SANGER – Cherry Crossing is Sanger’s newest housing development, and is bringing the community’s workforce modern homes at more affordable prices.
On July 18, a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrated the official opening of the 72-unit community. Local officials, contributors to the project and members of the public gathered for this significant step toward affordable housing for all.
“We in the city of Sanger are thrilled to death to have this kind of project, … not only to help the city of Sanger itself but the surrounding cities and the region of Fresno County,” said Sanger Mayor Frank Gonzalez during his speech. “This is the kind of thing that brings us all together.”
The ceremony also included comments from Fresno County Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Amina Flores-Becker, Department of Housing and Community Development Assistant Deputy Director Tony Sertich and U.S. Bank Vice President and Relationship Manager Josh Evju.
The program concluded with a statement from Jasmin Paz, who currently lives in Cherry Crossing with her 13-year-old son.
“I was having some financial issues, so I didn’t know if I was gonna make it or not,” Paz said to the audience. “I was just kind of indecisive and like ‘What am I going to do?’ So I ended up applying to this community and ended up getting blessed.”
Paz noted that she is a recent Reedley College graduate, and is now hopeful and excited for what her future may hold.
Cherry Crossing was made possible thanks to housing development organization Self-Help Enterprises, whose primary focus is building accessible housing for low-income families. Units range from $450 to $1,200 across single, double and triple bedroom units.
“Cherry Crossing is, above all else, workforce housing for farm workers and other low income workers,” said Self-Help’s President and CEO Tom Collishaw.
Although the apartments are affordable, they don’t seem to have cut any corners. The styling is vibrant and modern, offering amenities such as electric vehicle chargers, picnic areas, a playground and a basketball court. The community also offers on-site resident services such as adult education classes and an afterschool program for children.
Collishaw shared that 66 of the community’s 72 units have been filled, and they expect to have them all filled by the end of this month. However, this is only phase one of the project, with another 64 units planned for construction on the remaining half of the land.
