Hotel Fresno finally has residents – and there are more to come

FRESNO, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – The Hotel Fresno mixed-housing project has been in the works for the past five years and now, the hotel originally built in 1912 finally has new residents.

Previously vacant for over 40 years, the Hotel Fresno’s transformation into a housing project began five years ago with Council Member Miguel Arias.

“After five years of renovation and construction we finally have families living in Hotel Fresno,” Arias said, “we have a dozen families living in studios that have already moved in, and we’re getting new people every single day.”

Arias says the hotel is in the final stages of completion. The first floor’s open area and foyer are still being worked but all of the residential units are finished according to Arias.

The success of the Hotel Fresno’s reappropriation is just the beginning Arias says.

His most recent endeavor has been the development of the Helm Building downtown into another mixed-housing project.

“Those apartments will hopefully be done by July,” Arias said, “we’ve initiated 27 housing projects, half of them are finally reaching the area of completion this year.”

Arias says Fresno can expect a lot more people living in downtown Fresno and people of all walks of life living among one another due to the model set by the Hotel Fresno.

“We’re intentionally bringing mixed-income, mixed cultures, mixed neighborhoods, into one facility, that’s historic.”

Arias says anyone interested can call (559) 669-3643 to get connected with the local development management company running Hotel Fresno.

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