Riverside OKs University Avenue Density Pilot

Riverside has approved a one-year pilot that lets housing developers move unused residential capacity from one University Avenue parcel to another. (raincrossgazette.com) (riversideca.granicus.com) The Riverside City Council backed the University Avenue Density Transfer Pilot Program unanimously at its April 22 meeting. The pilot applies inside the University Avenue Specific Plan area, from Park Avenue to Interstate 215. (raincrossgazette.com) Under the program, developers can move housing rights in two ways: through a city-run “bank” or through direct agreements between property owners recorded against the land. Assistant planner Clarissa Manges said the tool shifts units between sites without raising the corridor’s total housing cap. (raincrossgazette.com) (nbclosangeles.com) City staff said the University Avenue Specific Plan allows 6,819 housing units, but fewer than 10% of that capacity has been built. Riverside is trying to make small or awkward vacant lots workable by pooling unused density that otherwise sits stranded on other parcels. (raincrossgazette.com) Deputy Director of Community Miranda Evans told the council that the Successor Agency controls 14 key parcels totaling just over 4.2 acres along the corridor. The city has development agreements on seven of those sites, while others have stayed vacant because their development capacity is limited. (nbclosangeles.com) Most parcels in the corridor can serve as donor sites, but fully built residential parcels, parcels with no residential capacity, and most Housing Element opportunity sites are excluded. City-owned surplus parcels and Housing Element sites can receive transferred capacity, and affordable projects will need separate affordability agreements. (raincrossgazette.com) University Avenue is one of Riverside’s main east-west corridors, linking downtown, the University of California, Riverside, Interstate 215 and State Route 91. The specific plan governing the corridor dates to 1993 and has been amended over time. (riversideca.gov) Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes said she has spent five years watching sites stall and called the pilot a way to “bring housing online.” Restaurant owner Patricia Renteria of Dos Hermanas told NBC Los Angeles that more housing could bring more customers to nearby businesses. (raincrossgazette.com) (nbclosangeles.com) Riverside staff cited Fontana, Eastvale and Palm Springs as cities with similar density-transfer programs. Staff plans to return in about a year with results and a recommendation on whether to expand the pilot or make it permanent. (raincrossgazette.com)