Fresno downtown skyline — Photo: JMora24 — CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Downtown Fresno Gets 900 New Parking Spaces as City Pushes Forward on $100 Million Development Plan
Mayor Jerry Dyer and Councilmember Miguel Arias broke ground Wednesday on a seven-story parking garage at H and Inyo streets — the latest piece in what Dyer called the largest construction push downtown Fresno has ever seen.
The 900-space garage sits across from the baseball park. Arias said it will make downtown “more affordable” for residents and visitors alike.
The city is moving ahead with $100 million in state funding that Governor Gavin Newsom approved when he signed the state budget Monday. Dyer laid out how that money will be spent: a linear park, street and road repairs, and a revolving loan fund to encourage developers to build more housing downtown.
“Investors are now willing to come in, maybe step up and continue to do some of the housing development we need,” Dyer told reporters.
Other projects already underway or in the pipeline include an eight-story building bringing 160 housing units to the end of Fulton Street, housing in the historic Helm Building, a Marriott Courtyard hotel near the Convention Center, and a proposed sports complex in Chinatown. City officials also mentioned plans for an entertainment district, a new communications center, and new police headquarters.
The Breakdown
- A seven-story, 900-space parking garage is under construction at H and Inyo streets, directly across from the baseball park.
- $100 million in state budget funds will go toward a linear park, street maintenance, and a revolving loan fund for developers building housing downtown.
- Projects underway or planned include 160 housing units on Fulton Street, housing in the Helm Building, a Marriott hotel, and discussions of a Chinatown sports complex.
What This Means for You
These projects represent decisions by the officials you elected — Mayor Dyer and the city council — about how to spend public money and shape downtown’s future. The $100 million came through the state budget Governor Newsom signed, money now committed to Fresno’s development.
The city will use part of the funding to create a revolving loan fund for developers. Dyer said the goal is to attract investors and continue housing development downtown.
What to Watch
The stated goal is to attract investors and spur development. Watch how the revolving loan fund operates once it launches, what types of housing projects receive funding, and whether the new development leads to housing options at different price points downtown.
