SAN BERNARDINO – (INT) – City planners have proposed a set of initiatives, programs, and investment intended to revitalize the downtown.

“When we transform our downtown, we transform San Bernardino.” said Interim City Manager Charles McNeely. “And that time is now.” The City Council will be asked to approve many of the specific steps.

The downtown area accounts for only 1.4 percent of the city’s population, but provides 19 percent of the city’s jobs.

“To build upon the opportunities in downtown San Bernardino, the City has assembled a set of proposals that will take advantage of San Bernardino’s strengths,” said Economic Development Manager Amanda Hernandez. “Some are best practices; some are specific to San Bernardino. Collectively, they will make a tremendous impact.”

Among the proposals are:
-Partnering with the Cal State San Bernardino Inland Empire Center for Entrepreneurship (IECE) to create an Entrepreneurial Resource Center to offer programs and counseling to existing and startup businesses. Since its inception, IECE has counseled and trained nearly 150,000 existing and aspiring entrepreneurs, small business owners, and students.

-Evaluating the feasibility of using Court Street between D and E Streets as a pedestrian corridor to hold farmers markets, arts, culture, and food fairs, and other special events.

-Partnering with downtown businesses and property owners to create a downtown property and business improvement district (PBID).

-Working with Cal State, San Bernardino to develop a downtown satellite campus for select programs.

-Authorizing the San Bernardino Police Department to hire additional officers to create a permanent downtown quality of life team to address safety issues specific to the downtown area. This would build upon a successful pilot project launched earlier this year downtown.

-Working to revitalize City owned property, including the Regal Cinema Plaza, the Convention Center, San Manuel Stadium – home of the 66ers, E Street retail sites, and the former Woolworth Building.

-Conducting a preliminary Engineering and Space Study Plan to determine the next steps for San Bernardino’s City Hall.

As for the 42-acre Carousel Mall being demolished, planning is underway to build the infrastructure needed to re-develop the property. Ultimately, the City says it will seek a private partner to develop the site with new housing and commercial development.

“Downtown San Bernardino is already a huge economic driver for our City,” added McNeely. “It has the potential to bring many more jobs, much more housing, and significantly more economic activity than there currently is.”

Story Date: August 7, 2023