Fresno City Council approves $42M plan to redevelop Chinatown corridor

The Fresno City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday to approve a $42 million redevelopment plan for the city's historic Chinatown corridor, marking the largest public investment in the neighborhood in more than two decades. The plan, championed by District 3 Councilmember Miguel Arias, funds new streetscaping along F Street between Tulare and Kern, seismic retrofits for six pre-1930 buildings, and a $12 million affordable housing project on a city-owned lot at F and Mono. Preservation grants of up to $75,000 per storefront will be available for property owners willing to restore original façades. "Chinatown is one of the most historically significant neighborhoods west of the Mississippi, and it has been neglected for far too long," Arias said. The lone no vote came from Councilmember Garry Bredefeld, who cited concerns about long-term maintenance costs. Construction is expected to begin in spring 2027, with the first phase — streetscaping and lighting — targeted for completion before the 2028 Big Fresno Fair season.