Fontana, Calif. – The City of Fontana announced a Housing and Community Development grant awarded for $625,000. The grant will streamline housing approvals and accelerate housing production in the downtown Fontana area.

The press conference included speakers: Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren, Building Industry Association (BIA) President Philip Burum, Building Industry Association (BIA) Executive Director Carlos Rodriguez, and New Legacy Development President Jose Carcelen. 

“We are going to use this grant to address the housing crisis beginning with downtown Fontana. The City of Fontana is a working-class community that understands the importance of providing housing options for all working-family budgets,” states Mayor Warren.

In 2018, California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office issued 1.3 million new housing units to be built in the Southern California region. Fontana is making the necessary preparations. With the grant, the City of Fontana is updating its zoning and development code, expediting the local planning permit process, and preparing a comprehensive environmental document that will eliminate project-specific environmental reviews. All of which, will assist in creating a process faster and more efficient for developers to invest and revitalize the downtown area.

“The city council is leading the charge on proper and smart growth. They’re taking a proactive rather than reactive approach to streamline the development process by recommending adoption of a form-based development code. This forward-looking policy provides more predictable timelines and better-defined parameters for the development and planning process,” explains BIA Baldy View Chapter President Philip Burum.

The Sierra Avenue corridor in downtown Fontana is an opportunity zone designated by the U.S. Department of Treasury, and through independent investors and developers, has the opportunity to spur economic development and revitalize the distressed area.

“[BIA] commends the city for integrating their housing and opportunity zone efforts…the merging of the two goals makes perfect sense,” states BIA Baldy View Chapter Executive Director Carlos Rodriguez.

Coming to downtown Fontana is a six-story residential building with the ground level designed for commercial and retail use. Behind this project is New Legacy Development President Jose Carcelen. “We are much looking forward to what the future has in store for downtown Fontana. We have multiple projects in the works now and more to come…be ready, because we have a lot of good stuff coming your way,” expresses Jose.