A new project that aims to revitalize downtown Fontana has residents buzzing with the promises it’s bringing.

The Forge District has been in the works for years, but now, construction is underway for what is expected to be a multi-level complex. It’s planned to be a space for businesses, housing units and parking that will not only generate revenue and new jobs, but will be the first piece of a new, redefined downtown, according to the city.

Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren shared a video on her social media providing a sneak peek at the early progress of the project

“It’s just amazing and we’re all very excited,” the mayor says in her video. “It’s going to be housing and entertainment. The Forge District is coming together!”

According to the city, the new complex will include 300 housing units in addition to parking and business spaces along Sierra Avenue and Arrow Boulevard. The complex is slated to be completed in the next two years.

“Downtown Fontana — we are changing it and revitalizing it, we’re putting a lot of emphasis on turning back to our core Fontana, back to where we started,” City Councilmember Phillip Cothran said.

Over the years, the downtown area has struggled to bring in traffic because of a number of challenges, from a lack of parking to empty units, according to some shop owners. Now, the city is trying to turn things around by investing over $100 million in the area that will include a civic center and a new city hall down the road.

“We are working on a new circulation plan, so eventually, Sierra Avenue between Arrow and the railroad tracks will no longer be drivable for cars; That way, people can actually walk and see businesses in our downtown,” Cothran said.

As these projects take shape, the city said it will also bring more jobs and revenue as it expands, while it paves the way for the future.

“I’m hoping, especially on the business side of things, that we can spark some ideas within our young entrepreneurs,” Danielle Holley, the Executive Director of the Fontana Chamber of Commerce, said. “There are a lot of young business owners and future business owners that might now see that opportunity and think, ‘Hey, I’ve always wanted to start a business.”

The city paints the revitalization as a renaissance. To learn more about efforts to revamp the Forge District, click here.