Downtown San Bernardino

Downtown San Bernardino
—  Neighborhood community  —
Seal
Nickname(s): Central City[citation needed]
Motto: Community, Commerce, Culture [1][not in citation given]
Coordinates: 34°7′46″N 117°17′35″W / 34.12944°N 117.29306°W / 34.12944; -117.29306Coordinates: 34°7′46″N 117°17′35″W / 34.12944°N 117.29306°W / 34.12944; -117.29306
Country	United States
State	California
City	San Bernardino
Elevation	1,059 - 1,500 ft (602 m)
Time zone	PST (UTC-8)
- Summer (DST)	PDT (UTC-7)
Website	http://www.downtownsanbernardino.org/home

Downtown San Bernardino is a district in San Bernardino, California, United States. It is home to city and county government buildings, as well as the city's central business district^[2]. Downtown San Bernardino is bounded by I-215 to the west, Waterman Avenue to the east, Baseline Street to the north, and Mill Street to the south.^[2]

The California Planning & Development Report in 2007 ranked San Bernardino's downtown first on its list of the "Most Disappointing Mid-Sized City Downtowns in California," largely due to perceptions of poor public safety, a moribund mall and various failed redevelopment initiatives.^[3] The San Bernardino County Sun's own reporters have referred to the area as a "urban nightmare," due to the high crime and urban decay surrounding it.^[4]

Currently, the San Bernardino City Council is considering another redevelopment effort. The city’s Economic Development Agency presented the council with a draft of the Downtown Core Vision / Action Plan in 2009.^[5] – a guide for revitalizing downtown San Bernardino for the next 10 years. The plan is the culmination of a year of research, community participation, and planning led by the city’s EDA and the urban planning firm EDAW. The city is discussing the construction of a new government center/civic plaza that will contain an iconic 24 story tower.^[6] The county of San Bernardino is also considering a new 12 story court house, hoping to help the old 1926 congested court house and the downtown skyline.^[7]

Parks

Seccombe Lake

Seccombe Lake is known as "The Duck Park" or "El Parque De Los Patos". It is a haven for homeless transients.^[8][9] It is located at the corner of 5th Street and Sierra Way.

Meadowbrook Park

Meadowbrook Park is the main downtown park and is home to much activity. The park is located at the corner of 3rd Street and Sierra Way

Court Street Square

Court Street Square is a square in the downtown area used for the Main Street's events. Downtown San Bernardino is home to many festivals throughout the year including the annual Route 66 Rendezvous, in honor of mother road U.S. Route 66. Approximately 500,000 classic cars come from around the world for this event which takes place on the third weekend in September for four days and three nights of a classic car parade. Court Street Square is at the corner of Court Street and "E" Street.

Entertainment district

The historic California Theatre.

Future home of Edwards Cinemas.

The city is planning an new district along Fourth Street. The key aspect of the plan is to make the area around the California Theatre and former CinemaStar site on Fourth Street as an area for entertainment and dining. Dining is all that is needed to make this into a reality, as well as the opening of Edwards Cinemas, which is expected to open in the spring of 2012.^[10]

Performing arts

The California Theatre of Performing Arts, in downtown San Bernardino, holds cultural events, including touring Broadway theatre presented by Theatrical Arts International, the Inland Empire's largest theatre company, and the San Bernardino Symphony. The historic Fox Theatre of San Bernardino is also located in the downtown area, next to American Sports University. The Fox Theater has been reopened and remodeled.

Opening of Regal Entertainment Group

Downtown San Bernardino had a large, luxurious, two story theater until it closed in September 2008.^[11] Maya Cinemas was expected to open at the old site of the CinemaStar on February 27, 2009, and although it has so far failed to do so, they still have plans for a downtown San Bernardino theater.^[12] Regal Entertainment Group and will now take over and rehabilitate the theater, will open in Spring 2012. ^[13]

Norman F. Feldheym Central Library

Norman F. Feldheym Library

The Norman F. Feldheym Central Library is the flagship of the San Bernardino Public Library system. It opened on September 30, 1985, and is the city's fifth central library building since the first one was operated out of a rented house in 1891. Architects Gregory Villanueva and Oscar Arnoni designed the 64,000-square-foot (5,900 m²) $6 million facility, which was named in honor of the late Rabbi Norman F. Feldheym.^[14] The library provides a number of cultural enrichment programs for youth and adults in the local community.^[15] Partnering with the San Bernardino City Unified School District, the library supports a community Reading Festival for third-graders and their families.^[16] The library also sponsors an annual book fair at Cal State San Bernardino, reading clubs, and an "Academy of Public Scholars" critical review club devoted to works of Continental philosophy.^[17][18]

City Hall

San Bernardino City Hall

City Hall is a six story, glass-sheathed building designed in 1963 by César Pelli to reflect the urban environment around it. It is not sure what will happen to the current city hall when the new one begins construction and opens, part of the downtown revitalization project.^[19]

Carousel Mall

Main article: Carousel Mall

Carousel Mall originally opened as Central City Mall in October 1972. In the late 1980s, the mall began to decline due to reduced interest from businesses in close proximity to Inland Center (which is closer to the 215/10 Interchange) and rising crime in the area. Its name was changed to the Carousel Mall as part of a failed revitalization plan in the early 1990s. All the anchor stores and many of the businesses left.

In response to the closures, the mall's owners developed a mixed-use concept to fill vacated retail outlets with offices. LNR Property Corp purchased the property in February 2006 with the intention of developing a high density residential and commercial project. In January 2008, after facing deadlock with the city, LNR Corp sold the Carousel Mall to M & D Properties for $23.5 million.

Carousel Mall

Downtown universities

Main article: American Sports University

American Sports University is located within the district.

Transportation

Metrolink

1918 Santa Fe Depot on 3rd Street (Downtown). Amtrak and Metrolink commuter platforms are near the historic building.

San Bernardino is the terminal station for Metrolink's Inland Empire-Orange County Line (to Oceanside via Orange County) and Metrolink San Bernardino Line (to downtown Los Angeles). Amtrak's Southwest Chief, operating from Los Angeles to Chicago has one daily train in each direction, which stops at the same station.

Downtown bus

The City of San Bernardino is a member of the joint-powers authority Omnitrans, and downtown is a major transfer point in the local bus system. Buses primarily serve the 4th Street Transit Mall, and provide local service throughout the region, as well as express service to Riverside. A Bus Rapid Transit project, called sbX, is planned from Cal State San Bernardino to Loma Linda. A bus transit center is planned in the vicinity of E Street and Rialto Avenue. There is also the MARTA bus which takes people directly from downtown to the communities in the San Bernardino Mountains.

San Bernardino International Airport

The San Bernardino International Airport is expected to provide both domestic and international air services. It will provide growth to the city and the Inland Empire. Buses are expected to serve the airport, which lies two to three miles (5 km) from downtown. Currently the airline finished major construction, however there are no current commercial flight airlines occupying the terminals.^[20]

Buildings

Main buildings

Rosa Parks Memorial Building view at street level

Rank	Name	Street Address	Year	Use
1	Rosa Parks Memorial Building	464 West 4th St., San Bernardino	1998	Government
2	Hotel & Convention Center	295 North E St., San Bernardino	1987	Hotel
3	St. Bernardine Plaza	Fifth St., San Bernardino		Residential
4	Vanir Tower	290 North D St., San Bernardino	1974	Office
5	San Bernardino City Hall	300 North D St., San Bernardino		Government
7	303 Building	303 West Third St. San Bernardino	1966	Government
8	The Heritage Building	440 W. Court St. San Bernardino	1946

Other buildings

American Sports University's Fox Theatre

• San Bernardino Employment and Training Agency Building
• Andreson Building
• American Trust Building
• Bank Of America Building
• Wells Fargo Building
• Chase Building
• First American Title Building
• Building 505
• San Bernardino County Center Building
• County of San Bernardino Court 2 Building in 3rd Street
• County Records Tower
• Norman F. Feldheym Central Library
• Medrobrook Tower

Gallery

• 

  Vanir Tower next to City hall in "D" Street

• 

  DowntownSan Bernardino in 2004

• 

  Building in Downtown called the San Bernardino Plaza

• 

  Downtown Hotel Tower 1

• 

  Court District of San Bernardino County called the Arrowhead Plaza

• 

  Andreson Building

• 

  San Bernardino County Records Tower

• 

  CalTrans Building next to the San Bernardino County Law Library‎

References

1. ^ http://www.downtownsanbernardino.org/home
2. ^ ^{a b} Advisory Services Panel (June 24–29, 2007). San Bernardino, California: Crossroads of the Southwest. Washington, D.C.: Urban Land Institute. http://www.ci.san-bernardino.ca.us/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=4907. Retrieved 2007-12-26 
3. ^ Shigley, Paul (September 10, 2007). "California's Best And Worst Mid-Sized City Downtowns". California Planning & Development Report. http://www.cp-dr.com/node/1782. Retrieved 2007-12-17 
4. ^ Rayburn, Kelly (2006-03-30). "Urban nightmare targeted". San Bernardino County Sun. http://www.sbsun.com/search/ci_3653202. Retrieved 2007-12-24. 
5. ^ [1]
6. ^ [2]
7. ^ [3]
8. ^ Rogers, Robert (2006-10-08). "Homes plan not for homeless". San Bernardino County Sun. http://www.sbsun.com/search/ci_4460524. Retrieved 2007-12-24. 
9. ^ Kennedy-Ross, Selicia (2006-05-22). "In a day's work". San Bernardino County Sun. http://www.sbsun.com/search/ci_3850681. Retrieved 2007-12-24. 
10. ^ Andrew Edwards (2009-04-10). "Public sees plans for downtown San Bernardino". San Bernardino Sun. http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_12110738.html. Retrieved 2009-04-11. 
11. ^ Edwards, Andrew (2008-09-29). "SB cinema fades to black". San Bernardino County Sun. http://www.sbsun.com/sanbernardino/ci_10595691. Retrieved 2008-10-11. 
12. ^ Juares, Leticia (2011-10-03). "CinemaStar theater multiplex an economic boon for San Bernardino". ABC 7 San Bernardinol. http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/inland_empire&id=8377408. Retrieved 2011-10-03. 
13. ^ http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_nregal15.12068c3.html
14. ^ "About Us". San Bernardino Public Library. http://www.sbpl.org/about_us.pdf. Retrieved 2008-10-12. ^{[dead link]}
15. ^ Nolan, Michel (2008-03-02). "Librarian focuses on youth needs". San Bernardino County Sun. http://www.sbsun.com/search/ci_8431912. Retrieved 2008-10-12. 
16. ^ Nolan, Michel (2006-12-07). "Librarian makes big mark beyond books". San Bernardino County Sun. http://www.sbsun.com/search/ci_4793858. Retrieved 2008-10-12. 
17. ^ Minaya, Zeke (2008-06-21). "Cal State book fair honors disappearing independent booksellers". Press Enterprise. http://www.pe.com/localnews/highereducation/stories/PE_News_Local_S_nbook22.4b13f2e.html. Retrieved 2008-10-12. 
18. ^ Schoenmann, Matt (2008-03-06). "Academy of Public Scholars is for Redlands bookworms seeking a challenge". Press Enterprise. http://www.pe.com/localnews/redlands/stories/PE_News_Local_B_bspot11.3e5ecf9.html. Retrieved 2008-10-12. 
19. ^ "City of San Bernardino - City Halls of San Bernardino". www.ci.san-bernardino.ca.us. http://www.ci.san-bernardino.ca.us/about/history/city_halls_of_san_bernardino.asp. Retrieved 2008-02-07. 
20. ^ Airport execs still look to land airline, The Sun, April 2010.

External links

• Downtown San Bernardino
• City of San Bernardino
• California State University, San Bernardino
• San Bernardino Valley College
• San Bernardino Public Library