It took three tries, but the Fresno Housing Authorities finally got a crucial $8.2 million grant that will help finance the agency’s Parc Grove Commons project across from Veterans Hospital.

The site at Fresno Street and Clinton Avenue was cleared about 1 1/2 years ago in anticipation of 464 new apartments to service low and moderate income families.

It will be a model of “green” construction with insulated building panels, radiant barrier roof sheeting, a solar-powered system for the community buildings and maybe a satellite-controlled irrigation system.

Housing Authorities was rejected the first two times for financing, which, said housing resource service manager Lowell Ens, is administered twice a year.

The project was tweaked a bit to better compete -- and the applicants were finally rewarded by the state Department of Housing and Community Development, receiving one the largest awards in this round.
Construction of the first 215 apartments could begin in early fall.