The City of Chino, CA, is embarking on a major wave of development, creating a host of new retail, recreation and housing opportunities. Capitalizing on its rich history and growing population, Chino leaders are optimistic about collaboration with developers to create new experiences for residents and tourists.
“Chino is on the move and has a market access of one million people, nestled in the middle of San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside Counties,” says Jackie Melendez, Chino’s assistant city manager. This includes a diverse market of families, young professionals and students. Melendez notes that the city’s slow-growth vision has shifted under new Council and executive leadership and in recent years, has led it to tap into the next wave to drive economic resilience.
Chino Facilitating Rapid Expansion
To bolster its plans, Melendez says the city council is fully committed to economic redevelopment and is modernizing policy with a series of changes to better facilitate future projects.
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“We revamped internal processes to fast-track development and make it even easier for businesses to locate to Chino and thrive,” says Melendez. And though adjacent cities have seen growth spikes, she and other leaders feel that it is Chino’s turn to move to the next level.
“We are approaching 100,000 in population, which is a pivotal point for a city located in San Bernardino County,” she notes, adding that even as Chino emerges from a “small town” atmosphere, it remains committed to maintaining a “hometown” feel, honoring its agricultural heritage while focusing on increasing job opportunities and creating an experience for local residents and future visitors.
New and Established Projects Ripe for Investors
With an estimated $2 billion in retail market demand, Chino is an attractive development target for investors. A key selling point is that the city is not over-developed, according to Melendez.
“Unlike other cities, who are nearly built out, Chino has plenty of room to grow. With intentional development of new mixed use and retail opportunities, Chino is ripe for development,” she says.
A near-term focus is The Farm at Euclid, a 200-plus-acre land acquisition the city looks to undertake. The Farm at Euclid will mark the first revitalization project within the city’s purview in two decades. Developers will be welcomed to bid on RFPs mid-summer 2026. Over the next 18 months, the city is focused on creating a shovel ready project to spark the interest of the development community.
The Euclid Corridor is essential for the advancement of the City’s economic growth. This includes the Chino Airport, where Chino hopes to see synergy between the airport and their collective vision of The Farm at Euclid with new amenities and retail opportunities.Minutes from the 15, 71 and 91 freeways, this focus area aims to have regional draw from throughout California and aspirational draw internationally. Chino is not new to influx of visitation: in 1984, the city hosted shooting events during the Olympic Games and today sees over 1.6 million visitors a year to their local sports complex, Ayala Park. This makes the city natural magnets for development opportunities.
Other development opportunities on the horizon:
- Chaffey at Ayala Park – More than sixteen acres of development opportunity ripe for experiential commercial development, along with potential site QSRs and hotel amenities.
- Fallon Crest - An upscale residential community with an adjacent planned retail hub, which will provide development and lease opportunities.
- The Preserve - a master-planned community with residential, retail and commercial spaces in a high-growth area, which provides new retail opportunities for restaurants, retailers and boutique shops.
“The entire area is prime for new development and lease opportunities, which will greatly benefit locals and the region, who have an increased appetite for upscale and active experiences,” Melendez says.
Connect with the Office of Economic Development, Rhonesia Perry, MBA at [email protected] or call 909-334-3254 to book an appointment.
Visit the City of Chino at ICSC Las Vegas, South Hall lower-level booth 248X.
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