CDBG Compliance Report
The historic preservation section of the Planning Department has published the “Programmatic Agreement Compliance Report” for the reporting period from July 1 to December 31, 2005. This report documents all actions taken regarding historic properties affected by undertakings funded with monies from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs. The Programmatic Agreement gives the City the authority to review such projects in-house. Signatories to the agreement are the City of Riverside, California State Office of Historic Preservation, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. This document is provided for public inspection and comment.

• Programmatic Agreement Compliance Report

Surveys

• Palm Heights Residential Neighborhood
  In September 2004 the City completed a historic resources survey of the Palm Heights residential neighborhood, which is located approximately three miles southwest of downtown. The project identified and documented a potential historic district bounded by Merrill Avenue to the north, Central Avenue to the south, Arch Way to the west and Brockton Avenue to the east. Prior to this project the neighborhood had not been comprehensively surveyed and existing survey information dated to the late 1970s.
  
  Palm Heights Historic District has been determined eligible for designation as it reflects significant geographic patterns associated with early 20th century suburban development and growth and conveys a sense of historic and architectural cohesiveness through its design and setting. The area includes a high concentration of single-family residences built from 1923 to 1941, which display an array of architectural styles prevalent during that period and is particularly rich in examples of the Tudor Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival styles.
  
  The results of the survey project are documented in the Palm Height Historic District Intensive Survey and Context Statement (JM Research & Consulting, 2004) report. Planning Department staff would like to designate this potential historic district and will be sending letters to all residents and property owners within the area to determine interest in proceeding with the process.
  
  
• North Downtown/Northside Survey
  The City of Riverside Planning Department has received a $19,200 grant from the State Office of Historic Preservation to complete a historic context and reconnaissance-level survey of the North Downtown/Northside neighborhood. The project area is bounded by Strong Street to the north, the 215 Freeway to the east, First Street to the south, and Randal Road/Fairmount Boulevard to the west.
  
  The City has contracted will JM Research and Consulting to complete the project. Because of the size of the project area, and limited funding available, this survey will be Phase 1 of a larger project to intensively document the neighborhood. The context statement will include development of a narrative history of the area based on historical themes. To prepare this the consultant will complete research on the neighborhood as well as oral histories with key people in the community. During the reconnaissance survey the consultant will record and photograph all properties 45 years of age or older. Properties will be evaluated for significance in accordance with the themes and property types discussed in the context statement.
  
  Some resources within the North Downtown/Northside neighborhood were surveyed in the late 1970s although the majority of the area has been largely overlooked with regard to survey efforts. The proposed survey area includes approximately 800 properties dating from the late 1870s to the 1950s, which represent a variety of development patterns, property types, and architectural styles. Single-family residences make up the majority of the resources; some are architect designed for Riverside’s wealthier citizens while others cater to the needs of the working class population. Post World War II residential subdivisions account for approximately 30 percent of the total properties. One of the most unique features of the project area (and within Riverside generally) is the Main Street industrial sector, which dates from the early to mid-twentieth century. These small-scale businesses, historically and today, provided specialty services to the downtown. Although many of the buildings are in a state of disrepair, the area still retains its industrial character and integrity. In addition to the residential and business sectors, the Northside includes the historic County fairgrounds and White Sulfur Springs.