Nov. 6 Weekly Briefing: CV Link opens, new building codes adopted, funding found for street projects, and more

Happy Thursday! As if we needed more proof about Indio’s business growth, the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce (GVCC) dropped by the City Council meeting last night to remind us how quickly the city is growing. Brandon Marley, president and CEO of GVCC, said out of all valley cities, Indio represents the most number of businesses. 348 out of the group’s 1,000 members are in Indio! So if it feels like there’s another ribbon cutting every day … there’s a reason!

🎶 Setting the mood: “Bicycle Race” by Queen

---

LEADING OFF

CV Link ribbon cuttings celebrate completion of 40-mile path; leaders eye Indio biking improvements

CV Link, a $100 million pathway spanning roughly 40 miles through the Coachella Valley, is approaching completion with ribbon cutting ceremonies planned to mark the end of a decade-long project.

Driving the news: The Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) is planning ribbon-cutting ceremonies across the valley to mark the official opening of CV Link, which spans from Palm Springs to Indio along the Whitewater River wash.

• The pathway accommodates cyclists, pedestrians, joggers and low-speed electric vehicles, running parallel to Highway 111 through seven participating cities.

By the numbers: The final cost reached $120 million, funded through state and federal sources plus grants. CVAG secured a two-year, $600,000 contract with Desert Recreation District for pathway maintenance.

What’s next: CVAG Deputy Executive Director Erica Felci said the agency is developing “community connectors” to link neighborhoods to CV Link with improved bike infrastructure.

Up first: One community connector that’s in development is the Arts and Music Line, a 9-mile route along Avenue 48 running between Washington Street and Dillon Road out to the Whitewater River through La Quinta, Indio, and Coachella.

• Estimated to cost about $46 million, the route will feature art from local artists and will connect to the CV link in addition to schools, housing, shopping, and employment centers. Construction should begin in 2027.

Dive deeper with our complete story

---

BRIEFLY

🏗️ Indio adopts new building codes with focus on sustainability, requirement for AC

The Indio City Council unanimously approved state-mandated changes to building standards Thursday, including expanded solar and energy efficiency requirements, though some councilmembers expressed concerns the changes could worsen housing affordability.

• The council also went one step further than state laws, adopting an amendment requiring all new residential homes to have air conditioning installed and mandating that existing systems be maintained in rental properties.
  
• Councilmembers expressed frustration with state mandates they said would drive up construction costs in a city already struggling with housing affordability. “I see the purpose,” Councilmember Waymond Fermon said. “I just think, with our affordability issues that we have in housing…that [the new requirements] might make it go a little higher.”
  
• Bottom line: Cities must adopt the state standards or lose the ability to enforce local amendments tailored to regional conditions.

Dive deeper with our complete story

📉 Home prices hitting seasonal lows ahead of next month’s Federal Reserve meetings

The latest Desert Housing Report for October reveals a housing market in transition for Indio, with prices continuing a months-long decline.

• The median price of a detached home in the Coachella Valley fell 1.6% year-over-year to $625,000 in October, while attached homes decreased 2.2% to $420,000. In Indio, the average detached home declined 1.8% to $613,000.
  
• For some context, The median price in the city has declined for at least the last seven months, but this time of year is typically when valley home prices hit their low. Inventory is up in the city, with 454 homes listed for sale at the beginning of the month compared to 382 the year before.
  
• Bottom line: Market observers note that further developments will depend on mortgage rate movements and broader economic conditions. All eyes are on the Federal Reserve’s meetings on Dec. 9 and 10 where the Fed Governor said this week there’s a possibility for a rate cut, but it’s not on lock.

Dive deeper with our complete story

---

YOUR WEEKEND

“Head Over Heels: The Go-Go’s Musical”
Friday, Saturday, Sunday | Desert Theatreworks
“Head Over Heels” unfolds in the mythical kingdom of Arcadia, where the royal family and their subjects embark on a quest to save their world, navigating love, mistaken identities, and self-discovery along the way. ($45)

CV Link Grand Opening Celebration
Today | 3 p.m. | North Jackson Park
Bike, walk, run, or ride your low-speed electric vehicle to this ribbon cutting ceremony.

Sip, Shop, & Plant for a Purpose
Friday | 5 p.m. | True Awakening Studio
Join True Awakening Studio for a “heart-centered evening of planting, connection, and giving.” ($45)

Lean into Poetry
Friday | 6:30 p.m. | Indigenous Cultural Center: Danza Azteca Citlaltonac, Coachella
Explore how poetry can be a vehicle to make sense of a fractured world and meet it with reverence and even joy. Facilitated by Breda Vaca, Author of Riot of Roses: Poems and the Founder of Riot of Roses Publishing House.

Coachella Valley Model Railroaders Open House
Saturday | 10 a.m. | Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival grounds
See the valley’s premier model railroad in action.

10th Annual Indio BBQ Festival
Saturday | 4 p.m. | Downtown Indio
It’s time for one of the city’s tastiest traditions! Bring your family and friends for an afternoon of smoky, savory BBQ, live entertainment, a beer garden, and a free kids’ zone.

DezrtCon
Saturday | 5 p.m. | The Place
Hosted by Coachella Magazine, join creators from all walks of life to collaborate, connect, and shape culture.

Coachella x Empire Barber Fest
Sunday | 11 a.m. | Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival grounds
This weekend, make some time for an unforgettable day celebrating the artistry, culture, and community of the barbering world. Events include live barber battles, workshops, and demos.

Cake Lovers Club
Sunday | 1 p.m. | The Place
Learn how to decorate a stunning dome cake with buttercream ribbons, edible pearls, glimmer dust, and fresh florals. ($100)

Check out more events in our community calendar

---

AND FINALLY …

Major streets in Indio are about to be widened with extra car lanes and bike lanes, and those projects just got a funding boost from a regional government agency. Plus, the city could be getting tens of millions of dollars in funding for one of its most talked about projects.

Here’s how it breaks down: The Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) funding includes $1.95 million for widening Jefferson Street from Avenue 38 to Sun City Boulevard and $1.94 million for the Avenue 50 widening project from Jefferson Street to Jackson Street.

In the weeds: The Jefferson Street project will widen the existing two-lane and four-lane roadway to four and six lanes. The Avenue 50 project will improve the roadway to a four-lane boulevard with two lanes in each direction, including sidewalks and bike lanes. 

The timelines: The Jefferson Street project is moving  through the design phase, with the city hiring a consultant for the final design by Jan. 2026. The Avenue 50 project is further along, Phase 1 construction is scheduled to begin in May 2026.

Big ticket item: CVAG also extended the construction deadline for the Monroe Street Interchange project to the end of next year, giving the city more time to navigate right-of-way and utility delays on the $175 million reconstruction.

What’s next: Indio anticipates receiving an additional $30 million for the Monroe interchange project through a funding request submitted to the Southern California Association of Governments. Funding award recommendations will be presented to the SCAG Regional Council next month.

Dive deeper with our complete story