RIVERSIDE - (INT) - Downtown Riverside's cultural diversity is about to take a giant leap forward.

The City Council has approved a 1-year deal to raise money to convert the downtown library to the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture & Industry.

It would be designed to house the 700 piece art collection of the actor-comedian.

Plans are to relocate the library to a building formerly occupied by the downtown Greyhound bus depot.

Converting the existing library building - called 'The Cheech' - could cost up to $7 million with half being raised over the next year.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) gives all parties through the end of February, 2018 to determine precise roles and responsibilities for each entity in making the Cheech Marin Center – which Marin has affectionately dubbed “The Cheech” – a reality. It also sets in motion the need to raise $3 million of the estimated $7 million cost for the center.

Story Date: May 25, 2017