Growth Properties has begun the early phases of a major renovation on the 40-year-old Montclair Plaza, which opened as a single-level mall in 1968 (a 1985 expansion added a second level of shops and department stores for Nordstrom and Sears). The latest renovation will see the mall's utilitarian interior softened with the addition of colorful accents and a mixture of glass panels, partial ceilings and stone textures.

Also in the works is the demolition of the former Macy's, which is expected to be replaced druing later phases with an outdoor "lifestyle" component. The Macy's building opened along with the mall in 1968 as The Broadway but has been vacant since 2006 following the merger with Robinson's-May (resulting in Macy's relocating within the former Robinson's-May building).

Completion of the interior renovation at the 1.35 million sq. ft. mall is expected by November.

Down the road in Riverside County, Forest City Development announced plans recently for an outdoor "lifestyle" component at the 1 million sq. ft. Promenade Mall in Temecula, which opened in October 1999. The 126,000 sq. ft. expansion will take place on the mall's southern side and includes two multi-level parking structures.

The expansion will bring long-overdue stores from Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn and Coldwater Creek, signaling the continued "catch-up" mode within the region's retail market. Also included wil be the region's fourth Yard House restaurant, following those in Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside and Chino Hills (opening Spring 2008).

The expansion is expected to be completed in early 2009.

Elsewhere across the region, construction continues on The Shoppes at Chino Hills, a 400,000 sq. ft. lifestyle/civic center taking shape at Grand and Peyton avenues. Retailers will include Barnes & Noble, Victoria's Secret, H&M, Banana Republic, Trader Joe's and the abovementioned Yard House.

A Spring 2008 opening is planned.

Still in the early stages are plans for a $200 million mall along Highway 74 in western Hemet. Dubbed Garrett Ranch, the 1 million sq. ft. lifestyle/power center will help fill the retail void in fast-growing central Riverside County. Temecula-based Garrett Group LLC, developers of the proposed mall, are seeking financing for the 200 acre project.

Finally, there has been at least one major setback in the region's large-scale retail projects. After years of slow decline, downtown San Bernardino's Carousel Mall is on the verge of vacancy. Once a vibrant mall located in the heart of the city's downtown core, the Victor Gruen-designed mall has been steadily losing retail tenants since the closing of the flagship Harris' department store in 2000 (with both Montgomery Ward and J.C. Penney leaving shortly thereafter).

Miami-based LNR Property Corporation, which bought most of the struggling mall in Feb. 2006, floated plans of redeveloping their portion of the mall into a mixture of retail, residential and office uses. Earlier this month, however, LNR sold their Carousel holdings to a small Southern California-based developer for $23.5 million. New owners -- M & D Properties -- say plans for their portion of the mall, which does not include either the J.C. Penney or historic Harris' Co. buildings, are under development.

Related

• Inland Valley Daily Bulletin - Montclair Plaza upgrade begins (Jan. 8)
• Riverside Press-Enterprise - LA County developers taking on San Bernardino's Carousel Mall (Jan. 15)
• Riverside Press-Enterprise - The Promenade's expansion attracts upscale tenants (Nov. 15, 2007)

Photo Galleries

• Montclair Plaza
• The Promenade Mall (Temecula)
• Carousel Mall (San Bernardino)
• Galleria at Tyler (Riverside)
• The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos (Corona)
• Victoria Gardens (Rancho Cucamonga)

Previous

• RaincrossSquare.com - 'North Village' opens at Galleria (Dec. 2007)
• RaincrossSquare.com - Then & Now - Galleria at Tyler (July 2007)
• RaincrossSquare.com - LNR closer to redeveloping Carousel Mall (Feb. 2007)
• RaincrossSquare.com - GO: The Promenade Shops (Oct. 2006)
• RaincrossSquare.com - Mall happenings (July 2006)
• RaincrossSquare.com - Garrett Ranch - Hemet (June 2006)
• RaincrossSquare.com - Razed, Rebuilt, Revived (Dec. 2005)
• RaincrossSquare.com - Central City Mall (Sept. 2005)
• RaincrossSquare.com - Insta Main Street (Dec. 2004)
• RaincrossSquare.com - Rebirthing Riverside Plaza (Oct. 2004)

Los Angeles-based KNBC-TV wrapped up a week-long "Road Trip" this past Friday in downtown Riverside. The NBC-owned station spent the entire week broadcasting a large portion of its 5 p.m. newscast from 5 different locales within Inland Southern California.

Paul Moyer and Colleen Williams
KNBC-TV


LA/Ontario Int'l Airport
KNBC-TV


Live from the Mission Inn
KNBC-TV

The week kicked off with Monday's live remote from the California Citrus State Historic Park in Riverside, and included a look at the area's citrus history as well as the region's recent explosive growth.

Tuesday was spent in San Bernardino, visiting an outreach center of the city's "Operation Phoenix" program as well as spotlighting efforts at the city's fledging San Bernardino International Airport.

Wednesday saw the crew spend time in Temecula, reporting on the area's highly-regarded schools and exploring the city's old town and wine country districts.

Thursday was Ontario's day as the newscast setup shop at LA/Ontario International Airport, reporting on the region's rise as the distribution hub for Greater Los Angeles.

Friday closed out the road trip back in Riverside, this time with the historic Mission Inn serving as the backdrop for reports on the eclectic hotel's Festival of Lights, its "Famous Fliers' Wall" as well as a revered look at nearby Riverside National Cemetery.

Although our first reaction in hearing about the remote broadcasts was one of curiosity mixed with trepidation, we must acknowledge the station went above and beyond what was expected. The daily broadcast was not simply a case of moving the anchor desk outside the studio and reporting the news. Not at all. In fact, the news team tailored large portions of the hour-long newscasts with local informational pieces - something rarely seen on LA television, particularly with regards to Inland Southern California.

So, what does this mean? Probably nothing, as indeed next week will likely be business as usual. But, based upon the quality and type of reports we saw this past week, we hope KNBC is wising up to the need at better serving the entire metropolitan region. Although 10 million people do in fact live in LA County, the phenomenal growth within Greater Los Angeles over the past 20-30 years has pushed the outlying population within the adjacent 4 counties to 8 million (of which, 4 million reside within Inland Southern California alone). That's a rather large -- and growing -- chunk of the overall viewing audience.

However, we should clarify exactly what it is we're seeking. Indeed, it would be nice to have a nightly newscast tailored more for the residents of Inland Southern California. Yes, this would include the typical news, weather, sports and traffic. But beyond that, we're not asking for more Hollywood-influenced, "sensationalized" local news reporting. Instead, we're asking for more community-focused news -- insightful reporting on local politics, in-depth analysis of the Inland region's rising economic power and demographics or simply previewing an upcoming weekend festival or even a quick history lesson about the area. Indeed, that's what we're seeking.

Truth be told, the only chance of ever getting this will likely depend upon the Inland region securing its own major television station. But, for one week at least, that's what we got. Kudos, KNBC.

Related

• KNBC.com - On The Road: Inland Empire

Previous

• RaincrossSquare.com - Filling the local TV void (Sept. 2007)
• RaincrossSquare.com - InstantRiverside.com (April 2007)
• RaincrossSquare.com - Local TV?? (June 2005)