Councilmember Steven Robillard speaks at last night’s Victoria Area Neighborhood Alliance meeting, addressing local issues and community priorities.
Thursday Gazette: May 29, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Thursday! Last night I had the pleasure of attending the inaugural meeting of Riverside’s newest-ish neighborhood group—the Victoria Area Neighborhood Alliance. Over the years, I’ve been to countless community group meetings, but this was the first time I got to attend one with my own physical neighbors.
Riverside is home to 28 distinct neighborhoods, and we’re fortunate to have nine active neighborhood groups where you can connect with nearby Riversiders and get involved with the issues that impact your part of town.
If you're part of one of these groups, please make sure your leaders know they’re always welcome to promote their meetings on our calendar. And if you'd like the Gazette to come share at one, just reach out—we’d love to join you.
Riverside Community Hospital Expansion Brings Major Upgrades to Riverside Campus
City council unanimously approves demolition to make way for 593 parking spaces and 326 new patient beds at Brockton-14th Street intersection.
Artist rendering of the new parking garage now under construction. (Courtesy of RCH)
Riverside Community Hospital is moving forward with a major expansion project, adding nearly 600 parking spaces and 326 patient beds to address critical healthcare needs in the region.
Driving the news: The hospital received unanimous City Council approval to demolish buildings along Brockton Avenue near 14th Street, paving the way for construction of new facilities.
The expansion includes a five-level parking garage and expanded services in imaging, women's health, dialysis, intensive care, and medical-surgical departments.
Why it matters: As the region's only Level I trauma center, RCH treated nearly 118,000 emergency patients and admitted over 29,000 patients in 2024.
Riverside County's population is projected to grow 2.4% through 2028, increasing demand for healthcare services.
By the numbers: RCH's $597 million operation employs nearly 3,000 people and contributes $515 million annually to the local economy.
The big picture: The project will transform the prominent intersection while preserving the historic Riverside Community Players Theater as a community landmark.
What's next: Construction is already underway, with demolition work beginning on several structures, including a former auto repair garage.
The expansion is expected to continue over the coming year as the hospital works to expand capacity while maintaining its current level of patient care.
The jacaranda bloom is in full effect. Pulchrifying the city streets and skylines with plumes of powerful purple.
A whole block of blooming Jacaranda on Victoria Avenue. (Ken Crawford)
Riverside's jacaranda trees burst into vibrant purple blooms, transforming the city's landscape overnight. The spectacular display, visible from miles away, marks a highlight in the city's year-round flowering tree symphony.
Driving the news: The jacaranda's brief but intense flowering period, typically lasting three to four weeks, creates a stunning visual spectacle across Riverside's neighborhoods and streets.
Victoria Avenue between Mary Street and Washington offers one of the city's most concentrated jacaranda displays.
Why it matters: These resilient trees, originally from Brazil and Argentina, have become an integral part of Riverside's urban forest, thriving in the city's Mediterranean climate with minimal care.
Jacarandas represent a unique blend of beauty and durability, making them ideal street trees throughout Southern California.
The big picture: Riverside's warm, subtropical climate supports a diverse array of flowering species throughout the year, from orange blossoms in February to crape myrtles and silk floss trees in later seasons.
What's next: As the bloom concludes, purple petals will carpet sidewalks and streets, creating a memorable finale to Riverside's most photogenic season.
Notre Dame high school's baseball team will compete for the CIF championship this Saturday, with fans able to watch the game live as the local team represents the community in one of high school baseball's most prestigious tournaments.
Seven Democrats and one Republican are challenging Rep. Ken Calvert for his Riverside County seat in 2026, as the 30-year incumbent faces his most crowded field yet in California's newly competitive 41st Congressional District.
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