I have never actually heard of Fresno being called that, although I have heard it being referred to as the "Asshole" or "Armpit" of California, which may be a more accurate description. As a matter of fact the San Joaquin valley which Fresno is in is the 3rd worse area of California to live in, as shown here:

Worst Places to live in California:

3. San Joaquin Valley (Fresno / Bakersfield)

2. Anywhere south of LA (Orange County / San Diego)

1. Riverside and San Bernardino Counties

That being said, I spent about 15 minutes driving around downtown Fresno, which is 16 minutes too many to be in that city. Here are the results...

The industrial district south of downtown:
http://people.ucsc.edu/~ehellen/pictures/fresno1.JPG

Quit whining you pussies, this is nothing:
http://people.ucsc.edu/~ehellen/pictures/fresno2.JPG

Heading downtown:
http://people.ucsc.edu/~ehellen/pictures/fresno3.JPG

http://people.ucsc.edu/~ehellen/pictures/fresno4.JPG

http://people.ucsc.edu/~ehellen/pictures/fresno5.JPG

http://people.ucsc.edu/~ehellen/pictures/fresno6.JPG

http://people.ucsc.edu/~ehellen/pictures/fresno7.JPG

http://people.ucsc.edu/~ehellen/pictures/fresno8.JPG

http://people.ucsc.edu/~ehellen/pictures/fresno9.JPG

Leaving downtown:
http://people.ucsc.edu/~ehellen/pictures/fresno0.JPG

Thanks for sharing some pics.

It looks deserted, but it does have 2 nice looking buildings. I wouldn't want to live in the Valley anyways, maybe Sac, but that's it. What made you drive around Fresno? The place doesn't look very interesting.

Since when is San Diego even Considerd as being a bad place to live???

Fresno is a hellhole compared to us!

I want to know were you got this "information".

San Diego a bad place to live. :|

Since when is San Diego even Considerd as being a bad place to live???

Fresno is a hellhole compared to us!

I want to know were you got this "information".

I agree

I don't really like Fresno that much because it's an eyesore, not many green space, ulgy buildings, dead, and the list goes on. I have been there few times.

Fresno needs to re create their city, also it's the GATEWAY to Sequoia and King Canyon National parks. IN sign language I call it Fresno the same way we sign "dead", with letter F.

Since when is San Diego even Considerd as being a bad place to live???

Fresno is a hellhole compared to us!

I want to know were you got this "information".

Well, That's Yakumoto's opinion.

Don't worry about him but I love San Diego and OC. :D Just ignore him if you don't like his comment.

My friends live in Fresno, they actually like it a lot. Except in the Summer, all summer, Every summer, they are down in San Diego to escape from the extreme heat.

What is the driving industry of Fresno? Population?

A coworker of mine who was originally from Sacramento was transferred to Fresno, and apparently he didn't like it all too much, if moving across the country was any indication. I've never heard him say a good thing about the place.

http://www.csufresno.edu/catoffice/archives/0203/fresno4.jpg
http://www.2b-safe.org/Fresno.jpg
http://www.fresnobee.com/images/air/air1.jpg
http://www.fresnobee.com/images/air/air4.jpg
http://www.fresnobee.com/images/air/air26.jpg
http://www.1000friendsoffresno.org/images/dfc015.jpg
http://www.1000friendsoffresno.org/images/dfc014.jpg
http://www.newvalleytimes.com/portals/a3b9423a-a947-4cf6-980e-e413551988b6/13_lg_c.jpg
Magazine Picks Fresno as a ‘Top 10 City’
By Doug Henton and Alan H. Pierrot, M.D.

Fresno’s decade-long transformation has been noticed by the editors of Moneynews magazine, which listed the city in its annual ranking of the “Top 10 Cities to Live in America.” Word of the first-time honor spread quickly following the release of the list yesterday.

“The announcement was a welcome interruption to our planning meeting,” said Marcus Johnson, chairman of the Olympics in Fresno 2028 Committee. “Our cheers were so loud, you’d have thought Fresno had just landed the Olympics.”

The Moneynews honor comes only weeks after Fresno County received the prestigious Peter Drucker Award for Community Innovation.

“We’re on quite a roll, but we’ve earned it,” said Clovis mayor Rosellen Natian. “Our region has accomplished so much in the past decade that we are inspiring change in communities all over the world.”

Fresno mayor Luisa De La Cruz said she was not surprised by the Moneynews ranking. “Many people said we could never make the Top 10 list because it so heavily weights environmental factors such as clean air,” noted De La Cruz. “But we’ve worked hard to improve issues like air quality, education, our economy and our self-confidence. I think people underestimated what a community can accomplish when it commits.”

De La Cruz cited citizen activism, public-private partnership, innovation, persistence and a new approach to self-governance as key reasons for Fresno’s turnaround.

This month’s Moneynews names Fresno at one of the Top 10 Cities to live in America and chronicles the rise of our town.

Household income, home prices and the reduction of crime are just a few of the quality of life indicators reviewed by Moneynews magazine for their "Top 10 Cities to Live in America" ranking.

The extraordinary revitalization of Fresno's Downtown symbolizes the community's transformation.

‘Like night and day’
The Fresno of 2015 is a far cry from the Fresno of 2003. “The difference is like night and day,” De La Cruz said.

History supports the mayor’s conclusion. In 2003, the Fresno area was beset with serious problems including severe unemployment, deeply rooted poverty, underperforming schools, declining per capita income and the worst air quality in the country. Some of the region’s most vocal detractors were its very own citizens.

“Then something happened,” Natian said. “People saw what could happen by embracing the principles of stewardship — of putting community interest over self interest — and working in new, collaborative ways to solve problems.”

Moneynews noted this collaborative spirit in its profile of Fresno. “The city’s mind-set has shifted from ‘it can’t happen here’ to ‘it must happen here’ — a shift that has energized its citizens and brought about new levels of cooperation between government, business and the nonprofit sector,” the article reads.

Community involvement was key
According to De La Cruz, an important step in Fresno’s turnaround was the 2002 establishment of the Fresno Area Collaborative Regional Initiative (CRI) — a community partnership and action plan that involved leaders from business, government, nonprofit and faith-based sectors.

“CRI engaged leaders in a long-term process that addressed the economy, environment and equity in a more integrated way,” De La Cruz said.

Next, the community developed and adopted a set of values to identify the standards and expectations of the many community stewards and task forces contributing to the area’s transformation. Organizations that chose to participate in the community improvement effort were asked to sign on to this values statement, which focused on truth telling, fact-based decision-making, asset-based thinking, power parity, commitment to outcomes, boundary crossing, collaboration and regional stewardship.

The collaborative approach enjoyed some early successes, which quickly multiplied as area residents bought into the belief that the Fresno region could be a model for innovative thinking. Small successes soon led to significant steps toward dealing with critical issues concerning the poverty, the economy, the local workforce and overall quality of life.

Lessons learned
Downtown Association president Scott Riley believes communities across the nation and around the world can learn from Fresno’s experience.

“There are at least six key lessons that should be studied by every community serious about transforming itself,” Riley said. “These aren’t necessarily new ideas, just new ways of utilizing proven principles on a region-wide basis.”

The first lesson? Persistence, Riley said.

“Fresno leaders never gave up, even when unemployment was rising, air quality was declining, crime was increasing and naysayers held sway,” he said.

Riley said business leaders provided a solid example during the transformation by helping the community look at issues objectively and organizing regional leadership.

He also cited inclusion as a key component of Fresno’s transition, as leaders emerged from many diverse sectors to unite the community behind vital initiatives.

“None of this would have happened without collaboration,” Riley said. “Once people understood the importance of crossing boundaries and working together, Fresno’s success suddenly seemed within reach.”

Riley said innovation was another important lesson learned, as Fresno became what he described as “an incubator of new civic and social ideas based on collaboration.”

Lastly, Riley cited the region’s commitment to outcomes as a reason for its successful transformation. “Leaders got the area to commit to measurable outcomes and introduced a scorekeeping mechanism that held business, government, nonprofit and faith-based sectors accountable for producing results,” he said.

Sunny long-term forecast
De La Cruz acknowledges that it is difficult for any community to sustain momentum for change, but believes the Fresno area is well-equipped to meet that challenge.

“That’s because we’re addressing more than just symptoms, but dealing with the root causes of our problems,” the mayor said. “This has led to a long-term commitment and a spirit of stewardship that will benefit Fresno well into the future.”

While proud of her city’s Top 10 ranking in Moneynews, De La Cruz says the honor belongs to the thousands of citizens who came together and committed to a common vision for community innovation.

“They are the reason Fresno is one of America’s best places to live and work, and an example of what citizens can accomplish when they commit to a plan of sustained, collaborative regional improvement,” De La Cruz said.


FOR MORE INFO:
Fresno Area Collaborative Regional
Initiative (CRI) www.fresnocri.org

Fresno a top 10 city, that magazine/writer is on crack. Unlike Fresno, Sacramento is making significant improvements to its downtown and we have some nice neighorhoods(midtown, east sac) Kind of makes us the NYC of the valley.

Olympics in Fresno in 2028??? IMO, there's no way in the world Fresno will host the Olympics before San Francisco, San Diego, and Sacramento.

Well, That's Yakumoto's opinion.

Don't worry about him but I love San Diego and OC. :D Just ignore him if you don't like his comment.

Oh Good then. I was wondering were that came from...I knew it couldn't have been from a credible source when you factor everything San Diego has to offer :)

And that sounds like a future not likely for Fresno. More like Sacramento in 5 years, and San Diego right now.

Olympics in Fresno in 2028??? IMO, there's no way in the world Fresno will host the Olympics before San Francisco, San Diego, and Sacramento.

Yeah. And like pistola said, that magazine writer is on crack.

I'm not a big fan of Fresno, but I have to defend it because this is only a very small part of the city. The last I heard was Fresno city population was in approx. 450,000, and the metro around 800,000. Yes downtown is much to be desired. It has a lot of potential, but the civic leaders aren't doing a good job at marketing it. Just north of this area is the Tower District, and its has this sort of funky college, Berkeley/San Francisco coolness to it. IMO this is probably the most interesting as far as historic charm within the city. The neighborhoods are leafy and there are plenty of trees. A little further north of the Tower District is the Old Fig Garden neighborhood. To me it looks like something out of a wealthy Long Island New York community. As you head further north, this is where most of the middle-class live. The majority of the area is new, and very suburban. I wouldn't say its great since most of us like urban neighborhoods. Yet if you're into this type of living, its not really that bad. I have to admit my friends neighborhood of Woodward Lakes is quite nice. Not for me, but its very comfortable with lake front homes and docks where you can keep a boat. There area green spaces, bike lanes and a nature trail that leads to a huge beautiful city park (Woodward Park). You can also ride your bike in the other direction over to the river. If I remember correctly you can also ride up to Lake Millerton (spelling?). Nearby you have access to skiing (45 mins), Bass Lake, beautiful rolling hills , and two national parks. Also there is the coast (Monterey) 2 1/2 hours away for a day trip.

All I have to say is don't be fooled into thinking Fresno is some dump. Its much nicer than the little you see in those photos. For what it's worth, River Park isn't all that bad either. Its a huge entertainment/retail/movie outdoor complex that attracts crowds from many of the nearby cities. This is on the city's trendy northside in the Woodward Park area. The bad thing is this place continues to expand, and is taking away from rebuilding its downtown. Most of the middle-class have no reason to head downtown since everything is right in their backyard. So really about the only thing they head downtown for is a baseball game at the fairly recent built stadium. They also go down to the Selland Area to see college basketball, and to the Opera.

Btw I lived in Fresno for 5 years, moved there from Chicago. Most transplants will tell you it takes a while to get used to after living in a big city. I wasn't crazy about the city, but as time passed I began to make the best of it. I think after you settle in and make friends, most places can be okay. I do miss the winters in Fresno as they are mostly dreary and dark. Some of the thickest fog you'll encounter anywhere in the USA. The one thing I never got used to was the summers. It was way too hot (not as bad or dry as Phoenix or Las Vegas) but relief was close by at the coast. In fact the temps over at the coast was quite an extreme. It was kind of weird as Fresno could be 100F, and Monterey was at 55 degree which was only 2 to 1/2 hours away. Anyway the rest of the seasons are very comfortable, and great for outdoor activity. Anyway thats my two cents regarding the city.

I would just add that IMO Stockton is probably the ugly duckling of all the valley cities of comparable size. That place is just ghetto, but seem much more urban than the others.

I would like to see other, better pictures of Fresno. Many of the pictures shown in this thread are a little deceiving, I know nice parts exist.

I would like to see other, better pictures of Fresno. Many of the pictures shown in this thread are a little deceiving, I know nice parts exist.

This wasn't a tour of the whole city, it was some pictures of downtown. I love how people think they can get an accurate feel for a city by looking at a few pictures.

The Fresno of 2015 is a far cry from the Fresno of 2003. “The difference is like night and day,” De La Cruz said.

What the hell is wrong with this forum...

One thing I've heard about Fresno is that it has a very strong (unusually strong) relationship with its primary university (Fresno State). Is this true and how influencial has CSUF been in the city's recent growth and development? Has the dynamic of the growing city and an aggressive university put Fresno State into a position different from the other CSU's, maybe evening making it more like one of the UC's?

I don't how strong the relationship but it for a city this large you can see it was a close relationship. It's not your typical small town college atmosphere, but at the same time it is a college town. There are a lot of young people in this city, and its also very diverse. I see the the as having a great future if only the civic leaders would have a better plan. Hey its in California with great weather most of the year, although can be chilly and dreary in the winter. Yet the area has so much to do outdoors year round. Its not a bad city, but as many other growing cities in the USA, its suffers from sprawl. Lets just hope they get their act together, and do some smart planning.

On a side note, the city has entertained the thought of light rail. Who knows perhaps it may become a reality, but I'm sure its many years away.

This wasn't a tour of the whole city, it was some pictures of downtown. I love how people think they can get an accurate feel for a city by looking at a few pictures.


I realize this 110%, that's why I made my comment. Once again, I stated how I would like to see more pictures of Fresno. I definitely wasn't basing any ideas off what was minimally (and negatively) presented. If other people were making presumptive statements in regard to Fresno via the pictures posted, then well, that's their issue ...

More fresno LOL.. Sorry I can say first hand it is a horrible place since I have to work there sometimes and stay overnight. I even have a friend there and she can't wait until the time comes to leave.

http://www.cckw.com/photos/Fresno/Lot1.jpg

http://www.vernalgroup.com/images/Producers-Fresno%20Bee.jpg

http://www.downtownfresno.org/gallery/gallery2/Picture-001.jpg

http://www.downtownfresno.org/gallery/gallery3/Picture-003.jpg

ok ok ok ok...... I'll say it and if you don't like to hear it then sue me. FRESNO is a FINE town. As a valley grown boy I know. My cities get bad raps but don't knock what you don't know. Fidda represent!! Fresno You KNow!!! lololol


oh btw, ChrisLA has the most valid point in this thread. those pics are a very small portion of the true Fresno. Which, the town btw, would probably be considered "nice" in any other area besides Cali.

oh, and I forgot to mention. Yakumoto why are you hatin anyways? Santa Cruz is like the Fresno of beach towns.

lol

Everyone seems to bash Fresno. In fact, all the valley towns seems to be considered shitholes. I have seen a ton of negative comments on Bakersfield and Stockton as well.

Is this because of their location in California, where some world renowned places exist along the coast? Or is Fresno shitty compared to just about anywhere?

Are Fresno or Bakersfield really any worse than places like Columbia, Baton Rouge, Fort Wayne, Springfield, Shreveport or Little Rock?

Or are they just insulted because they don't meet the standards of snobs living in places like San Diego, San Francisco or Orange County?

Just wondering.

^ NO. and thats my point. Compared to those places cities like Fresno and Bakersfield may even be considered 'fancy'. but in californian standards they are below avergage.

Everyone seems to bash Fresno. In fact, all the valley towns seems to be considered shitholes. I have seen a ton of negative comments on Bakersfield and Stockton as well.

Sacramento sure isn't a shithole and it's in the valley. In fact, DT Sac has well over a dozen towers under construction or proposed. Few over 600ft many/most over 400ft. Not trying to troll or anything but for Fresno, the city is probably to blame.

It isn't just going to happen. Fresno city has to make these things happen. When Fresno starts cleaning up their city, and encouraging redevelopment downtown, then my views will change.

Is this because of their location in California, where some world renowned places exist along the coast? Or is Fresno shitty compared to just about anywhere?

Or are they just insulted because they don't meet the standards of snobs living in places like San Diego, San Francisco or Orange County?


Let's be honest. There are a lot of world class places in California. It is a very unique state. But then again, what is the city of Fresno trying to do to change it? For Stockton, it can no longer be considered a negative city because they did something. They completely redeveloped the waterfront, added an arena and ballpark, and now condo towers are coming. This development will carry over to new developments and Stockton will be a great place to live.

Sacramento is really just a growd up Fresno.




;)

Everyone seems to bash Fresno. In fact, all the valley towns seems to be considered shitholes. I have seen a ton of negative comments on Bakersfield and Stockton as well.

Is this because of their location in California, where some world renowned places exist along the coast? Or is Fresno shitty compared to just about anywhere?

Are Fresno or Bakersfield really any worse than places like Columbia, Baton Rouge, Fort Wayne, Springfield, Shreveport or Little Rock?

Or are they just insulted because they don't meet the standards of snobs living in places like San Diego, San Francisco or Orange County?

Just wondering.

Man, Fresno is alot more nicer than St. Louis, Buffalo, Miami and even Atlanta. It's did suprassed Atlanta in long years ago. Fresno seems alright for me to live there but it's better than most of cities in South.

Flagship, people don't like the valley because its miserable to live in for half the year. And look at my first post to understand my feelings on places like san diego and orange county.

FRESNO is a FINE town. As a valley grown boy I know.

Everyone I know from the valley feels the same way about it as I do. I'm guessing your in a minority.

Santa Cruz is like the Fresno of beach towns

Santa cruz does what other cities only dream of; It has deteriorated infrastructure, high crime, lousy schools, and yet, its more expensive to live here than in Newport Beach! We're obviously doing something right.


ChrisLA has the most valid point in this thread. those pics are a very small portion of the true Fresno.

Honestly, what the fuck is wrong with this forum. In case no one noticed...its "SKYSCRAPER-city.com" not "LOWRISE APARTMENT-city.com" or "SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED-city.com". Any asshole can go to a real-estate website to see pictures of that sort of thing.

Sacramento is really just a growd up Fresno.
;)

True, but so can be said of any other city. Even LA was like Fresno probably at some time. But they moved on many many years ago.

Flagship, people don't like the valley because its miserable to live in for half the year. And look at my first post to understand my feelings on places like san diego and orange county.



Everyone I know from the valley feels the same way about it as I do. I'm guessing your in a minority.



Santa cruz does what other cities only dream of; It has deteriorated infrastructure, high crime, lousy schools, and yet, its more expensive to live here than in Newport Beach! We're obviously doing something right.




Honestly, what the fuck is wrong with this forum. In case no one noticed...its "SKYSCRAPER-city.com" not "LOWRISE APARTMENT-city.com" or "SINGLE FAMILY DETACHED-city.com". Any asshole can go to a real-estate website to see pictures of that sort of thing.



dude chill.


what the fuck is wrong with you. either two things. you have to resort to degrading a town you see as inferior to your own just to make yourself feel good or you just don't know what the fuck your talking about.


I think it's the latter case. If you ask me. :cheers:

http://www.capsweb.org/main.html

The bay is best and thats all I gots to say.


http://www.rsf-clan.com/dailybread5/Golden_Gate_B-sunset.jpg

http://www.rsf-clan.com/dailybread5/transamerica_sf1.jpg

http://www.rsf-clan.com/dailybread5/sanjo_bitches.jpg
My own pic :)

Yeah, cause SJ is a real good example the BA's best. :lol:

:nuts:

who gives a shit, it looks better than Oakland and I wanted something other than a third SF pic.

Yeah, cause SJ is a real good example the BA's best. :lol:

:nuts:

WHAT!?!? San Jose is gods gift to mankind!! Its like a modern day Rome!!

Well, I must admit, San Francisco does rule this world! :D

San Jose isnt a city full of talls but that doesnt mean it isnt worthy of photos.

I like how they are the warm and sunny side of the bay with the palm trees and stuff, and then you go up to SF and you have the opposite.


*the bay area rules, got bits of everything.*

who gives a shit, it looks better than Oakland and I wanted something other than a third SF pic.
Oakland is much better that San Jose for its size, but I guess San Jose is doing a lot of improvements to change that.

Excellent pics. Not everyday we come by some Fresno photos. Thanks.

I don't think San D is a bad place at all if you ask me. ;)

http://www.splinemotion.com/images/news/spano.jpg

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/cae/images/FresnoCH.jpg

http://www.pre-cast.org/images/photos/tower-fresno-6.jpg

http://www.metalhomedigest.com/images5-04/fresno%20copy.jpg

http://www.arthurerickson.com/images/buildings/fresno6.jpg

http://www.chi-athenaeum.org/archawards/2006/2006photos/fresno_metro_mus.jpg

http://www.fresnostatenews.com/2002/June/scince2%20copy.jpg

http://www.fresnostatenews.com/2005/01/FresnoStateLibraryConceptColor.jpg

http://ctsurgery.stanford.edu/images/SAMCFront_Flowers.jpg

http://k55.nu.edu/resources/NU/stock/locationPhotos/fresno.jpg

shopping @ riverpark
http://filelibrary.myaasite.com/Content/25/25027/17859875.jpg

http://www.vivohome.com/images/hero-sm.jpg



theres sum ugly parts of Fresno, but Fresno also has some nice parts... new constructions and proposed projects are gaining momentum in the city

Trump swings a deal
Developer signs $30m agreement to buy Running Horse project.
By George Hostetter and Jeff St. John / The Fresno Bee
07/17/07 04:14:05
Related Conten

#A key phase in the high-profile battle over the bankrupt Running Horse golf and residential project ended Monday when billionaire developer Donald Trump agreed to buy the southwest Fresno eyesore for $30 million.
By signing the purchase agreement in the late morning, Trump ushered in a new phase that figures to be even more compelling than his two-month effort to strike a bargain with project owner Mick Evans. The two have wrestled publicly in a drama that has seen repeated offers and tentative deals unravel amid angry rhetoric.
Next up: seeing whether the deal passes muster with bankruptcy Judge W. Richard Lee and an estimated 300 Running Horse creditors.
On the horizon: getting City Hall to deliver on a list of construction incentives and convincing southwest Fresno to embrace a development that promises to dramatically change the economics and politics of a historic area.
In the not-too-distant future: hustling to prepare the golf course in time for a possible 2008 PGA Tour event and preparing Fresno for a Trump vision that might include 1,000 million-dollar homes and even a downtown Trump hotel.
But all that is weeks, months, perhaps in some cases years down the road. On Monday, key players in the Running Horse saga were content to take a break, however brief, and savor a negotiating triumph.
"It's a great day for the city of Fresno," said Mayor Alan Autry at a City Hall news conference announcing the deal, adding that a thriving Running Horse will spur development in a part of Fresno that long has been overlooked by local developers.
Running Horse owner Mick Evans, who signed the agreement several days ago, thanked Autry for helping energize last week's stalled talks: "I think the city and the Trump and the Running Horse teams have come a long way in the last eight weeks. ... I look forward to moving this forward."
Trump said in a statement provided by his New York lawyer, Michael Cohen, that he plans to turn the project and its home city "into something that the world will talk about."
And the world won't be calling it Running Horse. How does "Trump National Golf Course Fresno" sound? That's the name Trump used in his statement.
Agreement details were sparse: $30 million cash; unlike previous proposals, there would be no sharing of profits once development starts; $1 million deposit due today; another $1 million deposit due in early August.
Running Horse lawyer Harry Pascuzzi said the Evans team probably will file a document this week with the bankruptcy court explaining the agreement. That will set in motion a nearly monthlong period to contact all creditors about the deal, after which Lee will hold a hearing on the agreement.
If Lee approves the agreement, Pascuzzi said, a bidding period will begin during which other groups or investors may try to top Trump's offer. The entire process should take about 45 days, Pascuzzi said.
The Trump team has until the end of July to complete its research of the deal, and could walk away from it during those two weeks and get its deposit back, Pascuzzi said.
Ultimately, any sale of Running Horse must get Lee's approval.
But if joy was a prominent theme at City Hall on Monday, so was caution. As Evans acknowledged, $30 million will repay many creditors, but not all.
Running Horse was supposed to have 780 expensive homes and a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course on about 420 acres. But original developer Tom O'Meara ran into money problems last year and construction stopped. Only two holes have been finished and no homes on the course have been built.
The PGA Tour also scheduled a $4.5 million, 72-hole tournament at Running Horse for October, but the event was moved to Florida when the project ran out of cash. Evans has said a Tour event is important to the project's success, and Tour officials have said they would love to come back to Fresno if a qualified course can be secured.
O'Meara sold Running Horse to Evans in March, who turned around and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection about a month later. The project's debt has been estimated at $65 million to $70 million and Evans' Manteca-based golf-course construction company is one of the creditors, with a claim of about $9 million.
Among the creditors are investors who mortgaged their homes to buy into the Running Horse promise and middle-class couples who spent their life savings to secure home lots.
Kent Northcross, head of a seven-member unsecured creditors committee, said Monday he didn't think much of Trump's latest offer.
"We certainly pray that there's a better deal than that," he said.
Northcross wouldn't discuss any potential bidders besides Trump, though he said he thought others would emerge.
"We don't know if this will be his final offer or not," he said.
Northcross said the unsecured creditors committee might take action in the bankruptcy case to try to block a $30 million sale.
"We'll get to that road later," he said. "I just hope everything comes out well for Fresno, well for the project and well for the people that have invested their life savings into this project from the very beginning."
Trump and Evans had come close several weeks ago to a $40 million deal -- $25 million cash, $15 million in profits after development began. The deal crashed when both sides couldn't agree on the definition of profits.
Evans on Monday said he had sought a minimum $30 million cash sale from the start of negotiations with Trump, saying it was a fair amount to take to a bankruptcy judge. He said $30 million cash is a better deal for creditors because it doesn't depend on future profits.
"We hope someone comes in and bids $50 million," Evans said. "We don't see that happening."
The Trump-Evans negotiations marked a unique chapter in Fresno real estate history. It's not often a seemingly dry and legalistic struggle over control of what is now little more than a mile-and-a-half-long, weed-choked hole captures the attention of a city of 500,000 people.
That a fair amount of negotiations took place in the media and involved some old-fashioned name-calling may have helped focus public attention.
"It's a type of negotiation I've never seen before," Council President Henry T. Perea said at Monday's news conference. "But whatever happened, it worked."
But as Autry noted after the news conference, the Trump project's fate now depends on the hard work of securing government consensus and marshaling public support for what appears to be a breath-taking vision.
The mayor didn't add the word "expensive," but it's understood.
For example, at a recent meeting with Fresno developers, Trump lawyer Cohen said his boss wants to enlist their help in building 1,000 homes -- 4,000 to 10,000 square feet in size -- selling for $1 million or more.
And City Manager Andy Souza on Monday said Trump is showing considerable interest in building a downtown hotel [/B on vacant city property at the corner of M and Inyo streets. Souza said talks are too early to make public the scope of Trump's idea, but city officials have had high hopes for this site for years. In 2005, City Hall considered borrowing nearly $90 million to build a city-owned, 400-room hotel on that corner.
These are visions that bring big smiles to City Hall officials.
"Is [the Trump deal] the silver bullet that's going to solve all our problems?" Council Member Jerry Duncan said. "No, it's not. But I'll tell you what: It's going to make a big difference in the image of our city."


[B]If Trump really wants a downtown hotel, will it become the cities tallest??

"Soul" of California. I don't think so.

Fresno belongs in Texas.

"Soul" of California. I don't think so.

Fresno belongs in Texas.

and Bakersfield too!

Is Central Valley, California transforming into “Solar Valley”


Fresno Considering Nuclear Power Plant
By Nancy Osborne
12/13/2006 - Despite a moratorium on the buidling of nuclear power plants in California, a group of Fresno business and farming interests is exploring just that: building a nuclear power plant.

The Fresno Nuclear Energy Group is convinced that nuclear power is the answer to California and the nation's dependency on foreign oil. They took the first step in a plan to build a nuclear power plant in Fresno County on Wednesday.
There are only two nuclear plants operating in California today. San Onofre in southern California and Diablo Canyon near San Luis Obispo. Incidentally, that's also where a cooling pump exploded on Tuesday, leading to a precautionary emergency shut-down of one of the two reactors. There was no radiation release in the incident.
John Hutson, Fresno Nuclear Energy Group, says, "We intend to be progressive and agressive with whether or not this will work."
Wednesday morning, the newly formed Fresno Nuclear Energy Group announced plans to explore building a community-owned nuclear plant and acknowleged that safety concerns will be the first hurdle. Hutson says, "We're not concerned with what San Francisco says, we're concerned with the citizens of Fresno."
They will launch an information campaign with a public event in February featuring Greenpeace co-founder Patrick Moore who wrote in the Washington Post this year, "Nuclear energy may just be the energy source that can save our planet from another possible disaster - catastrophic climate change."
California's nuclear plants account for about 14.5% of the total amount of energy generated in the state. In 1976, the state banned building new ones until the federal government that licences them solves the problem of getting rid of the radioactive spent fuel.
Jim Costa, (D) Fresno says, "There is no silver bullet and all sources of energy should be part of the equation to address the problem." Fresno Congressman Jim Costa believes a nuclear plant in Fresno is worth study, but is facing Califorania's ban on them despite the industry's decades of safe operation across the country." He says, "I want to sit down with the parties and look at the numbers and see if it really makes sense."
The partnership includes prominent figures in the Fresno business and farming communities who recognize the uphill battle for state and local approval they are facing. Hutson says, "How we influence the legislature and the other citizens of California, I think that's a little premature. We first have to make sure it's safe enough and that it will work here."
The proposed nuclear plant for Fresno would operate a pair of 1,600 mega-watt reactors needing as much as 10 million gallons of water to cool them. It would come from the million gallons of grey water produced at Fresno's Waste Water Treatment Plant.




Fresno Gets World's Largest Solar Farm

Ecnmag.com - July 10, 2007
Energy News: Cleantech America is planning the world's largest solar farm, at 640 acres, for completion in 2011 in Fresno, California. At 80 megawatts, that would dwarf the current largest solar farms in the 4-5 megawatt range. "We're pretty confident that solar farms on this scale are going to have an industry-changing impact... This scale of project, I think, creates a tipping point for renewable energy," Cleantech CEO Bill Barnes said.





WorldWater Breaks Ground for Country's Largest Airport Solar System at Fresno Yosemite International
Thursday July 12, 3:00 pm ET


2-Megawatt, $16 Million Dollar Project Projected to Provide 40% of Airport's Annual Power


FRESNO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp. (OTC BB:WWAT.OB - News; formerly WorldWater & Power Corp.), developer and marketer of proprietary high-power solar systems, today held an official groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a large scale solar electric system at Fresno Yosemite International Airport. The 2-megawatt installation is scheduled for completion by early 2008 and will be operated by WorldWater under a 20-year power-purchase contract awarded by the Fresno City Council. It is the largest solar project at any airport in the United States.



At the ceremony, Russ Widmar, Fresno Aviation Director said, "This is an exciting day for an airport that prides itself as a leader in technology. Our new solar system should save the airport about $13 million dollars over the next 20 years as well as help protect the environment with a major renewable energy source."
Frank W. Smith, WorldWater's Chief Operating Officer also commented, "Solar is the ideal power solution for airports. Approximately five acres of raised solar panels will not only provide electricity but shade for rental car lots. An additional 20 acres of ground mounted photovoltaic arrays were approved by the FAA for installation in a portion of the airport's approach zone where occupied structures are not allowed, so otherwise unused real estate becomes a valuable asset."
Quentin T. Kelly, Chairman and CEO of WorldWater & Solar Technologies Corp. commented on the event from the company's headquarters in New Jersey. "This is an important milestone for solar in the United States and reflects our strengths as a company. We can design and build large scale, technologically efficient systems on fast-track schedules under power purchase agreements that require no out-of-pocket cost for the customer. The customer saves substantially on long term electric costs and we manage the system. It's a formula for success!"
Fresno Yosemite International Airport is the major air transportation center for the City of Fresno and the San Joaquin Valley region. In 2006, it connected over 1.2 million passengers to destination throughout the United States as well as to Mexico



For now, it's a city only in his eyes
He's never built a thing, but W. Quay Hays aims to turn 12,000 acres of San Joaquin Valley dirt into a model municipality.By Gary Polakovic
Times Staff Writer

March 26, 2007

Standing in an empty field in southern Kings County facing the horizon, W. Quay Hays enthusiastically surveys the land — stark and featureless except for two newly planted redwood trees.

This desolate patch of San Joaquin Valley real estate along Interstate 5 is the spot Hays has chosen to pursue his vision for a new city: a utopia of 150,000 people living in a solar-powered, self-contained community rising from the dirt flats about 50 miles north of Bakersfield.

"This is perfect," says Hays, a Pacific Palisades entrepreneur turned developer. "It's halfway between two world-class cities in San Francisco and Los Angeles. It's beside a major highway, it has power lines, and the land" is cheap.

Even in a state built on big development dreams, Hays' proposed Quay Valley Ranch project boggles the mind. It would be built from scratch on 12,000 acres stretching about five miles along the interstate, just north of the Kern County line.

About 50,000 houses and condominiums would be constructed in a village-like matrix with parks, offices and retail centers, and anchored by four "town centers." Houses would be equipped with "smart technology" and new energy-efficient building materials.

No one would pay electric bills because solar power — including three 100-acre solar arrays — would produce 600 megawatts of power, enough to supply the city and export power to Pacific Gas & Electric Co. for use elsewhere in California.

People could commute to jobs via water taxi, plying a 300-foot-wide stream meandering about eight miles through groves and neighborhoods. The community would include a theme park, a convention center, a racetrack, an auto mall, industrial land, farms, houses, schools and a medical center.

Hays' Kings County Ventures LLC submitted a development application in October and plans to deliver a more detailed proposal next month. The project would be built in phases over 25 years, financed largely by commercial and residential developers working as partners and paying as they go.

Costs could reach $25 billion. Hays said building could begin as early as next year, though officials say that seems ambitious for such a large-scale project that is likely to face strong opposition from environmentalists and others concerned about increased traffic and pollution in the smoggy valley.

Carol Whiteside, president of the Great Valley Center, a think tank in Modesto, said such massive "leapfrog" development would only create more sprawl in the San Joaquin Valley, expected to grow from 4 million residents today to more than 5.4 million in 2025. She said new development should be concentrated in or near metropolitan areas, such as Fresno and Bakersfield.

"The issue for the valley is, what's the strategy for growth? Are we going to build in existing cities or make new cities?" Whiteside said. "We try to do everything at once, we get stalled and the result is we get lots of suburban cities and not much sustaining economic center."

But Hays is undeterred. He says that what he wants to create is different, a self-sufficient and environmentally sensitive city, one that manages its own water, provides its own electricity and generates its own jobs.

"I want to see if we can reinvent the way development is done," Hays says. "If we can, we will blaze a path for everyone who comes after us. A town like this has to happen in California."

*

Challenges loom

Much of California and the West is built on grandiose dreams of outsized development. Hays is just the latest visionary.

In Southern California, Los Angeles-area growth is increasingly spreading north into canyon lands, over the Tehachapi Mountains and into the San Joaquin Valley. Each of those projects has drawn intense opposition from environmentalists.

Newhall Land and Farming Co.'s plan to build a 20,000-home development north of Santa Clarita was stalled by a lawsuit over water rights and other issues. The company has modified its plan, won some court battles and plans to begin building the first phase in 2009.

Farther north, on Tejon Ranch, 23,000 new homes are proposed for a new town called Centennial, near the junction of I-5 and California 138. An additional 3,450 estate homes and a resort and golf course called Tejon Mountain Village are planned near Lebec. Environmentalists argue that the two projects imperil wilderness and the California condor, an endangered species.

John M. Quigley, director of the Housing and Urban Policy program at UC Berkeley, said the task of building a new city is daunting. He said such projects are rare and tend to work when sustained by abundant natural resources or when built next to existing urban centers.

"There was a time about 25 years ago when a lot of attention was paid to building new cities in the United States, but most of them did not succeed," Quigley said. "It's difficult to pull off because the logistical and coordination aspects are enormous and the capital costs are huge. If I were an investor, I'd look at this very carefully."

One of the biggest challenges facing Quay Valley Ranch is providing enough water to sustain a new city.

Mike Nordstrom, a Corcoran-based attorney hired to examine water supply issues for the ranch project, said it would require about 22,000 to 25,000 acre-feet of water annually. (An acre-foot is 325,821 gallons, roughly enough water to supply two families for a year.) He said water rights for at least that amount are available from the adjoining Liberty Ranch farm, which Kings County Ventures has secured the option to purchase.

He said streams and reservoirs created in the community would allow flexibility to meet water demands. The developers say conservation measures, including the use of large solar panels to shield ponds and reduce evaporation, would result in 66% less water consumption than in a typical similar-sized community.

To accomplish his vision, Hays has hired an impressive team of managers and consultants, including Jonathan Kieswetter, a partner in Kings County Ventures and president of Orange County real estate finance company Grace Capital Group; master planner Ken Brindley, who was on the team that built the Orange County planned community of Rancho Santa Margarita; and Vince Barabba, former director of the U.S. Census Bureau and head of corporate strategy for General Motors.

Hays and his team have received a favorable reception in Kings County. If the project is completed, it will double the current population of about 143,000.

County planning director Bill Zumwalt said his office has hired four new contractors to help review the massive project. The proposal is so new that it's too early to answer questions about potential environmental effects, Zumwalt said.

"We're talking about going from nothing to a new city," he said. "It's very challenging."

Certainly, Quay Valley Ranch would offer amenities that Kings County officials desire.

Other than farming, the county has three state prisons and Chemical Waste Management Inc.'s hazardous-waste site near Kettleman Hills. The unemployment rate hovers at 8.3%, nearly twice the statewide average.

Kettleman Hills — population 1,400 — is the nearest town, about two miles west of where Quay Valley Ranch would be built. It's a pit stop on I-5, and a few of the people walking in and out of the town post office recently said they were excited about Hays' project.

Maurice D'Souza, 58, a gas station manager who lives near Kettleman Hills, gestured to the vast emptiness of the valley and said: "Look at this. There's no life, it's the end of civilization. I think [Quay Valley Ranch] is great. It will be good for business."

Hays said Kings County Ventures has reached an agreement with Arizona-based RED Development Inc. to build a 1.8-million-square-foot open-air mall at Quay Valley Ranch. The developers are also talking with Cal State Fresno about building a satellite campus or research center.

Once the project gets the green light, Hays said, it will be easier to attract businesses and industries.

But Whiteside, of the Great Valley Center, is unconvinced. Sustaining a vision and long-term financing for such an ambitious project will be extremely difficult, she said.

What kind of community is left if the money runs out? Or if developers tire of the project and move on?

"If the vision fades away, we get subdivisions without jobs and incomplete neighborhoods," Whiteside said. "It happens all the time."

*

I guess I can throw in my two cents here. I lived in Visalia, Hanford and Lemoore from 96-00. I don't much care for the downtown area of Fresno. But I do like north of the city in Clovis. Beautiful green part of the city. Other than that, it has a come a long way. I visited not too long ago to see The Save-Mart Center, the Grizzlies stadium and the overall development. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed.

I do have a question for a Fresno or Valley resident. Is Fashion Fair still really orange and ugly? I always preferred Manchester Center to it. Just wondering.

At Fresno Fashion Fair, an 87,000 square foot lifestyle center expansion to the existing mall continues on schedule, it says.
The first section, which included The Cheesecake Factory, opened in December. Completion of the balance of the project is expected in summer 2006.
New tenants in the expansion include Anthropologie, Bebe, Bebe Sport, Cheesecake Factory, Chico's, Fleming's Steakhouse, Lucky Brand Jeans and Sephora. Currently, over 95% of this new space is committed



The mall has recently been expanded, but the mall is still orange, but the new expansion is better looking that the old part of the mall...

Thanks for the update. How about the downtown/outdoor mall? I never went. But my neighbor did.

and Bakersfield too!
No, just Bakersfield. Fresno is nothing near that.

Thanks for the update. How about the downtown/outdoor mall? I never went. But my neighbor did.

the downtown outdoor mall is still open, but no expansion or remodeling, its still the same. I think its the country's 1st outdoor mall, so it pretty old. Ive rarely gone there, n it looks kind of ugly, but its nice to walk around..Theres been a proposal for another outdoor mall/lifestyle center in a larger mixed-use development in downtown called South Stadium Project which covers 85 acres in the heart of downtown, its being proposed by Forest City Corp. but its been quite a while that i havent heard about the progress of the project...

^^ Yeah, a bunch of those projects were proposed when I was there. I remember how long it took to finally get the ballpark approved. They fought for years over that. I hope it works out for Fresno though! You guys deserve it.

Here's something interesting for you Central Valley residents. Fresno #92, not too bad:

http://www.policom.com/metrorank.htm

Fresno #92...not bad for fresno...but hopefully it can become better...

Wow, #191 in 2004, #143 in '05, #109 in '06. and #92 in '07. That is a jump basically over 100 cities within four years.

Being a resident of the Fresno area(Fresno/Clovis) for over 20 years, I know what Fresno looks like, what it is, and where it is going. It has had(and still having) such a huge boom in high-end retail and real estate development just over these past few years. There are many projects under construction and in proposal including; The theme park(with roller coasters) at Granite park currently under construction, Forest City's $400,000,000 proposal for a project downtown, and Donald Trump's "Running Horse" golf course, plus much much more.

Those ugly pics of Fresno are a crock. Yes there are still areas that exist like that(not as much as just a few years ago), but there are areas that are just as worse if not worse in all the cities listed as "better" than Fresno by everyone in here.

Fresno is actually a great place to live, I love it here. I know(and always meet) people who moved here either for work or school, and when they have the opportunity to move back home, they don't, because they like it here.

I see Fresno as the next "City of Opportunity," and so do all the people investing billions into it. The city is making huge change and for once, its people are actually going with it. There is so much potential here it's nuts. I can't wait to see it blow past everyone else, and I gauruntee you, it will.

-Chris

ps,
I am going to take some pics of Fresno/Clovis within the next few weeks. I will post them on here ASAP.

A development firm with exclusive negotiating rights to develop parts of downtown Fresno outlined an updated vision for the area during a meeting with the city council today.

In its Redevelopment Agency session, the council unanimously approved an extension of the negotiating agreement so Forest City could do environmental studies and finalize its financial projections.
Forest City Enterprises, which has been working on a master planned community in downtown Fresno for two years, presented to the city council their latest vision on the region bounded by the Union Pacific railroad and Fresno Street, and Van Ness Avenue and Freeway 41. Their plans now center on residential development; namely, building 767 dwelling units within six blocks, said Katherine Perez, vice president of development for Forest City Residential West, Inc She dubbed the first phase "The Six-Pack." The phase would require a #19.72 million investment to complete, of which she said the public would need to contribute $12 million.

But she said it was fairly certain that the investment would make a return.

"The project is big. The scale is big. We boil it down into three predictable phases," Perez told the city council in the afternoon session of their regular meeting.The first phase, while focusing on living space, would include building a parking structure that could also accommodate downtown visitors, she said. The city would classify the zone as "mixed-use" so that 60,000 square feet of retail space would be available.

The second phase would see a multi-plex cinema built that would show first-run movies.

The third phase would focus on retail but also be mixed use, and would include the south-most region of the area they are proposing to develop.

Suzanne Bertz-Rosa, a member of Creative Fresno who attended the meeting to voice her support for the project, said that the latest information about Forest City's plans were very exciting.

Bertz-Rosa's positive reaction was shared by the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Corporation serving Fresno County as well during the meeting. She suggested that all the stakeholders think creatively about coming up with the money to make it happen. (Earlier, self-described economist David Wills said Forest City was asking the city to risk too much in the project and advocated spending tax dollars on the industrial sector.)

"So many aspects of this are about the things that Creative Fresno has been fighting for," she said. "This project really has me excited... We can finance this in a lot of ways."

The only thing that gave her pause were initial proposals that centered on bringing a "big box store with a parking lot around it," she said.

Forest City originally proposed building a retail district in downtown Fresno two years ago, when rumors circulated that Bass Pro would become the anchor tenant. Kevin Ratner, president of the residential company within the Forest City firm and member of its owning family, said after listening to Fresno residents, the company decided to shift the project from commercial- to residential-focused. Forest City Development California, which was established in this state 35 years ago, is working closely with the Fresno Redevelopment Agency, which is responsible for converting blighted areas of the city into economically sustainable ones in Fresno. The city council is the board of the RDA and its meetings are held within the city council meetings. Councilwoman Cynthia Sterling is its chair and Marlene Murphy is the executive director.

Councilmember Jerry Duncan said he had never been more excited about a project and issued a statement for members of the next generation of city leaders: "Our generation really screwed up downtown Fresno. We ignored it, abandoned it. What we're doing today is taking that first step, and the future will not be ours, it will be yours. It's the young people who are moving downtown, and so this is really about the youth of our city... We're sorry we screwed it up and we're looking forward to you fixing it for us.:)

Thanks for all the updates CentralCali19.

:)

Here are some pics of Fresno I found on Flickr.com. These are not my pics, but I plan on taking some very soon. There were way too many pics to choose from, but this is just a small amount. To see more, go to
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mister_goleta
and
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jazzportraits/sets/1067743/

-Chris

Hopefully these all come up...

Downtown
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/73/203150938_e4032b013a.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/76/203158945_4555ee61e7.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/51/161208984_5ca8d7172a.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/58/161208988_d8270f6785.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/73/159036741_42cf95d39a.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/16/19592146_6aebcaf9d6.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/66/159519579_5d9b897a28.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/163/425388885_5b6a6c9e0f.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/77/167882163_a82035afc4.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/62/167882162_813b92181b.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/24/49148112_a43bb008ac.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/45/135508574_b6dfffed48.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/62/225717631_5b445f8f77.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/79/224701849_ab7c155d48.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/93/249912838_662fd969e9.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/82/249207531_1b6da15b91.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/91/249882844_f3d697a56c.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/109/269315832_daff205266.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/166/380730362_7c4b2ce853.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/143/380771201_829146a585.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/154/382007997_dc906d6ae6.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/225/500960915_1deb07a47d.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/204/502249249_0231122a8b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1312/534835753_4d40202e5b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2368/1535542932_12503ad699.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/63/159036745_8e644e1583.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/51/184901031_62f039f64b.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/53/184901032_062be50122.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/51/184903213_60427a954f.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/44/184951094_f41fa4f591.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/54/183890147_510677b011.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/76/161193608_5b832fdb70.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/74/161216722_399b7e831c.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/56/161216721_018c8bebe3.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/58/184998379_87bf08cb97.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1250/539293783_8af306f10e.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1274/707434675_4456757ab7.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1362/1403581306_814f86b034.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2077/1543962946_57592f183f.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2420/2019154673_dbb705894b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2127/2040733712_9dd21739b3.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/25/184954314_2baa80e628.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/70/184952627_d7517bdccd.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/48/185011506_74e29fa155.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/9/185011507_c437aa67a9.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/44/185011508_99a054c289.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/78/196539382_514cf298b2.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/61/196560341_7ed124708c.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/58/196549436_e01b7ea712.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/75/196572289_df93b0f29d.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/77/196578335_0230197f58.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/63/196578334_9b5e889e0d.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/72/196582040_e6d14a0ccb.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/97/207502845_3d44680abd.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/98/220403579_cf6fae71f5.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/148/363905832_bcef233446.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/147/396062368_e69895c7a8.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/153/396062281_d081316770.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/228/478732793_77c6ea4a79.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1029/603379894_3064d760e0.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1049/1352517703_7747405ebc.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1275/752579406_c9c59e3fce.jpg
http://l.yimg.com/www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gif
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/47/112240222_2216ad057b.jpg
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/46/144764757_7fe434346a.jpg

Thank 4 da pics Guitar_drummer87.:applause:....ive always liked city hall..looks pretty modern, do u know who was the architect?

Thanks. Some of those pics look like they could've been taken right out of a San Fran or Chicago. Not sure who the architect was, all I know is that it was the Des Moines city hall on the movie "Puppet Master," haha. I'll look around for the arch.

http://www.rkgphotography.com/images/local/Fresno%20City%20Hall.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/76/Fresno_City_Hall.JPG/250px-Fresno_City_Hall.JPG

The design for Fresno City Hall creates a landmark structure for that city. The 190,000 square foot building will be the northern focus of the twelve-block Mariposa Mall. This central civic zone is the site for a large courthouse, a library, and State and Federal buildings. This solution will anchor and frame this family of institutions with a gently rising pyramidal roof which is split at its apex to allow light into the Council Chambers. A gradually lowered plaza completes the Mall. Shaded by trees and cooled by fountains, this terrace and performance space is contiguous to a cafe on the ground level and, by symmetrically arranged staircases, is accessible from the main lobby on the second floor.

Fresno City Hall is organized internally around a high lobby space which offers views back down the Mall, provides a reference location for departments on the upper floors, and gathers those using the directly-accessed Council Chambers itself. The roof is cut on axis with the Mall. Built of ribbed stainless steel, green glass, and limestone paving, Fresno City Hall is intended as a civil and elegant monument for a progressive city, acting both as needed governmental office space and a forum for public events. Designed by Arthur Charles Erickson in 1987, built in 1991 at a cost of $28 million...

Erickson's Other Projects Around the World:

http://billmacewen.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/1153.jpg

http://media.canada.com/2de3e3f6-b472-4835-9142-3ead50913788/ritz-carlton.jpg

http://www.mauriciovives.com/siggraph03/center2.jpg

http://angstorm.com/sdcon2004/san-diego-convention-center-1a.jpg

http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/etisalat/etisalatv5.jpg

http://vanscrapers.tripod.com/macmillan1.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/127/323583602_dd79ff2be4.jpg

http://kollectif.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/ericksonposterrlc.jpg

http://www.haeblerconstruction.com/images/project_pics/Mixed_use/waterfall.jpg

:)

THANKS CC19! I have always thought that a few modern looking high-rises placed in the background of city hall would look quite nice.

What do you think of the new Federal Courthouse? Personally, I think it is very blan, and was not surprised. Could have been much better. I love the Tower at the Convention Center. But, I wish they would've cut it lengthwise (east to west) a bit and just made it like 2/3 taller.

I need to learn how to use my CAD software, i have too many ideas for buildings just floating around. Would somebody just give me a billion dollars already?

What part of the Valley are you from CC?

If you haven't already, I would suggest picking up the Dec '07 copy of Fresno Magazine. There is a big article on Downtown, and a nice 3D layout of what has been built and what is planned. The Armenian Town towers are going to own. Have any info on that?

http://www.splinemotion.com/images/news/spano.jpg



This looks like a really cool building. What is it and has it been built yet?

6 story office building for Spano Development. The structure will be located in North Fresno on the bluffs overlooking the San Joaquin River. I don't believe it has been built yet.

How about some Miami style Apartments/Condos in the Woodward area or along the river and bluffs?

6 story office building for Spano Development. The structure will be located in North Fresno on the bluffs overlooking the San Joaquin River. I don't believe it has been built yet.
Thanks!

fresno has beautiful architecture!!!!:okay:

THANKS CC19! I have always thought that a few modern looking high-rises placed in the background of city hall would look quite nice.

What do you think of the new Federal Courthouse? Personally, I think it is very blan, and was not surprised. Could have been much better. I love the Tower at the Convention Center. But, I wish they would've cut it lengthwise (east to west) a bit and just made it like 2/3 taller.

I need to learn how to use my CAD software, i have too many ideas for buildings just floating around. Would somebody just give me a billion dollars already?

What part of the Valley are you from CC?



http://www.fresno.gov/NR/rdonlyres/08C7E58F-8584-4986-950F-173E72F3A1EB/0/PLDTFederalCourthouse.jpg

The Courthouse is pretty bland, dull, and just ugly..it could of been an iconic tower for Fresno, but the architect didn't do a good job.

http://www.grubb-ellis.com/services/iig/images/tower2.jpg

The Tower At The Convention Center is way better than the courthouse, and your right , it would of been better to shorten the length(east to west), which the building sits on 2.5 acres, and extend it upward rather than outward.

Ive tried CAD and ArchiCAD, both are great programs, but ArchiCAD is better:) i also have many ideas , but the only thing i need is $$$:D Im from Hanford.......i would like to see a high-rise right behind city hall with the same roof type, it would kiss ass.!!! :cheers:

I have TurboCad Deluxe.

Yeah the court house (puke), it has two wings, like 7 or 8 stories each? Even with its current architecture, it wouldve looked much better if both side were to just be stacked on top of each other. 14 floors?

Lol, yeah, I need money too.

Are you only familiar with the goings on in downtown? There is a building, still in the framing process, near woodward park. They have 4 completely framed floors and a stair case leading to the 5th and 6th. Looks like it may even go taller, donno though. I have looked around for some info but have found nothing.

I have TurboCad Deluxe.

Yeah the court house (puke), it has two wings, like 7 or 8 stories each? Even with its current architecture, it wouldve looked much better if both side were to just be stacked on top of each other. 14 floors?

Lol, yeah, I need money too.

Are you only familiar with the goings on in downtown? There is a building, still in the framing process, near woodward park. They have 4 completely framed floors and a stair case leading to the 5th and 6th. Looks like it may even go taller, donno though. I have looked around for some info but have found nothing.

i would like to have a CAD program at home, ive had CAD program classes in college. I think it has 9 floors, which reaches 225 ft. tall, so those court rooms are pretty tall (approx. 25 ft tall each floors?)... I disliked the facade of the building, bad choice of color...looks pretty cheap, even though it cost more than $100 million...but as u can see other new federal courthouses there almost all the same pale brown color, i like L.A.'s new courthouse!:) ill look into that building under-construction...

This is the Golden Loop II building near completion in the Woodward district. 6 story office complex. Short and fat, could've easily been at least 10 floors.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/2164630856_a0c913c879.jpg
The other building that is in the framing process is just across the street.


I just started a new thread for the Central Valley.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=564741

Anyone familar with Fresno can answer my question please.

I will be driving up to Fresno after work on Wednesday morning and visiting some friends for a few days. I would like to know if there are any spots with some height where I can take some pictures looking over the city???

I lived in Fresno for 5 years, but wasn't really checking out places to get any photos. Hopefully there are some spots, buildings, parking garages, etc where you won't get harassed.

Dang, I wish I would've seen that post a few days ago. Owen's Mountain is 1500ft and is only about 4 miles north of the Clovis city limits, great view when the air is clear, but it has been foggy almost everyday lately, we just had a lot of rain... There are many views of the valley if you drive up Auberry Road or the 168 into the mountains. Looks so awesome at night.

Sorry for the late info. lol

Chris

http://media.fresnobee.com/smedia/2008/01/29/23/736-336-library.standalone.prod_affiliate.8.JPG


Fresno County checks out plans for new $139 million library
By Brad Branan / The Fresno Bee
01/29/08 22:58:38

#Fresno County's librarian unveiled plans Tuesday for a new $139 million central library in downtown Fresno and another 33 smaller libraries to serve the county's long-term needs.
The Fresno County Public Library has commissioned a poll to measure public support for library construction, county librarian Karen Bosch Cobb told the Board of Supervisors.
The board will consider the poll results before deciding whether to ask voters to support financing for new libraries, possibly as early as November. Bonds, a sales tax and development fees are among the funding options.
County residents already are paying for Measure B -- an eighth-of-a-penny sales tax first enacted in 1998 that helps renovate older library branches, buy more books and increase library hours. Measure B money has been used to plan new libraries, but can't be used to build them, Bosch Cobb said.
Bosch Cobb didn't have cost estimates for the 33 smaller libraries called for in a facilities master plan that projects needs through 2020. Of those, 23 would replace existing libraries, while another 10 would go in communities without a library, including an undefined Clovis location, and the unincorporated towns of Del Rey and Miramonte.
Depending on the poll results, she will make a more detailed proposal to the board in March or April, she said.
Most of Tuesday's presentation focused on the proposal for a new central library, which would replace the one built downtown in 1959.
The existing central library doesn't have enough space, she said. Under current plans, the existing library building would become the county law library once a new central library is built.
Although the new central library was proposed in 2002, supervisors got their first look Tuesday at conceptual drawings for the proposed five-story building.
Plans call for the central library to take up a city block downtown, bounded by Fulton, Calaveras, Broadway and San Joaquin streets. The block currently has a collection of buildings and parking lots on it.
Supervisors offered general support for a new central library, but added that they're concerned about the cost of parking. The proposal calls for $35 million for a parking structure with two underground levels.
Some supervisors said they want the city of Fresno to build parking for the library. Supervisor Henry Perea said he will meet with elected city officials about working together on the project.
Another question is whether voters will support library spending in the current state of the economy.
But some supervisors noted that it was smart for the library to prepare now for future building needs, regardless of the current economy. They also said residents have shown strong support for the library in the past.
"There's a lot of momentum," Supervisor Susan Anderson said. "People love the libraries."

http://media.fresnobee.com/smedia/2008/01/28/22/596-BIZ_SPCL_TRANSIT_VILLAGE.standalone.prod_affiliate.8.JPG

'Transit village' points path to the future

Fresno and Valley must move to denser urban development.
01/30/08 00:00:00
Plans for Fresno's first "transit village" are a promising look at what the future holds -- or should hold -- for urban development in the Valley.
The concept unites several needs: Increasing reliance on mass transit to reduce air pollution and congestion, multi-story residential development instead of single-story, single-family sprawl, and denser populations to create economic viability for light rail or other transit alternatives.
The project now proposed would occupy part of the site of the old Elks Lodge on Kings Canyon Road at Willow Avenue. It would include 129 apartments for seniors, a public park and a big transfer depot for Fresno Area Express buses, perhaps similar to existing hubs at Manchester Center and Courthouse Park.
The apartments and other structures would be built using "green" technology such as solar panels to generate electricity and solar-powered water heaters.
The depot wouldn't be just any old bus stop. Plans include an indoor waiting lounge, space for bus drivers on breaks, vending machines and public restrooms. An area would be provided where patrons could lock up bicycles before boarding their buses.
Such transit-oriented development is under way in many cities; Fresno is a little late to the game. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't proceed with all due speed. Air quality issues and the need to conserve precious farm lands in the Valley compel us to change the habits of previous decades by shifting from our car-oriented culture to one that offers alternatives, both in transportation and in housing.
Nor is this sort of development limited in its attraction to senior citizens. There are many young people -- single or childless couples, young professionals, artists -- who would prefer such a lifestyle. They are fueling the growing demand for such housing downtown, for instance.
It's called urban living, and it hasn't been practiced much for many years hereabouts. Now more than ever we need such opportunities in Fresno and the other cities of the Valley. Our population growth continues to outpace that in the rest of the state, and we can't accommodate all those newcomers with the old patterns of planning and development.
We applaud those who've come up with this innovative concept -- for Fresno -- and hope to see it replicated across the city and the region.


IT TAKES A TRANSIT VILLAGE

Proposed southeast Fresno site would offer senior housing and transportation.
By Sanford Nax / The Fresno Bee
01/28/08 21:58:26

#An innovative development proposal in southeast Fresno could help reduce two problems facing many senior citizens -- insufficient transportation and unaffordable housing.
The city's first "transit village" would, if funding is approved, contain 129 senior apartments, a park and a large bus transfer depot on 5.5 acres the city bought last year from Fresno Unified School District.
The school district bought the former Elks Lodge site near Kings Canyon Road and Willow Avenue in 1993, didn't use it all and declared the remainder surplus property. City officials saw it as the perfect site for an environmentally friendly development that incorporates a mix of uses.
"This is the most complex and likely to be the most intensified project we've done," said Michael Sigala, the city's housing and community development manager. "There is a lot on that 5 acres."
With access to seven bus routes, seniors and others will be able to travel throughout the metropolitan area. The apartments also would be across the street from Wal-Mart.
The property is along Kings Canyon Road, considered a main thoroughfare in southeast Fresno and likely to be the path of the city's first bus rapid transit, speeding up service in that area, said John Downs, planning division manager for Fresno Area Express.
Downs said the former Elks Lodge property was ideal for what he hopes is the first of several transit villages.
"We knew that corridor would be an important corridor. We knew the city's general plan focuses growth in that area. We knew, demographically, the folks living in that area are likely to be transit users, and we ran across a piece of property that gave us the opportunity to do it," he said.
Funding would come from a variety of sources, including tax-credit programs administered by the state. The developer, ROEM Development Corp. of San Jose, should know within five months if the financing has been approved, said Jonathan Emami, the company's vice president.
Representatives of ROEM and the city will hold a community meeting Wednesday to gather comments and suggestions from the public.
"We need community input as we refine the development proposal," Sigala said. "We need to know if we are on the right track."
As proposed, the transit village would be a mixture of Mediterranean and Craftsmen-style design with two buildings containing three and four stories of housing. The bus depot would include a lounge for people to sit indoors, offices for bus drivers on breaks, a room to lock bicycles, a bank of vending machines and public restrooms.
"We envision a landmark clock tower to be an iconic point of the transit center," Emami said.
The public park would feature a tot lot, grass fields and barbecue pits.
The design also would be energy efficient and green, incorporating solar panels and a solar-powered hot water system.
This would be the first transit village in Fresno, but the concept is hardly new. San Jose and other communities have them along light rail routes.
ROEM developed one in San Jose, which Fresno officials toured before selecting the company as the master developer, and it incorporates a park-and- ride, bus center and senior and family housing on the light-rail corridor.

http://www.fresnostatenews.com/images/Fresno%20State%20Henry%20Madden%20Library.jpg - OLD

http://www.aia.org/aiarchitect/thisweek07/0126/0126d_fresno02_b.jpg -NEW

http://www.maddenlibrary.org/images/2nd_pages/architect_artwork/drawing_1.jpg

http://www.maddenlibrary.org/images/2nd_pages/architect_artwork/drawing_3.jpg

http://www.maddenlibrary.org/images/2nd_pages/rendering_at_sunset_large.jpg

Fresno State Library Taking Shape (Henry Madden Library) When complete it will become CSU System largest library. Completion Time Fall 2008. Ill bring you some construction pics soon...

Sweet, where do you get your info Central?

If you haven't already, I would suggest picking up the Dec '07 copy of Fresno Magazine. There is a big article on Downtown, and a nice 3D layout of what has been built and what is planned. The Armenian Town towers are going to own. Have any info on that?



was that project canceled?

was that project canceled?

I believe, it's On Hold.