A rendering of the Fulton Forum project proposed by Fresno Housing, which would include up to 400 units of mixed-rate housing.

Work associated with the future Fulton Forum development has kicked off in Downtown Fresno, though development activity on the actual 400-unit project is ongoing.

During its Nov. 20 meeting, the Fresno City Council approved a plan to vacate and transfer two undeveloped pieces of public right-of-way off Tuolumne Street on Fulton Street and Van Ness Avenue. Work kicked off this week to clear trees planted on the traffic diverter along Tuolumne. 

The two vacated areas, which are a combined 27,900 square feet, are set to go to Fresno Housing. The housing authority and developer also owns the nearby CVS Pharmacy that closed in 2022 that will be demolished to make way for Fulton Forum.

While the first steps of the soon-to-be massive complex are underway, the financing package is still in the works, according to the Fresno Housing Authority.

 

“Fresno Housing continues to evaluate and assemble the financing necessary to move the Fulton Forum project forward,” Fresno Housing said in a statement. “Once the full funding structure is secured, we will be able to provide a more definitive update on the projected construction timeline. At this stage, the project remains an important component of our broader commitment to investing in Downtown Fresno and expanding quality affordable housing opportunities across the county.” 

Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer has stated in the past that his goal was to increase Downtown Fresno’s residential population from 3,000 to 10,000. 

Fulton Forum is expected to have 300-400 mixed-income units with the tallest building reaching five stories. Architect Craig Stradley from Mogavero Architects in Sacramento is leading the plans for this project.

 

 

The first phase will be Fresno Housing’s project in the CVS footprint, “The Roos” which will include 123 units, said Tyrone Roderick Williams, director of the Fresno Housing earlier this year.

The project will consist primarily of residential, retail and parking. Stradley and his team developed numerous configurations for each site and divided them into what he called two major schemes. 

Scheme 1 includes six buildings with over 300 units ranging from studio, one, two and three bedrooms. Scheme 2 will have four buildings with over 400 units. According to downtown development codes, the structures must have a minimum of three stories and must not exceed 15 stories. 

Roderick Williams noted that 80% of Fresno Housing’s funding is federal, with uncertainty surrounding those dollars. A proposed $10 billion affordable housing bond could go before voters in 2026.

In addition to Fulton Forum, the city will break ground on the 600-car North Fulton Parking Structure on Dec. 15, just down the street from Fulton Forum’s future location

The parking garage will be located near Broadway Plaza and will be used for several of the nearby businesses, including Fulton Forum. The structure will be located next to the Fresno Housing Authority office near Congo Alley.

The parking structure was approved by the city council in October 2024.