Mission Inn in Riverside Given $2-Million Grant

The $31-million renovation of the historic Mission Inn in Riverside moved a step closer to reality Friday when the federal Housing and Urban Development Agency announced that it is granting $2.2 million to help finance the project.

“This clears the way for the remodeling,” said Bob Hill, executive director of the Riverside Redevelopment Agency, owners of the famous old hotel, which is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Renovation of the Mission Inn is part of a downtown revitalization project.

The unique, century-old building is to be sold to the Carley Capital Group of Washington, which plans a renovated 240-room hotel and retail sales complex. In addition to the federal grant, the redevelopment agency is putting up $1.2 million and the city is contributing $549,000 to the project, Hill said.