"We have an opportunity to really do a transformative project in the heart of Southwest Fresno and it's been a very long time coming," said Oliver Baines, City Council District 3.
Not since Donald Trump's Running Horse dream fizzled in late 2007 has West Fresno been targeted for this type of economic jolt. Investors are looking to develop about 120 acres off of Jensen between Martin Luther King Boulevard and Church Avenue.
"We've identified the need, and our community has asked up to focus on a low-density housing residential approach with the focus on single family homes with mixed incomes multi-family housing," said Sylvesta Hall, Blue Ocean Development.
Sylvesta Hall was the first investor to jump aboard. His team hopes to break ground on this piece of land-- that sits adjacent to Gaston Middle School by next summer.
The plan calls for over 600-housing units and several commercial developments, with the hope of attracting a community college campus in the future.
"We'd like to end our development with 323 thousand square foot of retail development and bring in quality grocers and health care if you will," said Hall.
But not all residents were happy with the city council's decision Thursday.
"We're getting other people's vision of what they want to see-- let our community decide what it is that we want...not what developers and the city wants," said Brunette Harris, resident.
District Representative Oliver Baines insists that has not been the case.
"I want to allow the developers and architects to bring a great design and just so you know they have been working with the community and receiving input from the community," said Baines. "They haven't done this in a vacuum so to speak. I think what you'll see the final designs and final outcome will be something the community will be very proud of."