The Northside neighborhood is located at the northern gateway into the City of Riverside. Known for its history, environmental resources, and strong community connection, the Northside is one of the City's oldest neighborhoods. It has been occupied for over 10,000 years, first by Native American groups, including the Gabrielino/Tongva, Cahuilla, Serrano and Luiseño, and later by Spanish, Mexican, and American settlers. Its uniqueness comes from its proudly diverse, multi-generational residents that stand together in protecting their heritage and defining their future. The character of the Northside neighborhood is shaped by its variety of residential, office, retail, and extensive recreational facilities.

The Northside Specific Plan (NSP) is the policy document developed by the City, in conjunction with the local community, to guide future development in the Northside neighborhood. The NSP is a community-driven vision that concluded with the City Council adopting both the Specific Plan and the Program EIR in 2020. The Specific Plan sets the vision, principles and goals for future land use decisions to improve the area’s physical and economic environment while meeting City goals for the Northside community. The NSP has been designed to accommodate a safe, healthy, and balanced community celebrating the history and culture of the greater Riverside area. Significant community outreach was done to ensure the community’s vision and priorities were included in the NSP. This included a total of three community workshops from June 2017 to June 2018.