Aug 25 2009

DOWNTOWN FRESNO: Revitalizing the Urban Core

By Richard Deaver

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Rowell Building - Fresno

Cities both large and small are reevaluating how they manage growth to not only preserve natural resources, but also keep their downtowns alive. Many have already been successful in bringing about change in the way they plan for inevitable growth and bringing residents and retail stores back to their downtowns and others are still in the planning or implementation stages.

Fresno has been looking at this problem for a number of years and has tried more than once to alter the way we continue to grow away from the urban core. As Fresno’s population increases, so does the need for affordable housing as developers continue to expand the city’s boundaries to keep up with demand – some say at the cost of valuable agricultural land. A recent Wall Street Journal article (August 15, 2009) provides information on a troubling trend that underscores this problem, which states; “Of new housing today, 80% is built in suburbs – the direct legacy of federal policy that favored outlying areas rather than the rehabilitation of city centers”.

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May 12 2009

UNIQUE FRESNO HOUSING PROJECT COMES TO LIFE

exterior-color-renderingBy Richard Deaver

THE FULTONIA Live/Work Village Project Overview

Housing is an essential component to the success of The Fultonia Live/Work Village development. This project has been designed to help alleviate the shortage of moderately priced housing in Central Fresno by adding 39 rental apartments and 10-commercial spaces.

Many hard-working families and individuals in Fresno cannot afford to rent a high quality home or must pay a substantial proportion of their income each month for housing. There is also a need for quality live/work units for professionals and entrepreneurs seeking to lessen their impact on the environment by combining quality commercial space coupled with living space to minimize travel to and from their work. Continue reading