Fullerton city officials have taken a key first step toward converting public parking into housing in the downtown core, voting last week to ask staff to examine the potential sale or lease of three city-owned lots to developers.
Council gives staff direction after 4-1 vote
At the Aug. 18 meeting, the City Council voted 4-1 to authorize staff to look into offers under state law and begin soliciting developers for possible projects on three downtown sites. The motion follows recent budget cuts and broader pressure to meet state-mandated housing goals after the city settled a lawsuit regarding a late housing plan submission two years ago.
Council members identified the following locations as initial priorities:
| Site | Location detail |
|---|---|
| SOCO parking structure | Vacant section across from Heroes Bar & Grill |
| Fullerton Transit Center | Parking structure at the transit center |
| Chapman Avenue surface lot | Surface lot across from Bank of America |
The study was funded in part by a $300,000 grant administered by the Southern California Association of Governments and the Orange County Council of Governments, which the city used to hire a consultant to identify downtown housing opportunities.
Local politics and planning concerns
Councilwoman Shana Charles framed the vote as the start of a conversation rather than a commitment to immediate sale or development. At the meeting she called the proposal “an excellent one,” adding that it could address both housing needs and the city’s fiscal health.
“We’re starting the conversation, and it might end up being something that also helps our financial situation,” she said. “Thinking about surplus land and also more housing in downtown, which is so walkable already, and people really can live, work, and play in that area.”
Not all members were persuaded. Councilman Nick Dunlap cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing the council had not first engaged the community about which sites to target and warning that some parcels might be more appropriate for retail uses than high-density housing. He expressed concern about renderings and presentations that favored tall residential projects in locations he believes suit commercial activity.
The discussion comes amid recent municipal belt-tightening: council members approved deep spending cuts earlier this year to finalize a delayed budget. The timing also intersects with the city’s aim to make headway on statutory housing obligations after litigation over a late submittal of its housing plan.
- Process next steps: Staff will study feasibility, prepare solicitations for developers and assess state-law requirements for selling or leasing public land.
- Community input: Some council members called for broader public outreach before final site selection; organizers and stakeholders are likely to request hearings as concepts move forward.
- Potential impacts: Projects could change downtown parking availability, alter retail dynamics and contribute to the city’s housing inventory and revenues.
What residents should watch for
City staff will return to council with findings and potential solicitation language. If the city proceeds to sell or lease parcels, state law will dictate certain procedural steps, including notices and, potentially, disposition requirements tied to housing objectives.
For downtown businesses and residents, decisions about the SOCO structure, the transit-center lot and the Chapman Avenue surface lot could affect daily parking, pedestrian patterns and the mix of retail versus residential uses within the walkable core. Advocates for housing will point to the sites’ central locations and access to transit; opponents will highlight lost parking, impacts on existing businesses and the need for community input.
The council action was limited to initiating the study and outreach to developers; it did not authorize any immediate sale, lease or demolition. As the process unfolds, the council will face choices about density, parking replacement, affordability requirements and community engagement — all under the watch of residents concerned about the future character of downtown Fullerton.
City staff declined to provide a definitive timeline at the meeting. Residents interested in the process should monitor upcoming council agendas and staff reports for formal proposals and opportunities for public comment.
