An aerial view of the Crossroads Village project on Blackstone Avenue in Fresno. Photo contributed

Here’s an update on a pair of affordable housing projects coming online next year in the Central Valley.

Crossroads Village renovations

Crossroads Village, formerly the 200-unit Smugglers Inn at 3737 N. Blackstone Ave. in Fresno,  is undergoing significant renovations to provide 143 units of permanent affordable housing. The property will feature eight two-story buildings and offer 53 studio units, 43 one-bedroom units, 39 two-bedroom units and eight three-bedroom units. 

The units will be available for residents at 30% or below the area median income (AMI). 

Crossroads Village will also include two live-in manager units and wraparound supportive services by the Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health.

“The County of Fresno continues to prioritize investing in affordable housing through such partnerships as the one with UPholdings and RH Community Builders, but more importantly, our Department of Behavioral Health will provide the wraparound supportive services integral to the longer-term needs of individuals and families who will be living in these permanent units,” said Supervisor Nathan Magsig, District 5.

 

Crossroads Village initially received a $15.3 million California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) Project Homekey grant in 2020 to repurpose the existing hotel units into temporary, emergency housing for people in Fresno experiencing homelessness.

In 2022, the developers received an additional $38 million from the new California Housing Accelerator Inland Region Tier 2 awards to develop the temporary units into permanent, affordable housing. Crossroads Village was the only Accelerator award recipient in the Central Valley.

Crossroads Village received additional funds from HCD, including No Place Like Home (NPLH) and Housing for Healthy California (HHC). The funding requirements called for units and on-site case management services for individuals and families with a severe mental disorder, who are experiencing chronic homelessness or who are identified as high-cost health users.

Crossroads Village is receiving 50 project-based vouchers from Fresno Housing that will be referrals through the local coordinated entry system.

Crossroads Village is expected to be open and leasing in late 2024 or early 2025.

La Joya Commons groundbreaking 

 

On October 17, the La Joya Commons official groundbreaking ceremony and unveiling of architectural renderings drew community members and leaders to Firebaugh.

The 68-unit La Joya Commons will offer one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments at 1501 Clyde Fannon Dr.

The groundbreaking hosted stakeholders including representatives from Fresno Housing, the California State Treasurer’s office, local government officials and community leaders. 

About 1,000 people are on the waiting list for La Joya Commons, projected to open in late 2024.