The Monarch @ Chinatown

Project Summary: The Monarch @ Chinatown is a four-story infill housing community that will create 57 units of quality, affordable housing, and approximately 4,700 square feet of mixed-use commercial space in heart of Chinatown. The new housing development will eliminate a blighted parcel of vacant land to provide much-needed revitalization. Future residents will live in a mixture of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units near Downtown Fresno. This development is described as the catalyst to bringing business and residents to the Chinatown area and is a major contributor to neighborhood and economic revitalization. As the only TCC project providing much needed affordable housing, finishes will be comprised of various environmentally friendly building materials, with a courtyard accessible to all residents that will have play structures and drought-tolerant landscaping. Site amenities include bike storage, a tot-lot, and an outdoor seating area. The site will include a community/multi-purpose room with a computer lab, and office. Future residents will also be provided with transit passes to encourage the use of public transportation.

This transformative effort includes leveraged neighborhood improvements throughout the area, including the City’s efforts to permanently cease burning activities associated with the fire tower located nearby, and other leveraged opportunities such as the Urban Greening and Active Transportation Improvements. The Urban Greening efforts will increase the urban tree canopy and provide more greenspace in Chinatown. This will be accomplished through planting 26 trees on F Street from Fresno to Mariposa Street and adding a parklet. The China Alley between Kern and Inyo will be reconstructed into a permeable green alley and with new strand-lighting to increase visibility. The Active Transportation portion of the project will improve access to a transit stop in Chinatown located on F and Tulare Street through the installation of 14 LED streetlights on F Street. Lighting will also be installed from Fresno to Ventura Street. A virtual groundbreaking event was held on September 9, 2020.