Quote of the Week
“It is going to allow the residents of La Hacienda to have affordable housing at that location, that is guaranteed.”
— Mayor Jerry Dyer on the city pitching in $3.5 million to help Visalia developer Self Help Enterprises purchase the beleaguered northeast Fresno mobile home park.
This Week in Fresnoland
Good news for a troubled mobile home park?
The Fresno City Council agreed this week to pitch in about $3.5 million to help Visalia affordable housing developer Self-Help Enterprises purchase La Hacienda Mobile Estates after years of fighting with the current owners. But whether the owner’s recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection filing will affect the potential sale remained unclear Friday, Fresnoland’s Pablo Orihuela reported.
“We’ve had a long-time challenge with the mobile home park,” Mayor Jerry Dyer said. “This provides a long-term solution with Self-Help Enterprises purchasing the property thanks to a subsidy that we’re able to provide of $3.5 million towards this project. It is going to allow the residents of La Hacienda to have affordable housing at that location, that is guaranteed.”
Five things we learned from Fresnoland’s investigation into Valley Children’s Hospital
When public outcry flared in March over CEO Todd Suntrapak’s compensation package, Fresnoland began digging deeper into Valley Children’s Hospital’s finances. Turns out there was more to the story. Millions more, Fresnoland’s Omar Shaikh Rashad reported.
Valley Children’s Hospital enriched itself more than ever before during the pandemic: profits, executive pay, federal funding and the hospital’s financial investment portfolio reached record-highs.
Yet, the hospital’s direct community investment — required of nonprofit hospitals and inclusive of everything from subsidized care to affordable housing — remained stagnant over the last decade.
The fight over where the next sprawl community should go
A simultaneous lawsuit and ongoing negotiations between Fresno city and county underscore the region’s transition as both entities vie for control over where the next sprawl development should be placed, Fresnoland’s Gregory Weaver reported.
“The General Plan has the ability to cause environmental harm by way of contributing to and increasing land subsidence in and around the City, as well as sources of the City’s water,” the city wrote. “The mitigation measures identified by the County are aspirational and not enforceable.”
Did the Fresno Planning Commission violate state housing policy?
Neighbors staunchly oppose an 82-unit apartment project in northwest Fresno, but the developer suggests the city might be legally required to approve it, Fresnoland’s Rob Parsons reported.
In a letter dated May 22 to Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, a LandValue Management executive slammed the Planning Commission’s May 15 rejection, saying the project remains “100% compliant with current zoning and all land use requirements.”
The company also suggested the commission’s ruling could violate California’s Housing Accountability Act.
Tower committee decides to eliminate industrial zoning
South Tower community advocates celebrated a significant victory recently after a key advisory committee recommended the City of Fresno eliminate industrial zoning in two key areas of one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods. However, it remains unclear whether the Fresno City Council will agree to the controversial change, Fresnoland’s Pablo Orihuela reported.
Several business interests, including Producers Dairy, had urged the committee to retain industrial zoning in the Tower District Specific Plan.
Councilmember Annalisa Perea, who represents a portion of the Tower District, said she sees the abandoned Central Valley Cheese factory building as an opportunity for the community, and hopes to find a solution that works best for the owner and the neighboring community.
“It’s important that we strike a balance between bolstering our economy while still mitigating impacts on surrounding neighbors,” she told Fresnoland.
Outside the Lines
Researchers recently climbed General Sherman, the world’s largest tree, searching for evidence of the emerging threat of bark beetles to giant trees in Sequoia National Park. When the climbers came down from the 2,200-year-old tree, they brought good news with them. KVPR
Disgraced crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried will serve at least some of his prison time in Fresno County. Wall Street Journal
Assemblymember Vince Fong is poised to replace Kevin McCarthy in the House of Representatives, where he’ll provide an immediate boost to Republicans who are clinging to a razor-thin majority. KVPR
The Fresno County grand jury found the county has been poorly managing its $1.4 billion real estate portfolio and the cemetery district. Issues include a lack of consistent data, Brown Act violations, and overworked staff. Fresnoland
UC Merced lecturers are speaking out on what they say are pay disparities that frequently see teaching assistants receiving higher pay than the lecturers they’re hired to assist. The Fresno Bee
The Fresno County Board of Supervisors this week increased fines for illegal dumping and added new provisions allowing county authorities to impound vehicles connected to illegal dumpings. Fresnoland
This summer, we’re launching our first-ever podcast at Fresnoland – and we’re looking to work with a local musician or composer to build our theme music. We’re looking for local musicians to help us compose a short, 20 second opening jingle for the podcast. The winning submission will receive a $250 stipend and credits on our site. Fresnoland
Block Beat
FRIANT: For the first time in more than 20 years, Fresno County broke ground this week on a new fire station in the Friant area, as a new exurb in Millerton New Town has grown. ABC30
DOWNTOWN: The city council greenlit the first step towards building a new 900-stall parking structure near Chukchansi Park at their meeting Thursday. Fresnoland
MANCHESTER: It’s been about seven years since a popular and historic carousel was dismantled at Fresno’s Manchester Mall, but new owners of the recently purchased property say the carousel remains safely tucked away in storage. The Fresno Bee
SANGER: Jon Smith Subs, a popular Florida-based chain, recently opened its first shop locally.From classics like the Cuban sandwich to originals served with “swamp sauce,” the new spot near Highway 180 and McCall Avenue offers something for everyone. The Fresno Bee
FASHION FAIR: Seoul Meat Company, a small but popular chain of Korean barbeque restaurants, will soon open at Fresno’s Fashion Fair Mall. ABC30
DOWNTOWN: The City of Fresno will spend APRA dollars to add new string lights to the Brewery District in downtown Fresno. Several parking meters will be relocated, and sidewalk repairs will be necessary in some areas during the roughly four-week project. “The addition of lights will help transform the brewery district and give that vibrant nightlife look to an area that is growing in popularity,” Mayor Jerry Dyer said in a brief statement this week.
FRESNO HIGH WEST: This is the last weekend to visit Lucky’s Donut House on Shields and West Avenues before they close on May 27. The shop is being evicted as the property owners have plans to build a new gas station on the site. ABC30
Department of New Construction
MAYFAIR: A development permit is under review for a Hmong mini market on East Olive Avenue, east of the 168 freeway.
HIGHWAY CITY: A conditional use permit is under review for multiple tenants vying for space in a 126,723 square-foot warehouse on West Shaw Avenue between Brawley and Marty avenues. One tenant is Chuze Fitness, which is applying for 40,000 square feet of space. Kids Empire is applying for just over 12,000 square feet.
SOUTH TOWER: Kiel Lopez-Schmidt of the South Tower Land Trust filed a development permit on behalf of the business Color Me Chula to build a new ADA ramp in order to make the entrances to two existing businesses on Olive Avenue, east of Roosevelt Avenue, more accessible.
RIVER PARK: Representatives for Paris Baguette have filed a zone clearance application for the demolition of interior office space for conversion into a cafe with serving, dining and kitchen areas in the shopping center off of Blackstone and Nees avenues.
MURAL DISTRICT: Divisadero Prime submitted documents regarding a CEQA exemption for the affordable housing project they’re planning to build on Divisadero and H Streets. The developer received $1 million from Fresno’s Encampment Resolution Funding Program to help complete the project.
Around Town
As summer temperatures are upon us, good news – the city’s splash pads will be opening for the season beginning next Saturday, May 25. They’ll be open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The Fresno County Fruit Trail has arrived! If you needed an excuse to take a meandering tour through the magical backroads of eastern Fresno County, here’s your sign. Visit the Fruit Trail Map to plan your adventures here.
The African American Historical & Cultural Museum of the San Joaquin Valley invites the public to an opening ceremony for Juneteenth 2024 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 13 at the museum, 1857 Fulton St.
A new initiative, called Facing Fresno, hopes to spark conversations about the impact of racism in Fresno through historical analysis of policy, place, and people on June 20th at the Manchester Center. Enjoy food, drinks, activities, and a conversation with changemakers within the Central Valley. RSVP with Fresno DRIVE
CMAC invites you to participate in Crowdsourced Cinema, a creative challenge that brings community members together to remake a feature-length film. This year, local filmmakers will collaborate to remake scenes from the the 90s classic family film “Home Alone.” You do not need to be a CMAC member to participate. You can work alone or as part of a team. Everyone who signs up will be randomly assigned a 1-3 minute scene from the movie. We will provide you with a video clip of your scene and the written script. Completed scenes are due in September. LEARN MORE
The Fresno Rainbow Pride & Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 1 at various locations around the Tower District and Fresno City College.
Rainbow Family Day at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 8.
June 22 is Diversity & Inclusion Night at Chukchansi Park in downtown Fresno. Watch the Grizzlies take on the Stockton Ports at 6:50 p.m.
