A mixed use proposal has been announced for an ice skating rink, shops and restaurants, offices, and 160 apartments on 4 acres currently used as parking next to the Fresno Convention Center.
The two developers are part of the ownership group behind the AAA-baseball Fresno Grizzlies, the ECHL minor league hockey Fresno Falcons, and soccer's Premier Development League member Fresno Fuego (which has also been invited to move to the First Division, the top level of minor league soccer).
The developers have stated they would buy the property at full market value.
The public ice rink would share ice making equipment with Selland Arena. It would also serve as the practice facility for the Fresno Falcons.
Adjacent to the rink they would build a 4 story building with restaurants, shops and offices on the ground floor and 160 apartments on floors 2, 3, and 4. Some of the apartments would house players assigned to the Grizzlies and Falcons during their respective seasons. The remaining apartments would be rented to the public.
The Fresno Falcons are scheduled to move back to downtown's 10,000 seat Selland Arena next season. Since 2003 they have played at Fresno State's larger Save Mart Center. With the move, all of Fresno's minor league pro sports teams will play downtown: the Grizzlies and Fuego at Chukchansi Park; the Falcons and AFL2's Coyotes in Selland Arena.
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