450-Unit Mixed-Use Project Faces Riverside Planning Commission

Later this week, the Riverside Planning Commission will consider a proposal to develop a 450-unit mixed-use project located in the La Sierra neighborhood in the southwestern portion of Riverside.

The project, proposed by REALM, would be located on a 16.11-acre project site consisting of three contiguous, vacant parcels at 10411-10481 Magnolia Avenue. The site was previously populated with four commercial buildings that have since been demolished. A mixed-use project was approved on the site in 2009 but never came to fruition. 

The Magnolia Flats project will consist of a four-story multi-family residential building and two multi-tenant commercial buildings totaling 9,000 square feet (SF). The residential unit mix would consist of 106 studio units, 173 one-bedroom units, and 171 two-bedroom units, ranging in size from 459 to 894 SF. All units except for the studio units would have their own private balcony ranging in size from 63 to 76 SF.

The project will also include a 67,473 SF park with a tot lot and a dog park on the north side of the project site. Multiple courtyards would surround the residential building and would contain a pool, spa, outdoor kitchen, game lawn area, fire pits, and lounge areas. There would be a 2,264 SF roof deck and a 6,065 SF indoor amenity area that includes a fitness center, club room, and co-working area. In total, the residential portion of the site includes a proposed 127,725 SF of common usable open space. 

The commercial component of the project would be located on 2.8 acres on the southern portion of the site. It would provide 9,000 SF of commercial space across two single-story buildings. There would be a 24,378 SF courtyard including two dining areas, a programmable turf area and cantilevered shade pergolas. No tenants have yet been identified for the commercial lease spaces. In total, the project will contain 830 vehicular parking spaces. 736 spaces would be for residential purposes and 94 would be for the commercial portion. 

KTGY Architecture is designing the project in a modern contemporary architectural style. It would contain metal siding, wood composite board, stucco, perforated metal elements, and metal awnings/canopies. The commercial buildings would conform with the design of the residential building and would include articulated facades with sloped rooflines, metal siding, wood composite board siding, large canopies, perforated metal awnings and dormers.

City staff have found that the project’s Site Plan Review is compatible with surrounding land uses, and is consistent with the objectives and standards laid out in the General Plan, the Magnolia Avenue Specific Plan, and the Zoning Code.