Posts Tagged ‘affordable housing’
If you’ve heard about The Fultonia project either through the local news media or by following this blog, you’re probably familiar with the term, “SoTow”, and may have wondered what it means and why it is so significant to the Tower District and to Central Fresno. Basically, the term SoTow, (South of Tower) was created to help establish a new identity for the Tower District neighborhood south of Olive Avenue.
The term was first conceived when I was contacted by property owner Terance Frazier with TFS Investments, LLC to look at The Fultonia; a 39-unit apartment complex with 10 commercial spaces in front that he had just purchased. As I walked through the complex I saw a unique opportunity to bring a once-proud property with great architectural bones and a neighborhood that was suffering from years of neglect back to life.
I also saw an existing structure, built around 1950, that although in terrible condition offered something that was extremely rare in Fresno – an existing mixed-use property with both residential and commercial spaces available. The only other properties that offered this unique mix were either built recently or are currently under construction. A small complex was built a few years ago across from Fresno State that has retail on the ground floor with apartments above and Reza Assemi has become the preeminent mixed-use developer in the Uptown Arts District with both completed mixed-use projects and others in progress.
With progress being made every day on the residential units at Fultonia, planning has begun on the ten commercial storefront spaces along Fulton Street. TFS Investments is already looking at adding a coin operated Laundromat in one of the spaces, so the Design-Build team at TYCO General, Inc. has submitted a conceptual plan for a coffee shop as an anchor tenant in an adjoining space.
The coffee shop conceptual plan was conceived to offer the SOTOW
neighborhood with a place to enjoy high quality espresso-type coffees as well as specialty teas, fruit smoothies and more. Since Fulton is a heavily traveled street, especially with morning commuter traffic, having a coffee shop conveniently located will afford the public with a place to stop on their way to work each day. There is also a plan to have doors between the coffee shop and Laundromat so when local residents are washing clothes they can relax with a cup of coffee, tea or a soft drink.
The coffee shop will also offer an outdoor patio with market umbrellas, trees and lush landscaping.
SoTow emerging as link between Tower and downtown
[The Fresno Bee],
May 21, 2009
Fresno has the Tower District, Old Fig and River Park. Now, people can add SoTow to that list.
That’s what Fresno City Council President Cynthia Sterling calls the region south of the Tower District. The neighborhood connects the Tower, known for its restaurants and nightlife, with downtown, the government center.
Sterling said SoTow is ready to emerge, starting with Fultonia — a 1950s-era apartment and commercial complex on Fulton Street near Belmont Avenue that is getting its own version of an extreme makeover.
“Fulton Street will be like the next Van Ness,” said Terance Frazier of TFS Investments, which bought the 40 one-bedroom and studio apartments and 10 commercial spaces at and near 608 N. Fulton St.
“They are the two arms between the Tower District, and this is the heart between them.” (more…)
Published online on Wednesday, May. 20, 2009
By Sanford Nax / The Fresno Bee
Fresno has the Tower District, Old Fig and River Park. Now, people can add SoTow to that list.
That’s what Fresno City Council President Cynthia Sterling calls the region south of the Tower District. The neighborhood connects the Tower, known for its restaurants and nightlife, with downtown, the government center. Sterling said SoTow is ready to emerge, starting with Fultonia — a 1950s-era apartment and commercial complex on Fulton Street near Belmont Avenue that is getting its own version of an extreme makeover.
MARK CROSSE / THE FRESNO BEE
Preston Prince, executive director of the Housing Authorities of the City and County of Fresno, presides over a news conference at the Fultonia, an apartment building built in the 1950s in the Tower District, which will be refurbished at 608 N. Fulton St. (more…)Fultonia Live/Work Village
by kiel on May 20, 2009
Fresno to Welcome The Fultonia Live/Work Village
Fresno, CA – Nestled in an area between downtown Fresno and the Tower District will be The Fultonia Live/Work Village, a mixed-use development that offers 39 units of quality, moderately-priced housing and 10 commercial spaces.
Project design and information
Those who don’t wish to pay substantial sums of money for premium housing may find a home at The Fultonia Live/Work Village.
The redevelopment, in an area that is being proposed as the SOTOW District, or South of Tower, also gives professionals and entrepreneurs the chance to invest in live/work units to reduce travel to and from work. (more…)
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Construction to Start on Development South of Tower District |
| Posted Wednesday, May 20, 2009; 16:49 PM |
| The Fultonia Live/Work Village, an affordable mixed-use development, will begin revitalization of a blighted neighborhood between downtown Fresno and the Tower District |
| by James Olinger |
 Upper left: A rendering of The Fultonia Live/Work Village, located between downtown Fresno and the Tower District. Developer TFS Investments is revitalizing a 39-unit low-income apartmentcomplex.
Upper right: Fresno City Council President Cynthia Sterling speaks at the press conference announcing the beginning of construction on The Fultonia. (Photo by Laura McAtee) Middle left: TFS Investments owner Terance Frazier tells media about the project Wednesday morning. Bottom: Michael Thaler, Frazier, and the team from Tyco General, Inc., the project manager, with the complex in the background. (Photos by Ralph Berrett) |
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Longtime Fresno developer unveils latest project |
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| Written by Marc Lutz |
| Wednesday, 20 May 2009 12:59 |
Although Fresno’s Terance Frazier has been involved in the redevelopment of around 700 properties from 2003 to 2008, it’s obvious that he brings as much enthusiasm to each project as the ones before it. On Wednesday, Frazier, who owns TFS Investments, along with Tyco General, Inc., unveiled their latest collaboration: The renovation of the Fultonia residential and commercial units. Built in 1956, Fultonia, a low-income complex with several shop spaces facing the street, spans from 532 to 614 Fulton Street in Fresno. The complex has 39 residential units and 10 commercial spaces. Throughout the years, the faded light and dark gray complex has fallen into disrepair and has racked up numerous code violations, according to Frazier. Preston Prince, the director of Fresno’s Housing Authority was on-hand for the announcement, saying he was glad to see something being done with Fultonia. “I would drive by here every day,” Prince said. He wondered whether anything was being planned for the complex, stating he believe it had great promise. The building went into foreclosure, and two months ago, Frazier, along with private investors, purchased it “for about $1 million.” “This is such a unique property,” Frazier said. “It’s the heart between two arms: The Tower district and downtown.” He said that like a sick human heart, once that was healed, surrounding areas would begin to get better. The project will take about $1 million in renovations and should be completed in four to five months, said Eric Tienken from Tyco General. The existing 10 to 11 tenants will be moved into another TFS-owned complex until renovations are completed. Since Fultonia is low-income, Frazier is working with the Housing Authority to keep costs down, thereby making it possible for the current tenants to remain living there. Rent will run from approximately $500 to $600 a month for the one-bed, one-bath 700-square-foot units. Tienken said the entire project will be visible from start to finish on the official Web site (www.fultonia.com) which will include a blog to be updated daily. Along with the renovation, the project will include “green” additions such as solar panels and white foam roofing. Residents will also be given air conditioning and heating, amenties they didn’t have before, Tienken said. Fresno City Councilwoman Cynthia Sterling said the project was a good step in the redevelopment of the city. But, she added, redevelopment will take years. “Let’s get to work,” Frazier said exuberantly. |
| Last Updated on Wednesday, 20 May 2009 13:03 |
THE FULTONIA Live/Work Village Project Overview Project design and information
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. The Fultonia Live/Work Village addresses those problems by offering its residents options to rent a quality apartment in a safe and secure village environment, or they can also combine their housing needs with a place to operate their business within the same complex.
ABOUT
THE BLOG DEDICATED TO: EVERYTHING FULTONIA – The Fultonia Live/Work Village @ SOTOW project has been designed to help alleviate the shortage of low to moderate priced housing in Central Fresno by adding 39 rental apartments and 10-commercial spaces in the underserved (SOTOW) region – South of Tower & North of Downtown Fresno!
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