Families have already started moving into one of Fresno County’s first hotel-to-permanent-affordable-housing conversions after two years of rehabilitation.

Even in the rain, builders, social workers, and city and county officials cut the ribbon Friday on Crossroads Village, a 141-unit housing complex at Blackstone and Dakota avenues.

In the midst of COVID-19 lockdown measures, officials had to turn unsheltered people away from congregant housing. State and local leaders turned to hotels and motels to house people.

Formerly the Smuggler’s Inn and one of Fresno’s most upscale hotels in the 1970s, Crossroads Village was one of the first projects in Fresno County to receive state money for transitional housing. Shortly after, developers RH Community Builders and UpHoldings, Inc. shut the project down to rehabilitate the property.

The 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units come fully furnished for people below 30% area median income. The Fresno County Department of Social Services staff will be on site, providing counseling, therapy, benefits support, and other services.

UPHoldings co-owner Jessica Berzac said permanent housing is the first step to stability for many individuals and families.

“When a family has a place to call home, kids go to school more often,” Berzac said. “Our teachers see improved academic performance and graduation rates. When someone is out of crisis and into stable housing, we find that they’re able to pursue sobriety and recovery. And when someone is secure in housing, they actually participate in our community in an entirely different way.”

Crossroads Allows Easy Access to Transit, Shopping, Services: Wilbur

The first nine units are occupied, with many more applications being reviewed, said Katie Wilbur, executive director of RH Community Builders. The facility has to be full by April, Wilbur said.

Construction began in earnest in early 2023.

“We took every unit down to the structure, down to the bones of the property and reconfigured and redesigned to have full apartment studios,” Wilbur said. “One-bedroom, two-bedroom, and up to three-bedroom units with full kitchens, bathrooms, everything you would need to be successful in your housing units.”

Being on Blackstone Avenue also means being close to public transit, schools, and shopping.

UPHoldings and RH Community Builders secured the property with a $15.3 million grant from Project HomeKey. Total project cost, including supportive services is $83.6 million, according to the county of Fresno.

More on the Smuggler’s Inn

When Smuggler’s opened, it received a four-star rating and was popular with out-of-town visitors heading to Yosemite National Park. It also hosted business conventions.

Meanwhile, the bar and dancefloor were popular Friday and Saturday night destinations for young people looking to mingle.

However, as Fresno expanded north and Blackstone Avenue lost more of its luster, the Smuggler’s suffered as did nearby Manchester Center.

It later was renamed the Hotel Fresno and underwent a renovation in 2008 before falling into disrepair.