Downtown Development Update
The emergence of Downtown Cathedral City as a mixed-use & entertainment focal point for area residents and visitors alike has taken several positive steps forward with significant major announcements this year.
Mixed-Use Entertainment & Gaming Facility - In April 2017 the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians announced its plans to acquire a 12.5-acre site at the northwest corner of E. Palm Canyon and Date Palm Drive to build its third casino and entertainment complex in the Coachella Valley. The Tribe completed its purchase of the property on August 18th and is now fully engaged in processing the required land use changes through the Federal government to allow for this future development. The project may eventually include a hotel and other ancillary retail and entertainment venues.
Mixed-Use Residential, Restaurant & Retail Project – Also in April 2017, Cathedral Canyon Development LLC (based in Newport Beach, CA) signed a Purchase Agreement to acquire 5 acres of vacant land on the south side of E. Palm Canyon directly across from City Hall. The current conceptual plan for the site includes 138 studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom residential units and approximately 15,000 square feet of restaurant and retail spaces. The developers are working to finalize their application to obtain necessary approvals through the City’s project entitlement process.
13.5-Acre Development Opportunity – Preliminary marketing began in late July to attract one or more buyers to develop the 13.5-acre vacant land site on E. Palm Canyon Drive at the south end of Date Palm Drive. Current marketing concepts would allow for a single mixed-use development, or up to three individual developments, to include a hotel, retail center and residential units.
Mary Pickford Movie Theatre – Extensive renovations on this magnificent 14-screen theater complex were completed last year. The “Mary Pickford” is once again attracting visitors to Downtown from far and wide and will also be a full participant, for the third year in a row, in the January 2018 Palm Springs International Film Festival. Immediately to the south of the theatre, a new 51-space surface parking lot will be built by the end of this year providing additional parking options for its patrons.
New Downtown Park & Amphitheater – Design work is well underway for a new grant funded park and amphitheater to be built immediately west of the public parking garage adjacent to Cathedral Canyon Drive. The result will be another great opportunity for people to visit, relax and enjoy the many City-sponsored special events held downtown.
Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre– CV Rep is also well on its way toward its planned purchase of the Desert Cinema theatre building. This will enable the live theatre group to relocate from Rancho Mirage to offer its unique Valley experience from its new home in Downtown Cathedral City in 2018.
Stay tuned for future project updates as Downtown Cathedral City continues its evolution!
