SAN BERNARDINO l Re-establishment as One of Southern California's Three Urban Cores

[202_Cyclist]

^The article just had a photo of the I-210 interchange. Perhaps PragmaticIdealist has some renderings.

[PragmaticIdealist]

As far as I know, the multimodal station is still in design.

An international design competition was launched early this year to produce a robust architectural statement for this anchor project. SanBAG's Web site has the station opening in 2012 with the new Metrolink extension and sbX.

The existing Omnitrans transit mall on Fourth Street is going to be moved this fall to an interim location in order to keep the facility from interfering with the first phase of the Theatre Square project, which is scheduled to open in November.

[PragmaticIdealist]

Today's Wall Street Journal has another article, with several inaccuracies, on the 215. This freeway is particularly important because of the awkwardness of the original design. It was and is among the most poorly-configured interstates anywhere in the State, and those flaws contributed to a general avoidance of the corridor, as well as a preference for the I-15.

Furthermore, the fact that the freeway was almost entirely oriented to the East side of the City created subtle but huge problems that defined the way that San Bernardino has functioned, or dysfunctioned, in the decades since.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125418210352347873.html

"In the short term, it'll barely be noticed," said Mr. Husing. "The problem is the size of the hole we're in. We need billions, not millions."

Mr. Husing said the real effect will be long term. The project will make the I-215 a more attractive route for trucks carrying port cargo to the rest of the country. Much of that cargo is unpacked and redistributed at warehouses across the region.

"When we get out of this recession one of the things that will happen is international trade will pick up again...that's a major driver of the Inland Empire," he said. "The most important effect of stimulus will be expanding the transportation system here for the movement of goods and people."

[RuFFy]

I read that WSJ story as well. I hadn't given it much attention but I agree that San Berdoo's infrastructure has kept it depressed for a long time. Having a better thoroughfare (I-210) will help attract more jobs and business, especially because the IE is the backbone of California's international trade route. I hope this expansion project pays dividends well into the future for the IE, specifically San Bernardino.

[PragmaticIdealist]

http://www.pe.com/localnews/sanberna...0.410ec72.html

Development planned on National Orange Show grounds



09:42 PM PDT on Tuesday, September 29, 2009

By DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
The Press-Enterprise

SAN BERNARDINO - National Orange Show and San Bernardino city officials on Tuesday unveiled plans to develop much of the 120-plus-acre show grounds with private commercial, office and light industrial projects over the next decade.

Orange Show board Chairman Bob Balzer emphasized at a news conference on the grounds that the annual show itself will continue, but its carnival midway will likely shrink and the future of its speedway is yet to be determined.

He also said the all-night concerts at the show grounds' Events Center will continue. The concerts have generated noise complaints from as far away as Redlands, and there have been reports of auto thefts as recently as last weekend.

"It is rare when you get that many people together and do not have some incidents happen," Balzer said. "Don't blame it on the fact that it was here."

Noting that the raves draw as many as 50,000 people, San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris said city and Orange Show officials "are doing a complete analysis" of security at the events.

The light industry, retail stores and offices will cover 1.5 million square feet and cost "many hundreds of millions of dollars," said Lewis Group Executive Vice President Randall Lewis.

"This is going to be a market-driven development here," Lewis said. "It will probably take us a couple of years to do the planning and get started on the first parts of it."

That first part will likely be job-driven light industry, he said.

Central Avenue will be extended between E Street and Arrowhead, Balzer said.

The land north of Central will have retail stores, restaurants, business offices and possibly college buildings, Lewis said. The area south of Central will include an office park.

The Orange Show sports center, administration building and banquet facilities will not be affected by the development, Balzer said.

While the city will be involved in the approval process, Balzer said no redevelopment money will be used, at least at first.

"We see this project as an anchor ... for the revitalization of our E Street corridor," Morris said. "It is an important link between the downtown and our vibrant Hospitality Lane area" south of the show grounds.

The mayor said he approached Lewis three years ago in hopes of luring the developer to San Bernardino.

It worked, Lewis said.

"We were known as Lewis Homes, but we really do a lot more," he said. "We don't even build houses any more. We do shopping centers and offices and retail and complex projects.

"It was just a natural for us to do something with some scale and a chance to do something long-term."

Reach Darrell R. Santschi at 951-368-9484 or dsantschi@PE.com

[PragmaticIdealist]

http://www.insidesocal.com/sb/sbnow/...ment-in-s.html

A press release states that the National Orange Show Events Center and Lewis Group of Companies are scheduled to make a major announcement tomorrow regarding a plan to "transform the National Orange Show Property into a vibrant, multi-use regional destination."

No further details were immediately available.

[PragmaticIdealist]

The California High-Speed Rail Authority is holding the following public-scoping sessions to develop the Environmental Impact Report and Statement:

Norman Feldheym Central Library - Kellogg Room
555 West Sixth Street
San Bernardino, California
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3

Ontario Airport Administrative Conference Rooms
1923 East Avion Street
Ontario, California
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2

Barry Bonds Park - Cesar Chavez Community Center
2060 University Avenue
Riverside, California
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22

Each will be held from 3-7 p.m. Participants are invited to arrive anytime between those hours.





The Technical Working Group alignment shows the multimodal station in San Bernardino's city center as an optional station location, but, to my way of thinking, San Bernardino International Airport needs to be the site of the high-speed rail station, and the Metrolink and Pacific Electric lines need to be extended the short distance to the airport and to this new high-speed rail station.

While that configuration does not provide direct downtown to downtown access for California High-Speed Rail, direct intermodal connectivity with the airport seems preferable, especially if the Pacific Electric system is sufficiently convenient.

This configuration also seems preferable because it would preserve the preferred alignment while adding only a short spur along the Santa Ana River to a circular station, thereby (1.) allowing express trains to bypass the section entirely to save time, (2.) avoiding additional right-of-way acquisition, and (3.) facilitating and simplifying a possible extension to Palm Springs and other points East.

[JDRCRASH]

For the sake of ridership (and lawsuits), i'd say that taking it to San Bernardino first and then Riverside may be the best option.

[PragmaticIdealist]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

For the sake of ridership (and lawsuits), i'd say that taking it to San Bernardino first and then Riverside may be the best option.

Do you mean that a potential future line to Palm Springs should travel from L.A. to San Bernardino and, then, to Riverside?

That scenario seems as if it could work. Redlands, especially, is notorious for NIMBYism.

[PragmaticIdealist]

Yesterday, the Lewis Group of Companies, the National Orange Show Events Center, and the City of San Bernardino unveiled plans for the largest development in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties in more than three years.

Each of the facets of the 1.5 million square-foot development, encompassing retail, entertainment, education, office, and light-industrial uses, will be designed to be synergistic with each other in terms of architecture and functionality. The existing water feature that runs through the property will be enhanced and expanded in order to become a key focal point of the development. Within a 15-mile radius, there are 1,400,000 people, and Lewis believes the site will become a major destination for the region, especially as sbX and the reactivated Pacific Electric Railway are completed.

The development is also sensitive to the historic National Orange Show citrus fair, which will be enhanced as the developer provides funding to improve the show grounds. Dan Jimenez, General Manager of N.O.S. states, "We will be able to modernize many of the buildings and improve the aesthetic appeal of the grounds, both internally and around the perimeter, which will greatly enhance the guest experience."

[PragmaticIdealist]

[PragmaticIdealist]

Within the past year, several restaurants and retailers have closed because of the recession, but interest in leasing retail space remains strong, according to several real estate brokers. The 1.2-mile stretch of Hospitality Lane between D Street and Tippecanoe Avenue has experienced an increase in hotel development, led by the $10 million upgrade to the Hilton and a new Hilton Garden Inn, which is expected to be completely built by the end of September.

Jim Morris, chief of staff to Mayor Patrick Morris, said the "strong demand" for modestly priced hotel rooms targeted to the business traveler has driven the increase in new hotels on Hospitality Lane over the past four years.

"Over the last four years three new hotels have opened," Morris said. "A fourth is about to be completed and two other hotel projects are in the planning stages."

The Hilton Garden Inn and Hilton Hampton Inn will be situated within a 7.3-acre development called Hospitality Courtyard that is being built by Los Angeles-based ICO Development. Messages left with ICO Development were not returned.

"A niche (hotel) market has been developed along Hospitality Lane, which is a nice complement to the retail and office that has already exists," he said.

Once completed, the new hotels will join Fairfield Inn & Suites, Residence Inn, La Quinta Inn, Quality Inn & Suites, Best Western, and Days Inn.

http://www.inlandsocal.com/business/...e.33f473c.html

[PragmaticIdealist]

Fitting well with the EDAW implementation strategy, one more anchor for San Bernardino's nightlife district has been announced. NitroRocks Café, a 3-story, 28,000-square-foot music club, themed restaurant, and bar, is an extension of NitroRocks.com, the NitroRocks recording studio, and the Nitro2Go energy drink.

http://www.nitrorocks.com/nitro/www/...ecent&timeKey=

The website is designed to house multi-genres of music and will give artists an additional platform to showcase their music, communicate with fans, promote their shows and venues, sell merchandise, and upload music videos.

What sets our site apart from other music sites is artists participating on the NitroRocks.com website have the opportunity to be selected to appear on our NitroRocks.com compilation CDs which will be distributed in tens of thousands of stores helping expand the artists’ audience to a nationwide level. We will be choosing bands from the website, taking their best song, re-recording, if necessary, and then professionally mixing and mastering it with the top mastering labs such as: Bernie Grumman or Precision.

What makes the compilation CD so valuable to artists? Well, nation-wide exposure, to begin with. In a recent conversation the president of Nitro2Go had with a former VP of Capitol Records, it was explained that artists must have a fan base in numerous locations around the country before major labels are willing to throw time and money into promoting them. Major labels must feel that the artists have a national or global appeal. The compilation CD will have UPC codes and will be tracked with AC Nielsen sound scan. The CD jacket and calendar will encourage fans that purchase the combo to go back to NitroRocks.com to view additional photographs and hear more of the band’s music. Once they’ve heard a hot song on the compilation CD, music fans will try and find out much more information about the band, i.e. shows they are playing, where they are located, and more songs to listen to, etc.

“Putting money in your pocket.” I know this sounds like a long drawn out process, but we all know artists want to be able to make a living from their music. This whole program leads to being able to sell your music online as well as all of your merchandise, CDs, shirts, etc from one location. We will tie in the listening to songs for free but downloads will be handled through companies such as: iTunes, Rhapsody, etc… therefore, generating revenue for the artists. When the NitroRocks Café opens, we plan to have a live performance venue with phenomenal sound and streaming video cameras that will eventually morph into a concert series that will be broadcast live on NitroRocks.com. We also plan to use the site to find new artists to fill our regional and national music tours.

The compilation C.D.'s are made available through distribution channels of the Nitro2Go energy drink.

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by PragmaticIdealist

Do you mean that a potential future line to Palm Springs should travel from L.A. to San Bernardino and, then, to Riverside?

That scenario seems as if it could work. Redlands, especially, is notorious for NIMBYism.

Given that the Colton Crossing ROW already exists, I think LA, San Bern, then Palm Springs, on to Indio, Blythe, (and ultimately Phoenix).

[PragmaticIdealist]

Cooper Carry ( www.coopercarry.com ) has been announced as the architects for San Bernardino's multimodal station and the surrounding T.O.D. village. Public outreach is taking place November 6 from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. at C.S.U.S.B.'s Obershaw Dining Facility.

Funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Agency, the Inland Valley Development Agency is working on preliminary design and engineering plans to mitigate high groundwater and liquefaction hazards associated with development in San Bernardino's city center. Led by PACE Advanced Water Engineering ( www.pacewater.com ), the project will define water feature corridors in the proposed Democracy Park neighborhood within Third Street, Waterman Avenue, Rialto Avenue, and Arrowhead Avenue.

Finally, in today's other news, the California Theatre, built in 1928, has been nominated for the National Register of Historic Places.

[PragmaticIdealist]

PACE shares common ownership with Pacific Aquascape. This project will create the first watercourses, bioswales, and day-lighted streams.

Pacific Aquascape has a Flickr account showing its interesting portfolio here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31501249@N02

[PragmaticIdealist]

Some of the first conceptual renderings for San Bernardino's multimodal station and T.O.D. village have just been made available.

Transit centers in major cities worldwide act as hubs for the connection of various transportation modes. They also serve as catalysts for vital transit-oriented development, and create vibrant pedestrian spaces surrounding the centers. A modern multi-modal Transit Station will improve bus and rail service to downtown San Bernardino and provide a seamless connection to the regional rail and bus transit services linking San Bernardino to the rest of the Southern California region. The Station and Village will reduce non-transit vehicle usage and highway congestion, and improve air quality in the region. It will alleviate blight and revitalize the surrounding area, while serving as a catalyst for new residential and commercial development in downtown San Bernardino.

Beyond the sbX B.R.T. system, the Metrolink extension, and improved local bus service, the multimodal station is expected to accommodate the planned local railway between San Bernardino and Redlands, as well as a second sbX corridor, a circulatory canal system in the city center, and the optional station location for California High-Speed Rail.

[JDRCRASH]

I like it.

[PragmaticIdealist]

San Bernardino has just started its third open-air market, which joins other markets on Tuesday nights at Perris Hill Park and Sunday mornings and afternoons at Placitas Park.

The Harvest Market, held during the middle of each Wednesday, is targeting office workers and retirees to help begin returning walkability to the city center in preparation for the yearlong Bicentennial Celebration in 2010.

In contrast to the multi-million-dollar, years-long projects for reviving San Bernardino's beleaguered downtown business district, this marketing strategy is very simple -- a few folding tables under bright awnings next to City Hall, with vendors peddling handicrafts and farm produce.

With that modest start, farmer's market organizer Susan Lien Longville hopes to help spark a new interest in the city center.

"The reason people say they don't come downtown at lunchtime is that there's no place to go," she said. "We're trying to help change that."

The markets are held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Wednesday this month at Court Street Square at Court and E Streets.

http://www.pe.com/localnews/sanberna...9.475c161.html



The first events for the Bicentennial Celebration have been announced, including a bicentennial parade that will present a chronological history of the San Bernardino Valley that culminates with an exciting depiction of plans for the future of the city; a bicentennial fireworks pageant; and, the "Legend of the Arrowhead," an original musical that is based on the ancient Yuhaviatam story and that will be staged at the California Theatre.

www.SanBernardino200.org

[PragmaticIdealist]

Here are more views of the B.R.T. project.

Hunts Lane Station


Carnegie Park and Tippecanoe Avenue Stations