New zoning rules aim to turn vacant offices and industrial buildings into housing, with a late amendment addressing concerns about historic structures.
With the sun setting through the trees on Benbow Place, an American flag stands ready for the Fourth of July — and the nation's 250th birthday. (M M Hughes) Have a photo that captures the spirit of Riverside? Share it with us and help celebrate the beauty of our community!
Thursday Gazette: July 2, 2026
Hello Riverside, and Happy Thursday! It's Thirsty Thursday, and with the Fourth of July weekend coming up, we're on the hunt for a fun, fizzy drink to bring to the party, and the buzz around town says the Hugo Spritz is this summer's go-to. Why not run a test batch on Thirsty Thursday so you've got it dialed in by Saturday?
The classic version: muddle a few mint leaves in a glass, add 2 oz elderflower liqueur, top with 3 oz chilled prosecco, then a splash of soda water. Stir gently and garnish with lime.
Prefer to skip the alcohol? Swap the elderflower liqueur for elderflower syrup and the prosecco for sparkling white grape juice, then top with soda water the same way. Same floral, fizzy sip, just as easy to make ahead for the weekend.
City Clears Path for Vacant Commercial Building-to-Housing Conversions
New zoning rules aim to turn vacant offices and industrial buildings into housing, with a late amendment addressing concerns about historic structures.
Council voted June 23 to let old offices, stores and industrial buildings convert into housing by right.
Why it matters: Riverside has permitted under 20% of its 18,458-home state housing goal, and this ordinance opens vacant office, retail and industrial buildings to conversion without added parking requirements.
What's new: Nonresidential buildings at least 15 years old can convert to housing or mixed-use by right in commercial, office, mixed-use, multifamily and business manufacturing park zones.
Projects get reduced open-space rules, height flexibility and no requirement to add parking beyond what already exists.
By the numbers: Riverside has permitted less than 20% of its 2021-2029 goal of 18,458 new homes, with no very-low-income units built since 2021.
Yes, but: Resident Carol McDoniel and Councilmember Philip Falcone warned the rules could jeopardize historic buildings' tax credits and preservation status.
Falcone's amendment requires the historic preservation officer's involvement "as appropriate," rather than automatic review for older buildings.
What's next: Staff will fold Falcone's historic-review amendment into the ordinance before final adoption. No date was given in source material.
Court Orders Receiver to Take Over Crime-Plagued La Sierra Motel
Riverside Inn & Suites has been the site of drug sales, assaults and unrepaired code violations for years, according to city court filings.
The Riverside Inn & Suites, located at 10705 Magnolia Avenue, is now under a court-appointed receiver following years of documented crime and code violations. (Courtesy of the City of Riverside)
A judge cleared the way for a court-appointed manager to take over a crime-plagued Magnolia Avenue motel.
Why it matters: If you live in the West End, this is the first of five city crackdowns targeting Magnolia Avenue motels blamed for years of crime and neglect.
Driving the news: A Riverside Superior Court judge ruled the city can appoint a receiver to run the Riverside Inn & Suites at 10705 Magnolia Avenue, near Polk Street.
City attorneys say the motel has drawn attempted murder, sexual assault, child endangerment and fentanyl sales, among dozens of other crimes and code violations.
What they're saying: One person who admitted buying fentanyl there called it "the drug capital of the world," according to court filings.
The backstory: Councilmember Jim Perry, who represents the area, said the city pursued the receivership after other enforcement efforts — including invoicing owners for extraordinary police responses — failed to fix the property.
The big picture: The Riverside Inn & Suites is the first of five Magnolia Avenue corridor properties the city plans to target for similar action, Assistant City Attorney Jack Liu said.
What's next: A court-appointed manager now controls the property's bills, taxes, insurance and repairs, and must hire licensed contractors to fix structural and safety hazards. No timeline was given for when conditions must improve.
Presidential Helicopter Arrives at March Field for Restoration
The Sikorsky SH-3, flown by four presidents including Nixon, will be restored and displayed at the Riverside museum while a new hangar is built at the Nixon Library.
The Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King, marked "United States of America," is transported by flatbed truck through Riverside en route to the March Field Air Museum. (Aiden McGloin)
A helicopter that carried four U.S. presidents arrived at March Field Air Museum for restoration.
Why it matters: Riversiders can see a piece of presidential history up close — the Sikorsky Sea King will be on display during restoration before returning to the Nixon Library.
The backstory: The Sea King, built in 1961 for $1 million, carried Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon and Ford — including 181 trips with Nixon alone.
Nixon flew it to the Vatican in 1969 and rode it home after his 1972 trip to China.
Driving the news: The helicopter arrived June 29 after a highway detour near the 60 and Jurupa Avenue, since it was too short for some overpasses.
About 100 people attended a reception, where museum President Jamil Dada called it a "momentous occasion" for the Inland Empire.
What's next: Ponsford Ltd. — a six-person team led by conservator Gordon Ponsford — will restore the aircraft, funded by Sikorsky Aircraft, the Nixon Library and donor Charles Keller.
It will stay in March Field's restoration hangar until the Nixon Library finishes building a new hangar for permanent display.
Threads of HERstory: Boutique and Mission Inn Foundation Debut Historical Fashion Show
Toni Moore Clothing and the Mission Inn Foundation debuted "Threads of HERstory" on June 28, pairing historical garments with contemporary style.
From left, Patti Koesling, director of audience development for the Mission Inn Foundation, introduces Sorrelle Williams, coordinator of the fashion show, for a final strut closing the Threads of HERstory show on June 28; members of the Mission Inn Foundation walk the runway earlier in the event. (Marissa Perez)
"Clothing has never been about covering ourselves, it tells a story," Sorrelle Williams said. "It says, 'Today I feel confident, today I am celebrating, today I am beginning again.'"
Toni Moore Clothing, located Downtown, hosted its first fashion show in collaboration with the Mission Inn Foundation on June 28 through conversation and sparking ideas.
The foundation has collected historical clothing pieces over time. Williams, coordinator of the show, questioned how a modern-day boutique that sells contemporary clothing could connect with Japanese kimonos and mid-century fashion.
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