College students in Chico who have experienced housing problems are excited about a new apartment project that could be ready in time for the fall semester of 2018. For many students, having this affordable off-campus living would be cheaper and closer than some of the places they're located now.
Trent Guzman, a transfer student at Chico State, experienced housing problems before he arrived in Chico. Because he had only a little while to find a place to live, Trent learned first-hand the consequences of the city’s affordable-housing shortage.
"The new housing is very exciting," Guzman said.“I know how it feels to try to find a place to live such last minute. I live about 20 minutes from campus and hardly know anyone. So having more housing gives a better opportunity for students like myself to have affordable and closer housing to campus.”
Housing has historically been a problem for the CSU campus. As enrollment grew, so did the need for more places to live.
Around the '80s, Shasta and Lassen halls were constructed and maintained to hold 210 students. Over the years, Whitney (withholds 512 students), which then followed Mechoopda, Esken, KonKow (13 students in each house with one resident advisor).
But housing still remained a problem as driven by increased enrollment continued to grow. As result,University Village and most recently Sutter Hall (234 students) were built to hold the increasing number of students. However, with a long wait list and enrollment growing from transfers and freshmen for the following semester, the university chose to take action and include more living spaces for new and old students.
On Nov. 11, members of the Architectural Review and Historic Preservation Board announced there will be a new project underway to construct more housing for students.
AMCAL Multi- Housing Inc., intends to begin the project in the fall of 2018 and finish construction at the end of the fall semester . The buildings will consist of 173-unit residential complexes, two-unit buildings with full kitchens, furnished living rooms, four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a community pool, community lounge, and will house approximately 625 students. The project will cost approximately $60 million.
"We are trying to get students from studying to relaxing, somewhere they can have a space," said Carol Rose Schwartz, a senior project manager for AMCAL Multi-Housing, Inc.
Knowing Chico State was short on housing, Schwartz said, the company shot for the opportunity to work with the school to provide a safe and active environment for students to live and have affordable housing. But, the company has to meet city standards to ensure they can begin the process.
“Before we begin, we have to meet city standards in order to move forward and have permits be issued. Once all of those steps have been completed, we can go ahead and begin the project by demoliting where the structure will be built,” said Chico Senior Planner, Mark Corcoran.
AMCAL plans to begin demolition as soon as early as December once its permits are issued.
One of the main concerns for the board members was the safety of the students and how easily accessed the buildings can be since it will have entrances from Nord and Columbus avenues.
"My main concern was the access to the building. But as Carol Schwartz and her partners mentioned the fence that will be built should withstand any trespassers," said Planning Commission member Marcy Gollart.
The board approved the project but recommended changes in signage and materials to keep the structure looking presentable.
“Were working with the university to keep the structure safe. Were planning to have security cameras on our site,” Schwartz said.
