The path is clear to turn a vacant Sears site in Riverside into 388 apartments and townhomes mixed with other retail areas.
The Sears building will be demolished against the wishes of some Riverside residents. Once the building is razed, the 17.37-acre site will be overhauled to welcome 13 three-story apartment buildings and 14 two-story townhomes, as well as retail and open space, including an Aldi grocery store, a recreational pool area and a public dog park.
The Sears on Arlington Avenue opened in 1964. Plans to preserve it fell through since the building was not considered a historical structure.
The Riverside City Council approved the project by a 6-1 vote in late September. Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes opposed the plan.
“While I do believe we need housing of all types, we have to be mindful of what we approve to ensure the safety of our residents and neighborhoods,” Cervantes said via email Friday, Oct. 11.
Several residents opposed the project at the September council meeting, questioning whether the additional housing planned for the location was necessary. Others expressed concerns about increased traffic and the property’s proximity to the Riverside Municipal Airport.
With its vote, the council overruled the Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission’s finding that the project was incompatible with the airport. The commission had said high-density housing located near the airport could pose risks to public safety.
An aerial rendering shows the project proposed to replace Riverside’s vacant Sears building on Arlington Avenue. (Courtesy of Riverside Property Owner, LLC/Foulger Pratt)
The council adopted reports showing the project was compatible with the airport and “minimizes the public’s exposure to excessive noise and safety hazards within areas around the airport.”
“I voted ‘no’ on the project due to concerns over the proposed land-use changes, and given the notable safety concerns from multiple agencies on the use of space in such close proximity to the Riverside Municipal Airport,” Cervantes said.
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Construction on the project is expected to take nearly two years, according to a city report.
The Sears site is owned by Riverside Property Owner LLC, a partnership between Foulger-Pratt and Seritage Growth Properties. Foulger Pratt Vice President James Ivory said in February the project cost would be “well north of $100 million” and “residents would probably move in by 2027 or 2028.”
