Lessons from Fresno and Bakersfield’s Downtown Developers

In this special episode of Fresnolandia, hosts Jordan Mattox and Danielle Bergstrom take a trip to Bakersfield with Fresno developer Reza Assemi, to sit down with Austin and Anna Smith—two of the most successful infill developers in the Central Valley—whose work is reshaping downtown Bakersfield. Together, they explore the parallel stories of revitalization in Fresno and Bakersfield, the opportunities and roadblocks facing infill projects, and the lingering challenges of codes built for suburban fringe development rather than dense urban cores. This conversation dives into what each city’s downtown could become, how visionary builders are pushing those possibilities forward, and how communities across the valley can learn from one another to create more vibrant, livable, and connected places.