Your Villa Magazine Riverside February - April 2021

Coldwell Banker Realty | Connie, Bob, & Charlotte | www.ransommckenzieteam.com Written by: The Ransom-McKenzie Team | Photos Courtesy of: Michael J. Elderman L O C A L R I V E R S I D E Downtown Updated 2021 While we have been social distancing and working from home, big changes have been taking place in Downtown Riverside. If you have not been keeping up to date with what’s happening, here are a few highlights. The New Main Library: Slated to open in early spring 2021, this Johnston Favaro designed building has been taking shape over the past year. As of this writing books and archives from the old library are being moved to the new building which is located just two blocks north on Mission Inn Ave. This stunning building will not only function as the city’s main library, it will be a place with public resources such as an innovation center, a sound proof recording studio, and community meeting spaces that can be reserved for meetings and events. We anticipate this space will become the center of many downtown events. The Cheech: What about the old library building? Well, this month the Riverside City Council approved the plans and funding for the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture & Industry which will be housed in the old library building after an extensive renovation of the space. Four years in the making, this collaboration between the City, the Riverside Art Museum, and Cheech Marin will be dedicated to showcasing Mexican American art and culture. With the project approved, hopes are that the much anticipated museum will be opening by fall of 2021. Civil Rights & Affordable Housing: The Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California broke ground on their new building in November. This center will house The Fair Housing Commission of Riverside County’s offices, and will have exibhit space for exhibits and performances that support civil rights. The upper floors will provide 74 units of affordable housing. We’ve always enjoyed walking around Riverside and viewing the public murals around downtown. Over the past year, new murals have sprung up. Some commissioned, others part of the BLM protests, but all of them demonstrate a love for our community. Walking around Downtown gets more interesting every day. We can’t wait to see everyone around town again soon. yourvillariverside.com | 15 Global Luxury Specialists in Riverside Connie, Bob, & Charlotte Artists in Disguise as Realtors Connie: (951) 202-3355 (LIC #1261047) Bob: (951) 237-2099 (LIC #02049571) Charlotte: (951) 237-2044 (LIC #1721257) E-Mail: ransom.mckenzie@gmail.com www.ransommckenzieteam.com Mid-Century Resort Living 233 W. Blaine Street