Grand Opening of Crossroads Village Provides 165 Housing Units
State Funding Spurs Renovation of Former Smugglers Inn to Combat Homelessness
FRESNO, Calif. – RH Community Builders, UPholdings, and the County of Fresno today announced the grand opening of Crossroads Village, a 165-unit housing project providing affordable housing for local individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Made possible by the County of Fresno and funding from the State’s ‘Homekey’ program through the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), the project included an ambitious timeline to acquire and rehabilitate the former Hotel Fresno / Smugglers Inn on Fresno’s Blackstone Corridor to give immediate housing to those experiencing homelessness and to help slow the spread of COVID-19
Originally built in 1972 and once a thriving hotel and event center, the property had been mostly vacant and in disrepair in recent years and is a prime location for investment and reinvigoration. The County of Fresno was awarded $14.8 Million through HCD’s Homekey program to acquire the property. Kaiser Permanente provided a $510,000 grant to Enterprise Community Partners to provide funding for operational costs, wraparound services, and technical assistance for the project. Located at 3737 N. Blackstone Avenue, the Crossroads Village development offers quick access to public transportation, as well as nearby grocery, pharmacy, medical, and social service providers.
From November to January, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and life safety upgrades and retrogrades were made, as well as significant beautification improvements. Property amenities now include a community green space, pool, BBQs, laundry facilities, a business center, a gated entry, and 24-hour security. The studio units include private bathrooms and showers, and a food preparation area with a hot plate, microwave and mini refrigerator. Each unit can accommodate up to two household members, and adjoining units allow for larger households to stay together.
“Through Homekey, we have added resources and support for more permanent housing within the County of Fresno. Crossroads Village will become home to 165 households that would otherwise continue in our community’s emergency shelter beds,” said Fresno County Supervisor Nathan Magsig. “These units will provide safe housing with services for over 200 individuals, placing them on a path of stable housing.”
The Vernal Group served as project architects, D. L. Batty provided general contracting services, and UPholdings and RH Community Builders are property owners and operators. The project is guaranteed to serve as affordable housing through a 10-year Homekey covenant, ensuring a long-term solution for Fresno County’s homeless population. “We know housing is absolutely critical to health, and the need for safe, stable housing has only become more urgent as we deal with the impact of COVID-19,” said Wade Nogy, senior vice president and area manager Kaiser Permanente Fresno.
Building on the success of ‘Project Roomkey’, Homekey is the next phase in the State’s response to protecting Californians experiencing homelessness who are at high risk for serious illness and are impacted by COVID-19. With swift and innovative approaches including the conversion of vacant properties, Homekey successfully utilized $846 million to rapidly purchase and subsidize more than 6,000 units across the State in less than six months. According to Governor Gavin Newsom, all 94 Homekey sites closed escrow ahead of deadline, including Crossroads Village.
“The Department of Social Services is proud to partner in this project. As the largest public entity combating poverty in the central valley we see this project as a vital link in the needed safety net to help the over 2,000 individuals who are chronically homeless. We look forward to continued partnership with Upholdings, RH Community Builders, the State of California, and philanthropy to expand the efforts to eliminate chronic homelessness,” said Delfino E. Neira, Director, Department of Social Services.
Future plans for Crossroads Village include further renovation of additional units to include full kitchen amenities and more permanent affordable housing for up to 55 years, as well as the repurposing of the former hotel lobby into a multi-use community center.
“Crossroads Village is a great example of how in a matter of months, public and private entities can join forces to provide high-quality housing for people in need while making transformational improvements in a community,” said Jessica Hoff Berzac, Co-Founder and Principal of UPholdings. “We are grateful for the partnerships that made this possible, thrilled for the local families who now have a place to live amidst a pandemic, and we are eager to see how this property will continue to develop to meet the needs of its residents and the surrounding neighborhood in years to come.”
For more information on the Crossroads Village housing development and other Homekey projects owned and operated by RH Community Builders and UPholdings in the Central Valley, please visit www.rhcommunitybuilders.com and www.upholdings.net.
ABOUT RH COMMUNITY BUILDERS RH
Community Builders is a community organization aimed at ending homelessness in the Central Valley of California through a multifaceted approach. RH Community Builders has demonstrated excellence in developing and managing high quality, affordable housing in addition to high quality services directly to individuals experiencing homelessness. RH Community Builders believes that it takes both affordable housing and supportive services to end homelessness in the Central Valley.
ABOUT UPHOLDINGS
Originally founded in 2003, UPholdings is a comprehensive real estate firm that creates, operates, and sustains the highest quality of affordable housing throughout the country. Based in Lincolnwood, Illinois with offices in Fresno, Calif. and Gary, Indiana, UPholdings is a partner for communities through its nonprofit and social service collaborations, its tenant engagement services, and its long-term asset management services. The company is deeply committed to working with the most vulnerable community members on a continuous and long-term basis and creating sustainable housing that exceeds industry standards for both quality and efficiency. UPholdings believes that everyone has a right to high quality and accessible housing, and that housing is the foundation to wellness and opportunity for both individuals and families. For more information and a complete list of projects, visit www.upholdings.net.