REDLANDS, Calif. — From the long-stalled mall site to backyard debates and a booming year for local business features, Redlands readers gravitated toward stories that captured both civic challenges and community life in 2025.
Community Forward Redlands published more than 600 articles this year, covering civic news, public safety, education, local business and community life — along with sports coverage that proved to be a consistent reader draw. For this year-end roundup, we reviewed readership and engagement data (page views, time spent on page and social shares), along with editorial judgment about civic significance to highlight five major storylines from the year.
No. 5 — Backyard debates: ADUs, chickens and life in Redlands neighborhoods
Some of the year’s most resonant stories played out block by block, shaped by questions of housing, neighborhood character and how the city regulates everyday life. Backyard chickens and changing accessory dwelling unit rules sparked debate over privacy, density, parking and what Redlands neighborhoods will look like in the future.
No. 4 — Fire risk and preparedness: Maps, wind events and power shutoffs
Wildfire risk remained a year-round concern in Redlands, especially as wind events and power shutoffs disrupted daily life and pushed residents to think more seriously about preparedness. Updated fire hazard maps also renewed attention on which neighborhoods face the greatest danger and how the city is planning for future fires.
No. 3 — School district controversy and culture-war politics
Redlands Unified became one of the year’s biggest flashpoints as debates over books, student rights, campus displays and district governance drew large crowds and sharply divided opinions. Many of the most heated public meetings of 2025 unfolded in school board chambers.
No. 2 — Local business and community spotlights: Redlands Public Market and the year of small business
Even in a year filled with high-stakes civic debates, readers showed strong interest in stories about the people and places that give Redlands its character. The long-awaited opening of Redlands Public Market drew major attention and business profiles remained some of the most-read stories across the year.
No. 1 — The Redlands Mall and warehouse development debates
No storyline drew more sustained reader attention in 2025 than the future of Redlands itself and the development decisions shaping what the city will become.
At the center of that conversation was the Redlands Mall site, a long-stalled property that has symbolized frustration for decades. Community Forward Redlands first reported that the former mall owners faced foreclosure, then continued following the story as public records revealed a new owner later in the year. CFR was first to confirm that the property had been purchased by Jack and Laura Dangermond, co-owners of Esri.
Alongside the mall coverage, the region’s warehouse expansion debate remained a constant, as residents pushed back against large-scale logistics projects and city leaders weighed economic development arguments against concerns about traffic, air quality and quality of life. After the approval of two major warehouses in the past 18 months, the City Council voted to move forward with considering a possible ban on new warehouse development.
Taken together, the mall and warehouse debate reflected a broader theme that ran through Redlands all year: residents’ desire for growth that aligns with the city’s identity, and their expectation for transparency when major decisions are made.
Honorable mention — No Kings protests
The “No Kings” protests drew major reader interest this year as residents looked for information about local rallies and public demonstrations. Community Forward Redlands’ guides to protest locations and times became among the most-read service journalism stories of 2025, reflecting both heightened political engagement and residents’ desire for reliable, up-to-date information during rapidly unfolding events.
As Redlands heads into 2026, the storylines that drew the most attention will continue shaping daily life and public debate.
Community Forward Redlands will keep tracking the long-term outcomes of decisions made this year, along with the people and places that make the city what it is. As an independent local news source, much of that work, including public records requests, meeting coverage and investigative follow-up, continues long after a headline fades.
A former local TV news producer, Stephanie launched CFR in 2023. Originally from Michigan, she’s made Redlands home with her husband and three kids. When she’s not reporting, she’s problem-solving at the climbing gym or trying new local restaurants.
Kathryne Mccann
Kathryne Mccann
Kathryne Mccann
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
Kathryne Mccann
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
Stephanie Hastings Miranda
