Fresno Council Revives South Stadium Mixed‑Use Housing Plan
On Nov. 7 the Fresno City Council gave unanimous initial approvals to The Park @ South Stadium, an eight‑story mixed‑use project at Inyo and Fulton streets south of Chukchansi Park. The updated plan enlarges the building, adds affordable units, and retains ground‑floor retail, offering a renewed push for downtown housing and pedestrian activity pending a final vote.
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The Fresno City Council took a decisive step Nov. 7 to restart a long‑stalled infill project near Chukchansi Park, granting unanimous initial approvals for The Park @ South Stadium. The eight‑story mixed‑use development, proposed for the intersection of Inyo and Fulton streets, was revised by developer Mehmet Noyan to increase the building footprint, incorporate affordable housing units and maintain retail space on the ground floor. A final council vote is still required before the project can move forward.
The action represents a policy shift toward encouraging denser residential development in the downtown core. Council members’ unanimous support for the initial approvals signals broad institutional backing for projects that aim to boost housing supply and activate street life in proximity to Fresno’s ballpark. As an infill project that has been stalled for several years, The Park @ South Stadium is being framed locally as a potential catalyst for more housing and foot traffic downtown.
Local implications are immediate and practical. The site’s location south of Chukchansi Park positions the development to capture game‑day and event foot traffic and to provide nearby housing options for residents who want to live in the urban center. Ground‑floor retail is expected to promote street‑level activity and create commercial opportunities for small businesses. The addition of affordable units in the updated plan directly addresses ongoing city policy discussions about housing affordability and equitable development in Fresno County, though details on unit counts and affordability levels were not included in the initial approvals.
Institutionally, the project will proceed through required subsequent steps before construction can begin. The initial approvals clear an important hurdle, but the final council vote, along with necessary permitting, environmental review and financing milestones, remains to be completed. Those processes will determine the timeline and contractual obligations tied to the project’s affordable housing commitments and public benefits.
The revival of this downtown plan underscores persistent tensions in urban planning between promoting density and managing neighborhood impacts such as traffic, parking and service provision. Residents, business owners and civic stakeholders will be watching the final vote and the permitting process closely to assess how the project’s design and affordability components will be enforced and integrated with broader downtown revitalization efforts.
By advancing The Park @ South Stadium to the next stage, Fresno leaders have opened a renewed avenue for downtown housing development. The outcome of the final approvals will shape not only this parcel but also the city’s strategic approach to infill, housing policy and economic activity in the years ahead.
