Public Market Opens, SCE Faces Backlash, New developments, and a Thriving Pottery Project
More than 30 students from Redlands Unified School District participated in the district’s annual Civics Day on Feb. 6
At a Feb. 20 forum, Rep. Jay Obernolte said he opposes publicly challenging Trump’s inspector general firings and funding freezes, arguing that private discussions with the president are more effective. His remarks drew pushback from attendees.
Public Market Opens, SCE Faces Backlash, New developments, and a Thriving Pottery Project
Dear readers,
The most significant changes in our daily lives—housing, schools, public safety—happen right here in Redlands. That’s why Community Forward Redlands exists: to keep you engaged, empowered, and informed about what’s happening in your city.
In just the past few weeks, we broke the news on the mall development facing foreclosure and the developer's efforts to work out a deal with the bank. We covered the opening of the Redlands Public Market and kept up with city hall, education, local sports, and small businesses. We tell the stories that shape our community—but we can’t do it without you.
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Stephanie and the CFR team
Opening today: New food hall in a historic packing house will feature local vendors, live events, and a community-driven atmosphere.
REDLANDS, Calif. — After nearly a decade in development, the Redlands Public Market (RPM) is set to open its doors seven days a week beginning Feb. 21, with a grand opening planned for April, according to owner and developer Jerry Tessier, Arteco Partners' president.
The market, housed in a historic packing house, will feature a curated selection of food and drink vendors, fresh flowers and produce, plus an indoor arcade and a 7,000-square-foot outdoor plaza for events.
The project traces its origins to a vision shared by local farmer Bob Knight, who first introduced Tessier to the Redlands packing house roughly nine years ago. Knight proposed transforming the space into a food hall and local farm distribution hub. Tessier pursued the idea, navigating a rigorous review process for historical preservation and securing federal historic tax credits before beginning construction.
The RPM's opening was significantly delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Tessier said. Originally scheduled to break ground in early 2020, construction was postponed for more than two years.
When designing RPM, Tessier said he drew from his experience developing the Claremont Packing House, the Riverside Food Lab and The Cookhouse at Vail HQ in Temecula.
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
🔌 SCE faces backlash over power outages: Southern California Edison (SCE) presented its wildfire mitigation efforts to the Redlands City Council on Feb. 18, addressing concerns raised by residents following a series of power shutoffs earlier this year due to high winds. Edison International nearly doubled its profits in 2023 to $1.2 billion, while customers foot the bill for wildfire mitigation and investor returns. Read more about what SCE has planned for wildfire mitigation and grid improvements here.
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
📌 Latest update on the Redlands Mall: The sale of the property has been postponed to March 20, 2025 at the beneficiary's request. CFR first broke the news on Feb. 12 that the developer received a notice of foreclosure on the property in September 2024. It was set to go to public auction on Jan. 23, 2025. The sale has been postponed three times. The developer says it’s working with its lender to resolve the loan default and avoid a sale. Read our coverage here.
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
🏗️ What's next for Redlands: The city of Redlands is set to undergo some transformations, with many residential, commercial and industrial projects recently approved or already under construction. In an effort to keep residents informed and aware of local development, here's a breakdown of Redlands' current and future projects:
Kathryne Mccann
🇺🇸 Obernolte speaks on Trump's firings, funding freezes: At a Feb. 20 forum, Rep. Jay Obernolte said he opposes publicly challenging Trump’s inspector general firings and funding freezes, arguing that private discussions with the president are more effective. His remarks drew pushback from attendees. Read more here.
Contributor
The downtown studio, founded by three Redlands High School graduates, has grown into a thriving creative space with 50+ members and a newly launched nonprofit to provide free pottery classes for underserved groups.
Hidden in the Fifth Street alley in downtown Redlands is a gem of a pottery studio - Redlands Pottery Project, a place “where clay meets community, and creativity finds a home” as described on the studio’s website.
Saturday morning, Feb. 8, studio members sold their ceramics, master potter David Porras from Yucaipa donated pieces, and the Elias Valdez Quartet played jazz tunes. The fundraiser helped establish a non-profit portion of the studio while celebrating its first anniversary.
The non-profit, called Redlands Pottery Community Project, will provide classes for underserved community members. Its first outreach project provided free clay classes for the youth at A.K. Smiley Library.
“Redlands being such an artistic community and growing up here, I think, is exactly one of the reasons we want to give back to the community,” said co-owner Bradley Evans.
Ryan Bailey and Al Hernandez of Citrograph Printing Co. are on the board of the non-profit. Bailey kick-started his ceramics talents at the studio a year ago, his art pieces can be found at Citrograph.
Contributor
🎭 Redlands Bowl Announces Summer Musical: Redlands Bowl Performing Arts has announced that its summer musical will be Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, presented in partnership with Legendary Productions. The beloved Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical will be staged July 24–27 at the Redlands Bowl, with a public dress rehearsal on July 22. Open auditions are happening next week. Read more here.
Community Forward Redlands
🎸 Classical guitarist captivates at Redlands Forum: Classical guitarist Laurel Harned took the stage at Esri auditorium on Feb. 11, mesmerizing a standing-room-only audience with a performance that spanned centuries of musical tradition. Read more here.
Dave Card
More than 30 students from Redlands Unified School District participated in the district’s annual Civics Day on Feb. 6, gaining firsthand experience in local government operations and the democratic process.
Students from Citrus Valley High School, Redlands High School, Redlands East Valley High School and Orangewood High School toured district facilities, shadowed education leaders and engaged in a mock school board meeting to debate real-world policy issues.
🎓 AAUW scholarship applications open: The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Redlands Branch is now accepting applications for its Nancy Yowell Memorial Scholarship, which supports women whose college education was interrupted and who have returned to complete their degree. Applications due Feb. 28. Read more here.
Community Forward Redlands
The "comeback team" heads to the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 semifinals Saturday at Redlands High to face La Mirada.
The sweetest sound for the Redlands East Valley High girls soccer team on Tuesday night in an overtime playoff victory was not cheers. Nor a whistle.
It was the unmistakable doink of a penalty kick hitting the right bar of the goal to end a shootout.
The sound of victory.
Bishop Montgomery of Torrance’s miss gave REV – tied with the Knights 1-1 after regulation and two 10-minute overtime periods – a 4-3 edge in penalty kicks, and the triumph. It sends the Wildcats to the CIF-Southern Section Division 4 semifinals at 5 p.m. Saturday at Redlands High against La Mirada.
Read more about the showdown from sports writer John Murphy here.
John Murphy
⚽ Redlands FC releases home game schedule: Redlands' own semi-professional soccer team is gearing up for another season. Read more about how to watch a game this summer at Dodge Stadium here.
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
Read about flag football's arrival at the University of Redlands, a run through Redlands set and other sports headlines in this week's Press Row column by John Murphy:
John Murphy
📌 Tues. Feb. 25, 5:30pm - 6:30pm - Redlands Forum: Solving Crime with Forensic Science with Blaine Kern, Founder & Chief Forensic Scientist, Human Identification Technologies. Information and reservations here.
📌 Sat. March 1, 10am - 1pm: Child Care Resource Center’s 10th Annual San Bernardino Family Play Day. Learn more here.
📌 Sat. March 1, 10 am - AAUW Brunch: Zoe Miller-Vedam, a doctoral candidate in sociology at UC Irvine, will discuss the impact of birthright citizenship and immigrant perinatal health rights. Free to public. A brunch at 9 a.m. precedes the talk, and those wishing to attend must reserve a spot by calling (909) 362-4955 or emailing AAUWrsvp@AAUWRedlands.org. Read more here.
📌 Sat. March 8 - Symphony to Present “Peter and the Wolf” Two Ways: The Redlands Symphony is making classical music more accessible through a new "Relaxed Concert" designed for families, young audiences, and those seeking a more casual experience. Read more here.
📌 Sat. May 10, 12:30 - 3:00 pm - Mother's Day Brunch: Kimberly Crest to Host Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea. Annual “Royal Tea at the Castle” offers guests an elegant four-course tea, live music, and historic charm. Tickets now available.
More than 1,500 people toured the newly completed Museum of Redlands (MOR) during an open house on Feb. 3, organizers said.
Guests got a first look at the $30 million renovation before exhibits are installed. While displays were not yet in place, organizers saw the event as an opportunity for the community to experience the space firsthand.
The project, built with both public and private contributions, has been 25 years in the making.
A.K. Smiley Public Library will be installing the exhibits over the next few months to transform the historic site into a future hub for local history and culture. A grand opening is expected later this year.
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