New housing complex coming near Fresno State

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- There's a new housing option for students heading to Fresno State.

Business and community leaders cheered as they welcomed a new chapter for the University Place property. "It's nothing like it was in the beginning," property manager Darla Rasmussen said. "We've redone everything, and we've designed it for students since we're right next door to Fresno State. We're ready, its fully furnished and fully accessorized. A student can come here with just their clothes."

Rasmussen is with United Development Group, the company that renovated the property that was once an eyesore. She says they had to take it down to its studs and rebuild it into this new 48-unit housing complex for students.

Rent for a bed starts at $400 and goes up. "We have a fabulous outdoor kitchen with a barbecue," Rasmussen said. "We have flat screens out there. We have a baja-style pool, fire pits."

The complex also comes with a Bulldog Chill Room complete with pool table and study space with a treadmill. "This is unbelievable," said Fresno City Council member Paul Caprioglio. "We've been waiting for this for so long, finally it's come to fruition as they say."

Caprioglio says the property, located behind Bulldog Stadium in an area called El Dorado Park, has come a long way. "This is another step in the development of El Dorado Park, so if this keeps coming we'll have more and more investments of this nature and the area is just going to elevate itself to where should be and has been in the past."

Caprioglio says the company spent $2.5 million to renovate the space, managers say they're accepting applications for this spring semester.