Thursday Gazette: July 23, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Thursday! Today's the day to ask the obvious question, since it's officially Hot Enough For Ya Day. And with the forecast pushing 105 today, the answer isn't really in doubt. Fill up some water balloons or a bucket for quick backyard splash rounds, find a public pool or splash pad for a casual dip, or grab some ice pops to hand out to your mail carrier, delivery driver, or any neighbor who looks like they need one. A little cold treat goes a long way on a day like this.
A story published earlier this week, "Planning Commission OKs Magnolia Center Townhomes, La Sierra Subdivision," got key facts about one of the two projects wrong, including the developer, location and scope of the development. We've corrected the record with two standalone stories, each reported with the correct facts. We hold ourselves to a high standard of accuracy, and we fell short here. We're sorry, and we thank readers who flagged it.
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HOUSING
Planning Commission Approves 10-Home Development on Mary Street
Neighbors in Hawarden Hills raised traffic and density concerns, but commissioners cited the city's need for housing.
Planning Commission approved a 10-unit single-family development on Mary Street despite neighbor opposition over traffic and density.
Why it matters: If you live near Mary Street in Ward 4, expect construction traffic as Burke Construction turns one property into 10 homes, with access limited to a single private street.
What's new: The Planning Commission approved 10 new single-family homes on a 2-acre lot on Mary Street, between Frances Street and De Grazia Road.
- The two-story homes will range from 2,651 to 3,121 square feet, with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a loft and two- or three-car garages.
Yes, but: Neighbors in Hawarden Hills opposed the project, warning of worsened traffic, cut-through driving and pedestrian safety risks near schools.
- "This high density tenement is coming into our neighborhood," resident Clark Taylor said.
- Another resident flagged an active red-tailed hawk nest, a protected species, and asked for a biologist's review.
By the numbers: The development adds 10 houses and nine on-street guest parking spaces to a lot that currently holds one home.
- The existing residence and its detached garage will stay; smaller accessory structures once used for animal keeping will be demolished.
The bottom line: Commissioners acknowledged the traffic concerns but called them a citywide issue, backing the project as infill housing along a major corridor.
Read and share the complete story...
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HOUSING
Planning Commission Approves 56-Home Subdivision Near La Sierra Hills
Commissioners added a median-opening requirement over staff's objection before unanimously approving the Meritage Homes project.
Planning Commission approved a 56-home subdivision on La Sierra Avenue, down from more than 90 homes originally proposed.
Why it matters: If you live in La Sierra Hills, expect construction and a new median break on La Sierra Avenue meant to ease traffic in and out of the neighborhood.
Driving the news: The Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve Meritage Homes' 56-lot subdivision on 9.88 acres at La Sierra and Alhambra avenues.
- The project shrank from more than 90 originally proposed homes after neighborhood feedback added open space and larger lots.
- The subdivision splits into four larger semi-rural homes fronting Alhambra Avenue and 52 smaller homes accessed from La Sierra Avenue.
Yes, but: Nearby residents pushed back over La Sierra Avenue traffic, wildfire evacuation routes, school crowding and lost open space.
- "We're supportive of new homes... just done responsibly," one resident said, warning of unsafe street crossings for students.
Between the lines: Commissioners added a median break on La Sierra Avenue at the project's entrance, overriding staff's recommendation against it.
- A traffic study found no operational benefit, but commissioners said the break would ease access for residents.
The big picture: The approval comes as Riverside falls far short of state housing targets, having permitted no new very-low-income housing since 2021.
- The city has met less than 20% of its obligation to plan for 18,458 homes between 2021 and 2029.
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COMMUNITY
Father-Son Duo Drives Family Legacy at Riverside Transit Agency
Steven Sparks Sr. and Jr. both work as coach operators for the Riverside-based transit agency.
Steven Sparks Sr. and his son, Steven Sparks Jr., share more than a name. Both work as coach operators for the Riverside Transit Agency (RTA), spending thousands of hours behind the wheel of buses that carry riders across the Inland Empire.
For Riverside residents who rely on RTA to get to work, school or appointments, the Sparks family's story is a reminder of the people behind the wheel, drivers who see the region up close, route after route, year after year.
Sparks Sr. joined the RTA in March 2019. He said in a statement that he encouraged his son to apply for a job with the agency after learning he was interested in a career change.
"When I got hired, I told my son he should apply for a job with the agency, too," Sparks Sr. said in a statement. "He was a cross-country trucker, and I told him he should get off the road so he could spend more time with his family."
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Noteworthy
Ward 5's next community town hall brings city staff to the Bourns Family Youth Innovation Center on Thursday, July 30, 6–8 p.m., for resident updates and an open Q&A on quality-of-life issues.
A proposed regional stormwater permit could cost Riverside up to $2.32 billion over 20 years, with a Santa Ana Water Board public hearing on the plan set for Friday, July 24.
UC Riverside synthetic biologist Sonali Chaturvedi has received a $2.1 million NIH grant to study how cells maintain stability while adapting to stress, aiming to uncover rules governing gene regulation tied to diseases like cancer and diabetes.
Eight La Sierra University students, including math grad Aaron Hernandez, received $2,500 Edison International STEM scholarships, bringing the university's total since 2014 to $157,000.
What's Happening in Riverside
Today
- Archiving IE Black History: Stories and Maps that Bring the Past to Life at Riverside Main Library (Community Room)
- History on the Rocks! Presented by The Mission Inn Foundation at Mission Inn Foundation ($65.50 - $71.21)
Tomorrow
- Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting at Zacatecas Café
- Creative Arts at My Learning Studio ($57)
- Multiplication Madness (MM) at My Learning Studio ($57)
- Reading Assistance Program (RAP) at My Learning Studio ($57)
- Movies on the Lawn - 250th Edition: "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" at Heritage House
- Tina & The Stones - Tribute to Tina Turner & The Rolling Stones at Fox Performing Arts Center
- Club90sMJ Night Summer 2026Tour (18+) at Riverside Municipal Auditorium
Save the Date
- July 26: FREE ASHTANGA VINYASA YOGA at Community Yoga Center
- July 27: Sip with a Scientist at Bar Ni Modo
- July 31: Riverside Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting at Zacatecas Café
- October 7: Fifty & Better Health Fair at Janet Goeske Center
🗓️ See More Events 📝 Submit Your Event
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🏆 Nominate a remarkable Riversider as Neighbor of the Week.
