May 29 Weekly Briefing: New plans for old mall, student honors, progress at Salton Sea, and more

Happy Thursday! The Indio Police Department wants you to roll up your sleeves … but they don’t want to slap some handcuffs on you, they want you to donate blood as a part of Indio PD’s blood drive today. Hosted with LifeStream Blood Bank, the police department invites the public to the Public Safety Services Building’s multipurpose room from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hospitals are always in need of donations, and every donation can save up to three lives. 

🎶 Setting the mood: “Harvest Moon” cover by Poolside

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LEADING OFF

Two new commercial buildings planned for Indio Grand Marketplace

The Indio Planning Commission unanimously approved plans Wednesday for two new commercial buildings at the Indio Grand Marketplace mall on Highway 111. The Haagen Company, the mall’s owner and developer of the project, says the project marks the first phase of a complete mall redevelopment.

Driving the news: The plan is to develop about 1.5 acres along the mall’s northern frontage and add two new buildings, one measuring about 4,800 square feet with room for three commercial tenants and the other 8,000 square feet with room for four tenants.

Who’s involved: The developer wants to move some of the mall’s existing tenants into the new buildings to make the redevelopment of the mall easier. They are also looking to secure new tenants for the buildings, including restaurants, retails, and medical services. 

The timeline: Because they’re still working to secure tenants, the developer said, they don’t have an exact timeline. but ideally they would like to start construction by the end of the year, and finish construction sometime in Q3 or Q4 of next year. 

What they’re saying: “The idea is not just to get some tenants in here, but to get the best we can get,” Alexander Haagen III, head of the Haagen Company said. “We’re competing with with La Quinta, with the West Valley and the East Valley, and even we’re competing with ourselves, the city of Indio, across the other side of the freeway.”

In context: The approval comes just one week after the Indio City Council agreed to enter exclusive negotiations with the Haagen Company for the potential sale of 15.35 acres of city-owned property behind the mall.

Dive deeper with our complete story

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BRIEFLY

🚰 State marks milestone with filling of expansion pond at Salton Sea

Last week, leaders from local, state, federal, tribal and nonprofit organizations gathered to mark the filling of the East Pond Expansion at the Salton Sea, marking a major step in the state’s decades-long effort to restore and mitigate the harms of the lake.

• With a mix of saltwater from the lake and freshwater from the New River, the water being pumped in for the project will reduce salinity, making the habitat friendlier to wildlife and decreasing exposure of the toxic lakebed.
  
• The completed project, expected to cover more than 9,000 acres, will create a network of ponds, berms, nesting islands and water delivery systems to sustain fish and bird populations while reducing dust from previously exposed areas.
  
• Bottom line: Officials say the new expansion pond is tangible proof that work is finally being done on the Salton Sea. “Today, we can point to clear progress being made to improve conditions in the Salton Sea, which is critical to the health and economies of the Imperial and Coachella Valleys,” said State Water Board Chair E. Joaquin Esquivel.
  
  Dive deeper with our complete story

🎓Traffic expected as graduation ceremonies held at city high schools

Here’s a traffic heads up for your weekend: two high schools are hosting their graduations, meaning cars will be lined up trying to get a spot to watch the seniors strut across the stage and accept their diplomas.

• Indio High School’s graduation is tonight, and families arrive from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the graduation runs from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
  
• Expect road closures at Aladdin Street and Avenue 46 and Avenue 46 and Clinton Street, with heavy traffic on Clinton Street, Avenue 46, and on Highway 111 near Rajah Way.
  
• Friday, Shadow Hills High School hosts its graduation, families arrive from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and the graduation runs from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Congestion is expected all around campus, on Jefferson and Adams Streets and and Avenues 39 and 40 north of I-10. Congrats to all the grads!

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WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS

What to do in and around Indio this weekend.

Restaurant Week
Starting Friday | Multiple Locations
Running from May 30 to June 8, Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week gives locals a chance to visit old favorite restaurants, or discover something new. Participating restaurants offer special prix fixe menus and/or specialty items for diners to enjoy. In Indio, Big Rock Pub, Cork & Fork, The Local on 50th, and POM and The Bistro at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino are all participating. Check out the rest of the restaurants here. 

Noches Illegales
Friday | 7:30 p.m. | Rosemary HiFi
DJ Costa is spinning jazz, salsa, soul, and boogaloo selections with a focus on artists from New York. 

Desert Run Club Meetup
Saturday | 6 a.m. | Vintage Coffee House
All levels of runners are welcome to this run club meetup at Vintage Coffee House. Bring friends or meet new ones and of course enjoy some coffee after the run. Find more details and RSVP on Strava.

Water Fun Day
Saturday | 9 a.m. | Miles Avenue Park
With temperatures heating up, swing by for a cool day at the park with free water activities for all ages.

Van Halen Tribute – Atomic Punks
Saturday | 7 p.m. | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino
Get ready to Dance the Night Away and Jump at the Rock Yard to your favorite Van Halen songs, played by Atomic Punks, a Van Halen tribute band. 

Quivero Solo Show
Saturday | 7:30 p.m. | Little Street Music Hall
After festival and pop-up appearances, the tech house and bass house artist local DJ Quivero hosts his first solo show at Little Street Music Hall. ($10)

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AND FINALLY …

Two Indio High School seniors proved that juggling band, water polo, and academic excellence is indeed possible, as Julian Cansino and Kaylee Cuevas were recognized at the Greater Coachella Valley Student of the Year ceremony earlier this month.

Driving the news: The Desert Sands Unified School District students were among nine desert region high school seniors honored for their academic achievements and community contributions, with scholarship opportunities worth up to $5,000 available through partnership matches with OneFuture Coachella Valley.

• The ceremony represents the Riverside County Office of Education’s second year recognizing exceptional students who demonstrate academic success and community involvement.

Here’s why: Both students were selected as Student of the Month recipients during the school year, with Cansino honored in October and Cuevas in December, based on their character, academic commitment, and resilience in facing life challenges.

Their plans: Cansino plans to attend College of the Desert to study marketing, public relations, and political science, while Cuevas will head to UCLA to pursue political science and a career in community and social services.