Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Blackstone Avenue Housing Proposal Faces Criticism
Randy-Reed-Image
By Randy Reed, Operations Manager
Published 6 years ago on
November 9, 2017

Share

A $38 million affordable housing project proposed for Blackstone and McKinley is drawing skepticism from Fresno City Councilmember Steve Brandau.
The publicly funded project envisions two multi-story apartment buildings at a three-acre site near Fresno City College. The ground floor of each building would be reserved for retail and other uses, including a possible Senior Center.
While Brandau supports affordable housing for lower-income residents, he says the price tag to taxpayers for the 88 unit development is too high.
“If you do the math, you quickly see that’s about $435,000 per apartment unit. That just doesn’t make sense to me.” At that cost, Brandau says, “we could buy them a house in Northwest Fresno and buy them a car and a motorcycle and a year’s worth of groceries. So, this is not a great use of the taxpayers’ money.”
The city’s redevelopment agency is proposing the project in collaboration with a group of housing investors. The agency’s staff report says the development aligns with the city’s general plan which encourages infill and promotes greater housing density along the city’s transit corridors.
The proposed apartment complex is located along one of the city’s busiest streets where future Bus Rapid Transit stops are planned.
Brandau ultimately blames burdensome state regulations for the high cost of the proposed development.
“Realistically, I’d love to see a nice apartment complex here where (residents) could go out on Blackstone, grab a bus and go anywhere they want,” he said. “At face value, the concept is good. But the amount of money for this thing is prohibitive for the taxpayer,” Brandau continued. “We’re not getting enough bang for the buck.”
City Council members are scheduled to vote on the proposal at Thursday’s meeting.
Update: During today’s meeting, Council President Olivier announced that this item has been rescheduled and will now be heard on December 7. GV Wire will continue to follow developments.

DON'T MISS

Cronenworth’s Big Hit Helps Lift the Padres to a 6-4 Win Over Melvin’s Giants

DON'T MISS

Shohei Ohtani Reaches 3 Times in Home Debut as the Dodgers Rout the Cardinals 7-1

DON'T MISS

Facebook News Tab Will Soon Be Unavailable as Meta Scales Back News and Political Content

DON'T MISS

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Rises to More Records to Close Out Its Latest Winning Month

DON'T MISS

A Fresno County First: Kerman Council Passes Amended Gaza Cease-Fire Resolution

DON'T MISS

UN Top Court Orders Israel to Open More Land Crossings for Aid into Gaza

DON'T MISS

How Involved Is Southern California Consulting Firm in FUSD Executive Dealings?

DON'T MISS

Biden’s Fundraiser with Obama and Clinton Nets a Record $25 Million, His Campaign Says

DON'T MISS

Fresno Unified’s Self-Protection Racket Is Hurting Our Kids

DON'T MISS

Rockin’ Out or Laughing, the Valley Has Its Pick of Weekend Events

No data was found

Facebook News Tab Will Soon Be Unavailable as Meta Scales Back News and Political Content

3 hours ago

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Rises to More Records to Close Out Its Latest Winning Month

3 hours ago

A Fresno County First: Kerman Council Passes Amended Gaza Cease-Fire Resolution

4 hours ago

UN Top Court Orders Israel to Open More Land Crossings for Aid into Gaza

4 hours ago

How Involved Is Southern California Consulting Firm in FUSD Executive Dealings?

4 hours ago

Biden’s Fundraiser with Obama and Clinton Nets a Record $25 Million, His Campaign Says

5 hours ago

Fresno Unified’s Self-Protection Racket Is Hurting Our Kids

5 hours ago

Rockin’ Out or Laughing, the Valley Has Its Pick of Weekend Events

6 hours ago

Ex-Correctional Officer at Women’s Prison in California Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Inmates

8 hours ago

Caitlin Clark and Iowa Draw Nearly 5 Million Viewers for Second-Round NCAA Win

8 hours ago

PGA HOPE at Riverside Golf Course Introduces Military Veterans to the Game

PGA HOPE, now underway at Fresno’s Riverside Golf Course, is designed to introduce golf to veterans and active duty military members t...

2 hours ago

PGA HOPE at Fresno's Riverside Golf Course
2 hours ago

PGA HOPE at Riverside Golf Course Introduces Military Veterans to the Game

3 hours ago

Cronenworth’s Big Hit Helps Lift the Padres to a 6-4 Win Over Melvin’s Giants

3 hours ago

Shohei Ohtani Reaches 3 Times in Home Debut as the Dodgers Rout the Cardinals 7-1

3 hours ago

Facebook News Tab Will Soon Be Unavailable as Meta Scales Back News and Political Content

3 hours ago

Stock Market Today: Wall Street Rises to More Records to Close Out Its Latest Winning Month

4 hours ago

A Fresno County First: Kerman Council Passes Amended Gaza Cease-Fire Resolution

4 hours ago

UN Top Court Orders Israel to Open More Land Crossings for Aid into Gaza

4 hours ago

How Involved Is Southern California Consulting Firm in FUSD Executive Dealings?

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend