Developers announce plans to transform NOS Events Center in San Bernardino

By Andrew Edwards
Staff Writer
]SAN BERNARDINO -- Business, industry and a collection of retail and dining establishments could one day take shape on National Orange Show Events Center land, it was announced Tuesday.

The Upland-based Lewis Group of Companies joined NOS Events Center management at the center's L'Orange room Tuesday to unveil conceptual plans for major development of the 120-acre complex.

Those making the announcements Tuesday said the annual National Orange Show fair would not be canceled during or after any future construction on the site. Actual construction is not expected to happen for at least a couple of years.

The Lewis Group's preliminary plan for the Events Center would cluster shops and restaurants at the center's northern end.

The center's lagoon would remain, with a stream flowing southward past facilities that would be dedicated to the National Orange Show, a potential business/educational campus and a planned office park.

Developers' imaginings also include light industrial buildings on the east side of Arrowhead Avenue, east of the Events Center proper.

Randall Lewis, an executive vice president with Lewis Group, said the plans presented Tuesday were "very preliminary in nature."

"It will probably take us a couple years to do the planning and get started on the first parts of it," Lewis said.

New development on NOS property will likely begin with an industrial or office component, Lewis said.

The cost of the project is not forecasted to top the $1 billion mark but is expected to tally some hundreds of millions.

Mayor Pat Morris, spoke at Tuesday's announcement while City Attorney James F. Penman and six members of the oft-feuding San Bernardino City Council sat behind the microphone.

Morris remarked the development plans have potential to re-energize the local economy to a degree that could be called "rad" or "cool," or "to use my granddaughter's term, 'sick.'"
"That means 'awesome,'" he said.

Bob Balzer, chairman of the National Orange Show board of directors, said it is not certain what will happen to some of center's current attractions, such as Orange Show Speedway.

The speedway is currently doing well, Balzer said, and decisions on whether or not to keep it intact will depend on its future economic viability.

"We'll know down the road if the raceway stays or not," Balzer said.

The annual National Orange Show events will not go away, but the carnival aspect of the festival could shrink as the development plan evolves.

Center managers also plan to continue to hold concerts and raves at the center.

The Nocturnal Wonderland Festival held Saturday night at the center led to reports of numerous problems, ranging from noise complaints to an alleged sexual assault outside the venue.