Riverside County to Get 7 of CA’s 10 Biggest Warehouses?
Introduction: A Logistics Boom in Riverside County
Riverside County, already a major hub for warehousing and
logistics, may soon see seven of California’s 10 largest warehouse
projects added to its landscape. These developments, totaling 42.9
million square feet (equivalent to 745 football fields),
are currently under environmental review.
In this article, we’ll break down:
✔ Which projects are in the
pipeline
✔ The economic benefits vs.
environmental concerns
✔ How Riverside County plans to
handle this massive growth
Key Findings: Riverside County Dominates California’s
Warehouse Expansion
According to environmental consultant Mike McCarthy,
who analyzed public data from CEQAnet (California’s
ecological review database), Riverside County is the leading warehouse developer in the state.
Top 3 Largest Projects Under Review:
- San
Jacinto Commerce Center – 9 million sq. ft.
- CV
Conference Center (Cathedral City) – 7.9 million sq. ft.
- Serrano
Commerce Center (Temescal Valley) – 6.5 million sq. ft.
Other major projects in Riverside County:
- Beaumont
Heights Business Centre (5.7 million sq. ft.)
- Harvest
Landing Retail Center & Business Park (5.7 million sq. ft.)
- Mesa
Verde Specific Plan (4.4 million sq. ft.)
- New
Perris Commerce Center (3.7 million sq. ft.)
Total proposed space in Riverside County: 42.9
million sq. ft.
Economic Benefits: Jobs & Revenue
✔ Job Creation: A U.S.
Chamber of Commerce study found that a single new distribution center
creates 3,300+ indirect jobs and generates $51 million
in local tax revenue.
✔ Post-Pandemic Recovery: Logistics
helped the Inland Empire withstand COVID-19’s economic shocks.
✔ Workforce Opportunities: Companies
like Amazon offer tuition-free college programs for warehouse employees.
Environmental & Infrastructure Concerns
❌ Air Pollution: The
Inland Empire already has some of the worst air quality in the U.S. More
warehouses mean more diesel trucks, increasing health risks.
❌ Traffic & Road Wear: Unlike San Bernardino
(which has more rail infrastructure), Riverside relies heavily on trucks,
leading to more congestion and emissions.
❌ "Logistics Sprawl": Warehouses are
being built farther from ports, requiring longer truck trips and
higher emissions.
What’s Being Done?
✅ AB 98 (New State Law): Requires landscaping
buffers, noise limits, and community protections for new warehouses.
✅ County’s "Good Neighbor" Standards: Ensures
warehouses in unincorporated areas fit with surrounding communities.
✅ Case-by-Case Reviews: Each project
undergoes environmental impact reports (EIRs) before approval.
The Big Question: Can Riverside County Handle This
Growth?
While warehouses bring jobs and tax revenue,
critics argue the county lacks the infrastructure and environmental
safeguards to manage this expansion sustainably.
🔹 Mike McCarthy’s
Warning: "There’s already a ton of warehouses in the pipeline,
and we’re adding even more. I don’t see how we have the infrastructure to
handle it."
🔹 Community
Concerns: Activists like Alicia Aguayo (People’s Collective
for Environmental Justice) argue that low-income communities
bear the brunt of pollution.
