Restoration Begins on Craycroft Home Near Palm and Sierra; Six Studios Planned

Reza Assemi has begun work to revive the Craycroft Home, a two-story brick residence built in 1927 near Palm and Sierra avenues, and plans six studio apartments directly behind the property. The move preserves a structure that showcased Craycroft Brick Company craftsmanship and aims to reactivate a parcel that has sat vacant for decades.

Frank J. Craycroft built the house in 1927 to highlight his family’s brickwork, which played a role in local landmarks such as the Fresno Water Tower and the old Fresno Courthouse. The house was vacant for years; one project description notes the property was "Vacant since 1979" and that over time "trespassers and the elements took a toll on the structure." The home was threatened with demolition in 2016, and Assemi purchased the property in 2017 to prevent that outcome.

Assemi has cleared interior debris, removed the carriage house and begun planning structural repairs. He said that after driving by the property with his daughter, "he decided it was the time for transformation." Family member Beverly Knobloch recalled the site’s personal history, saying, "Going to the home surrounded by figs was a favorite past time." Observers report that original floors remain and wallpaper still hangs in some rooms, underscoring the building’s salvageable elements.

Design partners on the project include Paul Halajian Architects and Broussard and Associates Landscape Architects. Paul Halajian Architects frames the work as a fusion of preservation and contemporary use, writing that "At the heart of this project lies the beautiful formal garden, designed to honor the original occupant June Craycroft’s passion for gardening, pay homage to her legacy as a master gardener, and maintain the essence of the historic setting." The architects further describe the infill apartments as complementary but separate: "The apartments’ design is distinct, acting as a blank canvas background for the beautiful historic home in the foreground." Project materials state the work is "in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s standards."

Programmatically, the main house is slated to become a mixed-use space, "potentially accommodating boutique retail or office functions," while six studio apartments will be constructed behind the house. That combination seeks to keep the property active and relevant by pairing preservation with new housing and small-scale commercial activation. Six studios will not solve Fresno County’s broader housing deficit, but the project is an example of infill that preserves character while adding rental stock in a central neighborhood.

Timelines remain partially unsettled. Assemi and crews have started restoration activity and structural planning, yet Paul Halajian Architects lists the project as "2017 / In Progress" and notes that certain construction phases are "slated to start in early 2026." City permitting records, exact street address, and the specific phase schedule have not been publicly detailed and merit clarification.

For neighbors, the project promises a restored landmark, a formal garden honoring June Craycroft and modest new housing close to Palm and Sierra avenues. Paul Halajian Architects can be contacted at 265 E. River Park Circle, Ste. 420, Fresno, CA 93720; phone (559) 297-7900, fax (559) 297-7950. Readers should expect visible site activity as structural plans solidify and phased construction moves forward; the next milestones to watch are permit filings, the formal construction start for the apartment block and garden work, and any announced uses for the house’s mixed-use space.