Real Estate Analysis and Commentary in Victorville

08/07/2025 Vacant Buildings

Today, I am taking a break from the technical aspects of the Old Town Village District to discuss vacant buildings I discovered during my tour. Currently, they represent properties in search of a market and offer a chance for multiple uses. While not a comprehensive inventory, I am listing them as opportunities for improving the district. 

1. 15554 6th St - A former restaurant with living quarters. This building is one block to the west of 7th Street. The restaurant has a patio in the front offering a potential of outdoor dining. The restaurant has 24 seat capacity and parking is at the rear accessed by the alley. The living quarters consists of a 1 bedroom/1 bath apartment at the back of the restaurant. 

2. 15624-15626 6th Street - A retail building with a 2 bedroom/1 bath apartment at the rear. This property is to he south of Route 66 museum. 

3. 15632 6th Street - This is the former Tennis & Trophy World building and is directly to the south of Lane's Crossing Park, 

4. 15483-15491 7th Street - A two-story building. This property is currently listed for $650,000 and is being marketed with the potential of the second floor being converted into four residential units with the first floor being commercial (uses envisioned in the specific plan). There is parking along A Street and the rear of the site has the potential for onsite parking. The property is partially leased (month to month) and the listing reports $38,400 gross income. 

5. 16856 C Street - The former Old Rancho Theater that opened in 1959 and closed in 1984. It is my understanding that the building is a shell and will require extensive work. 

6. 17053 D Street - A smaller building with the potential of having two units. It is located on a small site with limited onsite parking. 

7. 15591-15595 7th Street - Currently configured as a three-unit office building. 

8. 16789 D Street - A former convenience store directly to the west of the Barrel House. It was on the market as having a potential for being converted into a restaurant. 

9. 15557-15565 7th Street - A three-unit building with the exterior having been updated bu the interior is reported as being a shell. An alley is behind the building. 

10. 15564 7th Street - Currently boarded, this building has the potential for two units. 

11. 15578-15582 7th Street - Currently boarded, this building has the potential for two units. 

12. 15614 8th Street - Next to the Fire Museum. An older listing indicates this building has mulip0le office spaces with a warehouse/training center at the rear. 

It will be interesting to take a tour of this area in the future and see if these properties are converted into a viable economic use

 Victorville is a city in the High Desert of San Bernardino. The original town site was founded in 1886 with the arrival of the railroad. The founders laid out the town consisting of 200 acres or 0.32 square miles. By 1962 (year of incorporation), the city had grown to 9.7 square miles (6,208 acres) and the population reached 8,110 people. 

Significant events in the time line of Victorville includes:

• 1926 - Route 66 is developed running through Victorville (7th Street). 
• 1937 - Greenspot Motel (a motor-court offering lodging) is built. 
• 1960s to 1970 - I-15 is built bypassing Route 66 and moving the development away from the original townsite. 
• 1963 - Victorville College, Green Tree Motel and Golf Course along with a shopping center is developed moving growth to the south. 
• By the 1980s the original townsite had become blighted. 
• 1998 - The city adopted the Old Town Redevelopment Plan. 
• 2000 - The transit center, a redevelopment project, opens as an intermodal transit center. 
• 2011 - State of California abolished all Redevelopment Agencies resulting in loss of funds for redeveloping Old Town. 
• 2023 - The city establishes a Community Reinvestment and Investment Agency (CRIA) allowed under state law. This act allows for using incremental tax revenue for infrastructure and affordable housing to revitalize blighted areas. 

In future posts, I will review the Old Town Village in terms of existing land uses, potential for development, current conditions and potential funding sources