Banning Mayor Wants Population Tripled In 10 Years

BANNING, CA — Banning is California’s fastest-growing city — but Mayor Colleen Wallace wants it even bigger.

In 2020, Banning’s population increased by 1,176 residents. That’s a growth rate of 3.8 percent during the one-year period, making it the state's fastest-growing city in 2020, the California Department of Finance reported. The agency measured cities with populations greater than 30,000.

Wallace is aiming for a population of 80,000 to 90,000 Banning residents in the next five to 10 years. As of January 2021, the city’s population sat around 32,000, according to the California Department of Finance.

“We need growth,” Wallace said. “If we don’t grow, our town will just dwindle away. We need houses here. We need people to come and make our median income where it needs to be.”

Using data from 2015 to 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau reports the city's median income was at $42,274 compared to Riverside County’s $67,005 figure.

Wallace envisions a Banning that’s filled with first-time homeowners and 30-somethings, with an economy vibrant enough to provide local jobs, support for the homeless and activities for kids.

“We’re a disadvantaged community,” Wallace said. “You bring in the people, we won’t be considered a disadvantaged community anymore.”

The way to achieve that growth? Rooftops, Wallace says, and lots of them. To her, the recent population increase confirms that people are interested in moving to Banning — the city just needs to come up with enough housing to fit them all.

Some of that housing construction is underway in Banning.

The ongoing Tri-Pointe Homes project at Highland Springs and Wilson street will have 4,348 homes, while Diversified Pacific Homes is on schedule to break ground on a 3,385-homes project by spring 2022, according to the Banning’s Economic Development Manager, James Wurtz. These, plus several other smaller projects in the planning stages, will amount to approximately 7,700 homes that will open in the upcoming years.

Wurtz said 600 homes currently going through the planning process will be affordable, by Housing and Urban Development standards. In 2018, the median sales price for existing homes in Banning was $250,000, which is $130,000 lower than the county’s median, according to a report by the Southern California Association of Governments.

Once Banning’s population surges high enough, Wallace contends businesses will take an interest too, bringing jobs and economic activity with them.

According to the Southern California Association of Governments, 86.1 percent of Banning residents commute outside the city for work, with most commuting into the Riverside, San Bernardino and Ontario area, Wurtz said. Very few work in Banning.

Wallace said the city needs more local jobs. She is seeking developers and businesses to fill the open space in Banning with whoever will come: grocery stores, restaurants, manufacturing.

“If it’s industrial people, we’re already going industrial,” Wallace said. “If it’s restaurants, we’re going for that. … Whatever type of businesses that want to come.”

Top on her list is a grocery store for Banning’s east side, to provide accessible nutrition for the elderly who have difficulty commuting. Wallace said when she was growing up, Banning had only two major grocery stores on her side of town. So far, she’s talked to grocery chain WinCo to see if there is interest in setting up shop in Banning, but nothing is confirmed.

Having a company like Amazon to provide well-paying jobs for local youth is high on the mayor's list as well. Wallace also referenced San Diego-based movie studio Grandave Studios, which recently announced its intention to set up in Banning.

The struggle that comes with raising the median income — while still keeping life in Banning affordable — doesn't go unnoticed by Wallace.

“All I can tell you is I’m trying,” the mayor said. “I’m trying hard to bring up Banning.”