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Community Update – 4/15/21

I hope this article finds everyone healthy, happy, and in the process of getting vaccinated! With Riverside County’s recent change to the Orange Tier or “Moderate Risk” of coronavirus spread, our economy is already showing signs of recovery! Our economic success will only occur if we each do our part by (i) keeping the coronavirus infection rates down, (ii) shopping local within Cathedral City, and (iii) and getting vaccinated so that we can reach herd immunity responsibly.1

In the last economic development update, I discussed the energy and activity within our Downtown Arts and Entertainment District. I highlighted Agua Caliente’s newest casino opening, the new Cathedral City Community Amphitheater, and Fountainhead Development’s entitlement work on 13.5 acres (located south of the casino along HWY 111). The development of the 13.5 acres will be the West Valley’s newest mixed-use development. The developer, Fountainhead Development, has the largest construction project currently in Southern California located on 17 acres near Monterey Ave, Dinah Shore Drive, and Interstate 10 in Palm Desert. Their project in Cathedral City at 13.5 acres, when Fountainhead breaks ground in 2022, will become be one of the larger mixed-use developments in Southern California too. Fountainhead has already engaged several exciting fast-casual restaurant tenants. I look forward to announcing those new culinary choices in a future update soon.

With the move to the Orange, and hopefully the Yellow Tier soon, the Mary Pickford Theatre has reopened to good attendance.  The CV Repertory Theatre has also announced their reopening with a classical music series before their first in-house showing in November. It has been way too long since we have enjoyed quality entertainment at either of these venues! Since entertainment establishments were some of the hardest hit businesses during the pandemic, please do everything you can to support these community treasures that help anchor our Downtown Arts and Entertainment District.

In furthering the discussion on exciting City developments, I must mention the Cathedral City Public Arts Commission’s great work! Chaired by Sue Townsley with Tom Rudolph as Vice-Chair, Scott Colwel, DeeAnn Hopings, and John Nagus as capable commissioners, the Public Arts Commission is on a roll! Last night, our City Council approved a public bench beautification program that will enable local artists to demonstrate their creative gifts by painting 14 benches at the Public Library and one bench at Memorial Park. Additionally, the Public Arts Commission will host an unveiling ceremony at Panorama Park, within the next 60 days, to showcase their newly installed “Passages” sculpture, and the soon-to-be installed Swiss Cheese sculpture. Stay in touch with the Public Arts Commission as they strive to bring the brilliance, energy, and fun to a neighborhood near you!

Until more vaccines are widely administered, and herd immunity is reached, please avoid gathering in large groups. Be sure to wear a mask in public and practice social distancing as the coronavirus pandemic is not behind us just yet.  Please shop local so we can accelerate our City’s economic recovery and keep your tax dollars within Cathedral City. Your tax dollars fund our critical services such as police, fire, ambulance service, and road maintenance. There is no better testimonial for attracting new businesses than to ensure our existing businesses are prosperous. Check out our website, Cathedral City Shop Local, to find categories and a list of all the businesses within Cathedral City.

To stay on top of Economic Development activities, please bookmark  www.ccedd.org and tune into iHub Radio for quality programming on economic development activities within Cathedral City. Lastly, your efforts to keep your properties clean, weed, and debris-free are paying off. Property appearance is an important “selling point” when prospective homebuyers, business owners, and developers look for a “perfect” location.

1. Herd Immunity: Taken from Harvard Medical School’s Harvard Health Publishing article titled “Preventing the spread of the coronavirus”, https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/preventing-the-spread-of-the-coronavirus

Dr. Stone James

View posts by Dr. Stone James
Economic Development Director City of Cathedral City 68700 Av. Lalo Guerrero, Cathedral City, CA 92234 Direct: 760-770-0336 | Mobile 760-219-7227 Office Fax: 760-321-4509 www.cathedralCity.gov sjames@cathedralcity.gov
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