Riverside, Calif., December, 2000-- Riverside residents and visitors who enter La Sierra from the 91 freeway and Pierce Street are entertained every day with changes to the landscape of the Rancho La Sierra. Where inland seas lapped and mountains rose from the sandy soil, where sabertooth cats and dire wolves once roamed, and humans farmed the valleys for thousands of years, there will now be more than 1,000 homes and some light industry on 500 acres bounded by Pierce Street, La Sierra Avenue, and the Riverside Freeway.

The first feature visible is the channel for the river of RiverWalk Parkway, accompanied by grades for paths and roads. The RiverWalk billboard has been erected recently. Nearby, home-size lots have been built up in orderly rows, in preparation for paving and building. The hill formerly occupied by the La Sierra dairy and chicken farm buildings has been bulldozed, exposing more of La Sierra University's arboretum to a greater vista. The silos, though, will remain as a reminder of La Sierra's historic beginning as a rancho.

Construction of the first homes of the development is expected in January 2001. Model homes will appear first, followed by the first purchased homes. The first minivans, bicycles, razor scooters, soccer parents, and golden retrievers will arrive in August 2001.

A December 4 community information meeting was held in La Sierra University's Hole Memorial Auditorium, and attended by about 300 Riverside citizens including Mayor Ronald Loveridge. Attorney Derrill E. Yaeger, and Bruce Strickland, representing Griffin Industries, Inc., presented the land development plan. Using overhead transparencies, and answering questions from the audience, the team explained how large the greenbelt areas will be, how the street portals will appear, the reasons for the water features (beauty, flood control), how traffic will flow, and how the eight neighborhoods of apartments and single family homes will interact with the greater community.

The apartment complexes are designed for a density of 15 units per acre, considered to be low density. The homes will range from about 1,500 to 4,000 square feet, and include starter homes for singles or young families, and custom homes with larger lots. The least expensive home purchase will start in the $140,000s, in a neighborhood located nearest the Five Points intersection. Several neighborhoods will be developed simultaneously. They will be gated, guarded communities, according to Mr. Yaeger, and surrounded by large recreational areas and water features.

Dr. Lawrence T. Geraty, University president, outlined some of the many contributions La Sierra University makes to the community, including a natural history museum, astronomical observatory, arboretum, the Women's Resource Center, Brandstater Gallery art shows and concerts, LSU music department concerts, and partnership with Arlanza schools.

For background information on the RiverWalk development, please visit http://www.lasierra.edu/news/may2000/riverwalk.html