Timeline
Information sourced from the Producers Dairy Project Draft EIR, except where noted.
1937
J.B. Hill Opens
The J.B. Hill Company, a provider of hay, grain, seed, poultry, and stock feed product opened their site on H Street to local acclaim.
The J.B. Hill Company was so widely celebrated that 20 local businesses posted their congratulatory wishes in The Fresno Bee on December 1937 for the opening.
1945
J.B. Hill Expands
J.B. Hill became “one of the largest grain and feed processors in the State” as the Company expanded the site to quadruple their output to keep up with demand.
1948
Silos Constructed
The cluster of eighteen 100-foot silos were constructed by J.B. Hill, becoming a local landmark (Fresno Bee).
1955
Balfour, Guthrie & Company
J.B. Hill was acquired by Balfour, Guthrie & Company, Ltd. of San Francisco, which then operated the site until approximately 1979.
1979
Zacky Farms
Zacky Farms became the owner-operator of the site starting around 1979. The company was at one point California’s second largest poultry provider.
1979
Designation Proposed
Local architect William Patnaude proposed the site for listing in the Local Register of Historic Resources, but the City of Fresno Historic Preservation Commission voted to not recommend the property receive designation due to not being 50 years old at the time and economic hardship of the then-owner.
1980
City Council Denies Designation
In January of 1980 the City Council denied the proposal for historic designation. The silos were 32 years old at the time. The City has not produced any additional information regarding the Council decision, such as whether or not it was based on the buildings not being 50 years old yet.
1991
Tower District Specific Plan
The Tower District Specific Plan was adopted and recognized the grain silos as an important historic landmark.
At this time Producers negotiated light industrial zoning for the Central Valley Cheese Building (450 E Belmont) and signed a covenant that included a commitment to maintaining the building.
2012
Zacky Farms Sells Silos
In 2012, Zacky Farms sold the silos, preceding the closure of the company in 2018-19.
2015-17
Cheese Building Proposed for Demo
Producers became impacted by High Speed Rail construction, losing access to its former truck parking location. In response, Producers submitted plans to demo the Central Valley Cheese Building. (Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Plan Producers Dairy Cheese Plant Project)
2018
Cheese Building Saved
The City Council did not approve the proposal to demo the Cheese Building for truck parking, causing Producers to look for another area to place their trucks. (GV Wire)
It should be noted that in this case the demolition was included as part of the entire development permit whereas the City is allowing the demo of the silos to proceed on its own, despite knowing that the desired use of the site is truck parking.
2019
Producers Dairy
Around 2019, Bels Poultry of Sanger sold the property to Producers Dairy.
2020
Silos Planned for Demolition
Producers and the City of Fresno release the Draft Environmental Impact Report, detailing the proposed demolition of the property and the closure of H Street for truck parking. The EIR has not been adopted.
2024
Cheese Building Renovation Announced
Producers announced they will donate the building to Radio Bilingüe. News sources also reported that the renovation will be supported with $2 million in State funding, $1 million in nonprofit funding, a private donation from Producers, with potential additional support from the City of Fresno. (GV Wire)
2024
Silos Under Demolition
Scaffolding appeared on the silos and a Fresno Bee article broke the news that demolition is imminent (Fresno Bee).
The demolition permit was approved without being brought before the Historic Preservation Commission and City Council for consideration, which is warranted because given the for historic designation of the buildings have changed since 1980. There has also not been an attempt to adapt, preserve, or reuse the structures per the Downtown Neighborhoods Specific Plan EIR. Lastly, the demolition approved separately from the full project constistutes illegal piecemealing under CEQA, especially since the Producers EIR said the demolition of the site would be a significant and unavoidable impact.
The time is now to stop the demolition and make the City fix these issues instead of bypassing laws and transparency.