Photo by Dylan Gonzales | Central California Land Trust and the city of Fresno celebrates the opening of its first affordable homeownership project in Southwest Fresno with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday morning.

The Central California Land Trust has completed the first of two permanently affordable single-family homes in Southwest Fresno, creating a new pathway to homeownership for income-qualified families.

The organization held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday morning at the renovated home at 2337 S. Poppy Avenue, joined by Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer and Councilmember Miguel Arias.

The project expands affordable homeownership in southwest Fresno through a community land trust model that preserves affordability for future generations.

Unlike a traditional home sale, buyers purchase the home while the land trust retains ownership of the land, helping keep the property affordable for future buyers. The homes will be sold to households earning at or below 80% of the area median income at around 30% below market value.

Central California Land Trust Executive Director John Wellman said the model is designed to provide long-term housing stability by keeping monthly housing costs manageable while allowing families to build equity.

“It’s going to allow folks stability, security, and sanctuary, and that is what every citizen of Fresno should be able to expect, and Central California Land Trust believes we can provide that,” Wellman said.

Dyer said the project helps address major challenges facing Fresno, where homeownership opportunities have become increasingly difficult for many families. He said the city has invested more than $1 million in American Rescue Plan funds to help establish the land trust and support the development of the properties.

“Although we’re excited, excited about these homes that have been built, it’s not the buildings or the land that they sit on, it’s the transformation that will happen in the lives of families within these four walls for generations to come,” Dyer said.

The renovated homes include improvements such as solar and battery backup systems. The first home will be sold for $220,000, with qualified buyers chosen through an application and lottery process.

The land trust says the project is intended to preserve affordable homeownership opportunities in southwest Fresno for generations.