I do not necessarily disagree with some of this. I have always said that if you give me a housing development I can support, I would be happy to do so. The problem I have is that most of the current proposals for new housing, especially those outside of the city, are not especially appealing. I’m not a fan of the newer subdivisions in town which have predominantly large houses and neighborhoods that could really be part of any city in this state and really this country. I want to see new and innovative urban design. And frankly I have not seen that. I want to see as Stephen Souza would say, the wow factor.
During the campaign, one of the things we talked about as slower growth advocates, was the need for UC Davis to provide its fair share of housing. West Village in some ways is a good start, but not really all that innovative, and not really what I was primarily getting at. UC Davis has the lowest percentage of on-campus student housing in the UC system. Think about that. That means that the city of Davis is responsible for finding housing for up to and exceeding three-quarters of the thirty thousand or so students who attend the university. A town of 64,000 people has to provide for nearly 50% of its population. If UC Davis could just provide a larger percentage of housing on campus, in an environmentally friendly and sustainable manner it could be a huge pressure release for growth on Davis.
Keep this in mind as I share the next portion of this story. As many regular readers know, I grew up in San Luis Obispo. San Luis Obispo is a similar city to Davis in some respects. It is a college town, in fact, a very similar college to UC Davis with a large degree of cross-applicants because of similar programs. Cal Poly has about 18,000 students and the city of San Luis Obispo is also somewhat smaller at 44,000 people in population. I attended Cal Poly for undergraduate school.
This past week over Thanksgiving, my wife and I went down to San Luis Obispo to visit my family who still lives there. During the course of the week, Cecilia and I drove to Cal Poly and around the campus. I guess I have not been on campus in a while because I was startled to see a huge new student housing development. We drove through it, and let me tell you, talk about WOW factor. The housing development blew us away.
It is called Poly Canyon Village, named after Poly Canyon a popular hiking and jogging area that extends from the Cal Poly campus up into the foothills of the local mountain range. Very scenic.
Poly Canyon Village from what we could see at night was a very dense development, but it was huge, with four story buildings, and in the center of them, a good array of amenities–coffee shops, eateries, a mini-grocery store, a bank, another store. There is a good sized parking garage. A gym with a swimming pool. It was really impressive.
Our thoughts as we drove through Poly Canyon Village: this is what UC Davis needs. We want to believe we are innovative and on the cutting edge, but we quite simply are not.
I have since done some research on the project. It has 2700 units on 30 acres of land. Talk about density. And yet, despite that density, it is well-done and very appealing and attractive. It is the largest on-campus housing development in the nation. It is the first LEED-certified student housing in the CSU system. The project contains nine four and five-story buildings. And these are apartment-style units, usually four bedrooms with a common kitchen. The size is from 900 to 1100 square feet, so these are good sized units.
It is a fully sustainable project. I am not going to sit here and advocate for an identical project for Davis or UC Davis. What I am going to argue for is that we take this as a model, a goal, and then we improve upon it and adapt to make it work here. This is what we need. Imagine an innovative, environmentally sustainable, carbon neutral, energy neutral development on the edge of the UC Davis campus that could provide housing, on-campus, for 3000 students just for starters. These students do not need to drive because they can bike and walk everywhere. There are amenities right there. It’s a mixed-used housing development right on campus. But they will have access to parking and roads for when they want to drive. That would free up a large number of housing units in the city. Those housing units could then supply housing to faculty and staff.
My biggest problem is not the development but the kind of development we want to create. We need to change the way we do things if we want to have a future. I am not just talking about this community. I am talking about on a national and global scale. Poly Canyon Village has almost 50 percent more housing units on less than one tenth the land that Covell Village proposed. That is what we need to do and the great thing is that you don’t feel like it is overwhelmingly dense. It is attractive, it is nice, it is a place I would have loved to have lived in as a student.
It is time that UC Davis and Davis make a paradigm shift with a bold new plan.
—David M. Greenwald
Good article David. Hopefully the new Chancellor at UCD will have some vision to provide more on campus student housing that is innovative like Poly Canyon.
Thank you for bringing forth some great ideas.
Good article David. Hopefully the new Chancellor at UCD will have some vision to provide more on campus student housing that is innovative like Poly Canyon.
Thank you for bringing forth some great ideas.
Good article David. Hopefully the new Chancellor at UCD will have some vision to provide more on campus student housing that is innovative like Poly Canyon.
Thank you for bringing forth some great ideas.
Good article David. Hopefully the new Chancellor at UCD will have some vision to provide more on campus student housing that is innovative like Poly Canyon.
Thank you for bringing forth some great ideas.
Imagine an innovative, environmentally sustainable, carbon neutral, energy neutral development on the edge of the UC Davis campus that could provide housing, on-campus, for 3000 students just for starters.
Uh, have you looked at the West Village plan?
Imagine an innovative, environmentally sustainable, carbon neutral, energy neutral development on the edge of the UC Davis campus that could provide housing, on-campus, for 3000 students just for starters.
Uh, have you looked at the West Village plan?
Imagine an innovative, environmentally sustainable, carbon neutral, energy neutral development on the edge of the UC Davis campus that could provide housing, on-campus, for 3000 students just for starters.
Uh, have you looked at the West Village plan?
Imagine an innovative, environmentally sustainable, carbon neutral, energy neutral development on the edge of the UC Davis campus that could provide housing, on-campus, for 3000 students just for starters.
Uh, have you looked at the West Village plan?
“UC Davis has the lowest percentage of on-campus student housing in the UC system.”
Says who?
“UC Davis has the lowest percentage of on-campus student housing in the UC system.”
Says who?
“UC Davis has the lowest percentage of on-campus student housing in the UC system.”
Says who?
“UC Davis has the lowest percentage of on-campus student housing in the UC system.”
Says who?
I looked at the live webcam view. From that angle, it looks like every massive apartment complex project built in L.A. and Orange County in the last 10 years. Environmentally, it might be good. But aesthetically, it’s horrible. Anyone with a family would rather live in West Village than Poly Canyon overkill.
I looked at the live webcam view. From that angle, it looks like every massive apartment complex project built in L.A. and Orange County in the last 10 years. Environmentally, it might be good. But aesthetically, it’s horrible. Anyone with a family would rather live in West Village than Poly Canyon overkill.
I looked at the live webcam view. From that angle, it looks like every massive apartment complex project built in L.A. and Orange County in the last 10 years. Environmentally, it might be good. But aesthetically, it’s horrible. Anyone with a family would rather live in West Village than Poly Canyon overkill.
I looked at the live webcam view. From that angle, it looks like every massive apartment complex project built in L.A. and Orange County in the last 10 years. Environmentally, it might be good. But aesthetically, it’s horrible. Anyone with a family would rather live in West Village than Poly Canyon overkill.
Sounds like a Hud ghetto. In twenty years it will look like Cabrini Green as will Davis when you’re done densifying it to the point that even the dogs need a park because there is no open space left.
Sounds like a Hud ghetto. In twenty years it will look like Cabrini Green as will Davis when you’re done densifying it to the point that even the dogs need a park because there is no open space left.
Sounds like a Hud ghetto. In twenty years it will look like Cabrini Green as will Davis when you’re done densifying it to the point that even the dogs need a park because there is no open space left.
Sounds like a Hud ghetto. In twenty years it will look like Cabrini Green as will Davis when you’re done densifying it to the point that even the dogs need a park because there is no open space left.
Anonymous 9:11:
I hope you looked at the multiple cameras angles. Nevertheless, the camera shot does not do the project justice, I have spoken to numerous people who have viewed it and all are impressed.
That said, I think you missed some of the point of the article.
First, it’s a student housing project. So families would not want to live in it because it is not for them.
Second, as I stated in the I am not proposing this identical project in Davis, I am proposing we take the concept and adapt to Davis.
Anonymous 9:11:
I hope you looked at the multiple cameras angles. Nevertheless, the camera shot does not do the project justice, I have spoken to numerous people who have viewed it and all are impressed.
That said, I think you missed some of the point of the article.
First, it’s a student housing project. So families would not want to live in it because it is not for them.
Second, as I stated in the I am not proposing this identical project in Davis, I am proposing we take the concept and adapt to Davis.
Anonymous 9:11:
I hope you looked at the multiple cameras angles. Nevertheless, the camera shot does not do the project justice, I have spoken to numerous people who have viewed it and all are impressed.
That said, I think you missed some of the point of the article.
First, it’s a student housing project. So families would not want to live in it because it is not for them.
Second, as I stated in the I am not proposing this identical project in Davis, I am proposing we take the concept and adapt to Davis.
Anonymous 9:11:
I hope you looked at the multiple cameras angles. Nevertheless, the camera shot does not do the project justice, I have spoken to numerous people who have viewed it and all are impressed.
That said, I think you missed some of the point of the article.
First, it’s a student housing project. So families would not want to live in it because it is not for them.
Second, as I stated in the I am not proposing this identical project in Davis, I am proposing we take the concept and adapt to Davis.
Anonymous 8:52:
I have looked at the West Village Plan. It’s not a student housing project per se that would achieve what I am looking to achieve here.
Anonymous 8:52:
I have looked at the West Village Plan. It’s not a student housing project per se that would achieve what I am looking to achieve here.
Anonymous 8:52:
I have looked at the West Village Plan. It’s not a student housing project per se that would achieve what I am looking to achieve here.
Anonymous 8:52:
I have looked at the West Village Plan. It’s not a student housing project per se that would achieve what I am looking to achieve here.
“Sounds like a Hud ghetto. In twenty years it will look like Cabrini Green as will Davis when you’re done densifying it to the point that even the dogs need a park because there is no open space left.”
Do you guys actually read the articles or you just look at the pictures? It’s a student housing project. What does a HUD ghetto have to do with student housing???
“Sounds like a Hud ghetto. In twenty years it will look like Cabrini Green as will Davis when you’re done densifying it to the point that even the dogs need a park because there is no open space left.”
Do you guys actually read the articles or you just look at the pictures? It’s a student housing project. What does a HUD ghetto have to do with student housing???
“Sounds like a Hud ghetto. In twenty years it will look like Cabrini Green as will Davis when you’re done densifying it to the point that even the dogs need a park because there is no open space left.”
Do you guys actually read the articles or you just look at the pictures? It’s a student housing project. What does a HUD ghetto have to do with student housing???
“Sounds like a Hud ghetto. In twenty years it will look like Cabrini Green as will Davis when you’re done densifying it to the point that even the dogs need a park because there is no open space left.”
Do you guys actually read the articles or you just look at the pictures? It’s a student housing project. What does a HUD ghetto have to do with student housing???
Wow! The last two posters need a cup of coffee or a hug.
This is a student apartment complex, not for families. It is exactly what we have been proposing for UCD for years, and it is what student say they want: high rise apartments on campus within walking or biking distance of everything. The addition of the other amenities only heightens the attraction. I would have been thrilled to live in such a complex when I was a student here. This is an idea whose time is come. Thanks for the great article David.
By the way, it is no secret that UCD has the lowest percent of on campua housing in the UC system. UCD doesn’t try to hide it. It has been that way for years.
Instead of making nasty little swipes at David, or anyone else for that matter, why not look at the issue itself and talk about that. You got some better ideas? Let’s hear them, by all means! That’s what the blog is about.
Wow! The last two posters need a cup of coffee or a hug.
This is a student apartment complex, not for families. It is exactly what we have been proposing for UCD for years, and it is what student say they want: high rise apartments on campus within walking or biking distance of everything. The addition of the other amenities only heightens the attraction. I would have been thrilled to live in such a complex when I was a student here. This is an idea whose time is come. Thanks for the great article David.
By the way, it is no secret that UCD has the lowest percent of on campua housing in the UC system. UCD doesn’t try to hide it. It has been that way for years.
Instead of making nasty little swipes at David, or anyone else for that matter, why not look at the issue itself and talk about that. You got some better ideas? Let’s hear them, by all means! That’s what the blog is about.
Wow! The last two posters need a cup of coffee or a hug.
This is a student apartment complex, not for families. It is exactly what we have been proposing for UCD for years, and it is what student say they want: high rise apartments on campus within walking or biking distance of everything. The addition of the other amenities only heightens the attraction. I would have been thrilled to live in such a complex when I was a student here. This is an idea whose time is come. Thanks for the great article David.
By the way, it is no secret that UCD has the lowest percent of on campua housing in the UC system. UCD doesn’t try to hide it. It has been that way for years.
Instead of making nasty little swipes at David, or anyone else for that matter, why not look at the issue itself and talk about that. You got some better ideas? Let’s hear them, by all means! That’s what the blog is about.
Wow! The last two posters need a cup of coffee or a hug.
This is a student apartment complex, not for families. It is exactly what we have been proposing for UCD for years, and it is what student say they want: high rise apartments on campus within walking or biking distance of everything. The addition of the other amenities only heightens the attraction. I would have been thrilled to live in such a complex when I was a student here. This is an idea whose time is come. Thanks for the great article David.
By the way, it is no secret that UCD has the lowest percent of on campua housing in the UC system. UCD doesn’t try to hide it. It has been that way for years.
Instead of making nasty little swipes at David, or anyone else for that matter, why not look at the issue itself and talk about that. You got some better ideas? Let’s hear them, by all means! That’s what the blog is about.
Oops! My posting at 9:51 referring to the “last two posters” posted after other responses to them, notably by David. I was referring not to David’s responses, but to the two anonymous posters at 9:11 and 9:42.
Oops! My posting at 9:51 referring to the “last two posters” posted after other responses to them, notably by David. I was referring not to David’s responses, but to the two anonymous posters at 9:11 and 9:42.
Oops! My posting at 9:51 referring to the “last two posters” posted after other responses to them, notably by David. I was referring not to David’s responses, but to the two anonymous posters at 9:11 and 9:42.
Oops! My posting at 9:51 referring to the “last two posters” posted after other responses to them, notably by David. I was referring not to David’s responses, but to the two anonymous posters at 9:11 and 9:42.
I like the West Village plan and don’t see what’s that much better about Poly Canyon Village. I personally don’t think every new development has to have the “wow-factor” per Stephen Souza, nor does it have to be the most green/carbon neutral/no-energy using/whatever innovative project ever as long as it is getting the job done – housing that fits in with the character of Davis. What I like about West Village is that it looks like very nice neighborhoods with houses and NOT gigantic 10 story dorm buildings where students are packed like sardines. Students like to have room and nice housing too!
Yes, I have heard that line about UCD having the lowest % of student housing, but it seems like that is used as an excuse to say “let UCD solve this problem themselves and not bother to develop housing for students anywhere else.”
I like the West Village plan and don’t see what’s that much better about Poly Canyon Village. I personally don’t think every new development has to have the “wow-factor” per Stephen Souza, nor does it have to be the most green/carbon neutral/no-energy using/whatever innovative project ever as long as it is getting the job done – housing that fits in with the character of Davis. What I like about West Village is that it looks like very nice neighborhoods with houses and NOT gigantic 10 story dorm buildings where students are packed like sardines. Students like to have room and nice housing too!
Yes, I have heard that line about UCD having the lowest % of student housing, but it seems like that is used as an excuse to say “let UCD solve this problem themselves and not bother to develop housing for students anywhere else.”
I like the West Village plan and don’t see what’s that much better about Poly Canyon Village. I personally don’t think every new development has to have the “wow-factor” per Stephen Souza, nor does it have to be the most green/carbon neutral/no-energy using/whatever innovative project ever as long as it is getting the job done – housing that fits in with the character of Davis. What I like about West Village is that it looks like very nice neighborhoods with houses and NOT gigantic 10 story dorm buildings where students are packed like sardines. Students like to have room and nice housing too!
Yes, I have heard that line about UCD having the lowest % of student housing, but it seems like that is used as an excuse to say “let UCD solve this problem themselves and not bother to develop housing for students anywhere else.”
I like the West Village plan and don’t see what’s that much better about Poly Canyon Village. I personally don’t think every new development has to have the “wow-factor” per Stephen Souza, nor does it have to be the most green/carbon neutral/no-energy using/whatever innovative project ever as long as it is getting the job done – housing that fits in with the character of Davis. What I like about West Village is that it looks like very nice neighborhoods with houses and NOT gigantic 10 story dorm buildings where students are packed like sardines. Students like to have room and nice housing too!
Yes, I have heard that line about UCD having the lowest % of student housing, but it seems like that is used as an excuse to say “let UCD solve this problem themselves and not bother to develop housing for students anywhere else.”
” In addition, it would free up West Village to become a staff and faculty housing development.”
In other words lets make West village a elite , expensive, Lake Alhambra development for the upper $ 200,000.00 plus earners at UCD…
“Yes, I have heard that line about UCD having the lowest % of student housing, but it seems like that is used as an excuse to say “let UCD solve this problem themselves and not bother to develop housing for students anywhere else.”
Actually I posted this for the exact opposite reason. I propose the that city works with UCD to bring these kinds of ideas and projects forward, not to let UCD solve this problem themselves. There are a lot of advantages to on-campus housing from both an economic, a transportation, and a land use perspective.
Secondly, West Village is primarily a faculty and staff housing project. We need that. We absolutely do. I don’t see this as let’s do this rather than West Village, I see it as we need to do this in addition to West Village. We need to develop innovative on campus STUDENT housing. We also need good housing for those who work at the campus.
” In addition, it would free up West Village to become a staff and faculty housing development.”
In other words lets make West village a elite , expensive, Lake Alhambra development for the upper $ 200,000.00 plus earners at UCD…
“Yes, I have heard that line about UCD having the lowest % of student housing, but it seems like that is used as an excuse to say “let UCD solve this problem themselves and not bother to develop housing for students anywhere else.”
Actually I posted this for the exact opposite reason. I propose the that city works with UCD to bring these kinds of ideas and projects forward, not to let UCD solve this problem themselves. There are a lot of advantages to on-campus housing from both an economic, a transportation, and a land use perspective.
Secondly, West Village is primarily a faculty and staff housing project. We need that. We absolutely do. I don’t see this as let’s do this rather than West Village, I see it as we need to do this in addition to West Village. We need to develop innovative on campus STUDENT housing. We also need good housing for those who work at the campus.
” In addition, it would free up West Village to become a staff and faculty housing development.”
In other words lets make West village a elite , expensive, Lake Alhambra development for the upper $ 200,000.00 plus earners at UCD…
“Yes, I have heard that line about UCD having the lowest % of student housing, but it seems like that is used as an excuse to say “let UCD solve this problem themselves and not bother to develop housing for students anywhere else.”
Actually I posted this for the exact opposite reason. I propose the that city works with UCD to bring these kinds of ideas and projects forward, not to let UCD solve this problem themselves. There are a lot of advantages to on-campus housing from both an economic, a transportation, and a land use perspective.
Secondly, West Village is primarily a faculty and staff housing project. We need that. We absolutely do. I don’t see this as let’s do this rather than West Village, I see it as we need to do this in addition to West Village. We need to develop innovative on campus STUDENT housing. We also need good housing for those who work at the campus.
” In addition, it would free up West Village to become a staff and faculty housing development.”
In other words lets make West village a elite , expensive, Lake Alhambra development for the upper $ 200,000.00 plus earners at UCD…
“Yes, I have heard that line about UCD having the lowest % of student housing, but it seems like that is used as an excuse to say “let UCD solve this problem themselves and not bother to develop housing for students anywhere else.”
Actually I posted this for the exact opposite reason. I propose the that city works with UCD to bring these kinds of ideas and projects forward, not to let UCD solve this problem themselves. There are a lot of advantages to on-campus housing from both an economic, a transportation, and a land use perspective.
Secondly, West Village is primarily a faculty and staff housing project. We need that. We absolutely do. I don’t see this as let’s do this rather than West Village, I see it as we need to do this in addition to West Village. We need to develop innovative on campus STUDENT housing. We also need good housing for those who work at the campus.
“” In addition, it would free up West Village to become a staff and faculty housing development.”
In other words lets make West village a elite , expensive, Lake Alhambra development for the upper $ 200,000.00 plus earners at UCD…”
No the opposite, housing for first time faculty and staff who have just been hired. Not elite at all. Affordable workforce housing. You clearly missed the point of my post today.
“” In addition, it would free up West Village to become a staff and faculty housing development.”
In other words lets make West village a elite , expensive, Lake Alhambra development for the upper $ 200,000.00 plus earners at UCD…”
No the opposite, housing for first time faculty and staff who have just been hired. Not elite at all. Affordable workforce housing. You clearly missed the point of my post today.
“” In addition, it would free up West Village to become a staff and faculty housing development.”
In other words lets make West village a elite , expensive, Lake Alhambra development for the upper $ 200,000.00 plus earners at UCD…”
No the opposite, housing for first time faculty and staff who have just been hired. Not elite at all. Affordable workforce housing. You clearly missed the point of my post today.
“” In addition, it would free up West Village to become a staff and faculty housing development.”
In other words lets make West village a elite , expensive, Lake Alhambra development for the upper $ 200,000.00 plus earners at UCD…”
No the opposite, housing for first time faculty and staff who have just been hired. Not elite at all. Affordable workforce housing. You clearly missed the point of my post today.
Secondly, West Village is primarily a faculty and staff housing project. We need that. We absolutely do. I don’t see this as let’s do this rather than West Village, I see it as we need to do this in addition to West Village. We need to develop innovative on campus STUDENT housing. We also need good housing for those who work at the campus.
Page 2 of the West Village Implementation Plan show that Phase 1 of the project includes apartment-style housing for up to 1,980 students.
See: http://www.westvillage.ucdavis.edu/documents/west_village_implementation_plan_1.pdf
Phase 2 of the plan would add units to accommodate another 1,000.
To say it is primarily a faculty and staff housing project is incorrect.
Secondly, West Village is primarily a faculty and staff housing project. We need that. We absolutely do. I don’t see this as let’s do this rather than West Village, I see it as we need to do this in addition to West Village. We need to develop innovative on campus STUDENT housing. We also need good housing for those who work at the campus.
Page 2 of the West Village Implementation Plan show that Phase 1 of the project includes apartment-style housing for up to 1,980 students.
See: http://www.westvillage.ucdavis.edu/documents/west_village_implementation_plan_1.pdf
Phase 2 of the plan would add units to accommodate another 1,000.
To say it is primarily a faculty and staff housing project is incorrect.
Secondly, West Village is primarily a faculty and staff housing project. We need that. We absolutely do. I don’t see this as let’s do this rather than West Village, I see it as we need to do this in addition to West Village. We need to develop innovative on campus STUDENT housing. We also need good housing for those who work at the campus.
Page 2 of the West Village Implementation Plan show that Phase 1 of the project includes apartment-style housing for up to 1,980 students.
See: http://www.westvillage.ucdavis.edu/documents/west_village_implementation_plan_1.pdf
Phase 2 of the plan would add units to accommodate another 1,000.
To say it is primarily a faculty and staff housing project is incorrect.
Secondly, West Village is primarily a faculty and staff housing project. We need that. We absolutely do. I don’t see this as let’s do this rather than West Village, I see it as we need to do this in addition to West Village. We need to develop innovative on campus STUDENT housing. We also need good housing for those who work at the campus.
Page 2 of the West Village Implementation Plan show that Phase 1 of the project includes apartment-style housing for up to 1,980 students.
See: http://www.westvillage.ucdavis.edu/documents/west_village_implementation_plan_1.pdf
Phase 2 of the plan would add units to accommodate another 1,000.
To say it is primarily a faculty and staff housing project is incorrect.
That’s great about West Village accommodating students, but I agree with David, we need more of it.
That’s great about West Village accommodating students, but I agree with David, we need more of it.
That’s great about West Village accommodating students, but I agree with David, we need more of it.
That’s great about West Village accommodating students, but I agree with David, we need more of it.
I know that David thinks that West Village is meant to provide housing for staff at UCD. According to all the propaganda sent out by the University,I can see why he would be misled. Indeed, my tenured superiors also think my personal situation is exactly why West Village is being built.
However, let me share some empirical data. My technical job description is SRA III. For those of you outside the University, this stands for Senior Research Associate, 3rd level. This is the standard job description for UCD research – related staff employees. There are 4 levels, Level IV being the highest. Level V and above jobs generally denote Assistant Dean and Assistant Director and above.
My pay scale is in the upper 1/3 tier for my rank and it overlaps with pay for the SRA IV level. In other words, for non-tenured – non – management – staff, I am in the upper 30% of wage earners. Based on the low University salaries, I can not afford to buy a home in Davis even with 25% down.
I was johnny – on – the – spot when it was announced that the West Village planners were looking for a focus group of potential buyers. In an interview, I was asked how much money I made and how much I was willing to pay for a house. I told the interviewers exactly how much money I made and that I felt $300k was a good number for a University – subsidized home in Davis. (This was some time before the current melt down so it will be interesting to see what the University expects to sell units for now.)
I was refused entry to the focus group on the grounds that I “didn’t make enough money and I wasn’t willing to pay enough for a house”. At no time was I asked if I had a family or other people to support.
So I ask, if the planners didn’t want input from a staff person in the top 30% salary range because they are deemed unable to be involved in purchasing the housing – then who is? Given what I know about other University ventures I should not have been surprised. Clearly West Village is being built to profit those at the top and not to provide anything to those below.
I know that David thinks that West Village is meant to provide housing for staff at UCD. According to all the propaganda sent out by the University,I can see why he would be misled. Indeed, my tenured superiors also think my personal situation is exactly why West Village is being built.
However, let me share some empirical data. My technical job description is SRA III. For those of you outside the University, this stands for Senior Research Associate, 3rd level. This is the standard job description for UCD research – related staff employees. There are 4 levels, Level IV being the highest. Level V and above jobs generally denote Assistant Dean and Assistant Director and above.
My pay scale is in the upper 1/3 tier for my rank and it overlaps with pay for the SRA IV level. In other words, for non-tenured – non – management – staff, I am in the upper 30% of wage earners. Based on the low University salaries, I can not afford to buy a home in Davis even with 25% down.
I was johnny – on – the – spot when it was announced that the West Village planners were looking for a focus group of potential buyers. In an interview, I was asked how much money I made and how much I was willing to pay for a house. I told the interviewers exactly how much money I made and that I felt $300k was a good number for a University – subsidized home in Davis. (This was some time before the current melt down so it will be interesting to see what the University expects to sell units for now.)
I was refused entry to the focus group on the grounds that I “didn’t make enough money and I wasn’t willing to pay enough for a house”. At no time was I asked if I had a family or other people to support.
So I ask, if the planners didn’t want input from a staff person in the top 30% salary range because they are deemed unable to be involved in purchasing the housing – then who is? Given what I know about other University ventures I should not have been surprised. Clearly West Village is being built to profit those at the top and not to provide anything to those below.
I know that David thinks that West Village is meant to provide housing for staff at UCD. According to all the propaganda sent out by the University,I can see why he would be misled. Indeed, my tenured superiors also think my personal situation is exactly why West Village is being built.
However, let me share some empirical data. My technical job description is SRA III. For those of you outside the University, this stands for Senior Research Associate, 3rd level. This is the standard job description for UCD research – related staff employees. There are 4 levels, Level IV being the highest. Level V and above jobs generally denote Assistant Dean and Assistant Director and above.
My pay scale is in the upper 1/3 tier for my rank and it overlaps with pay for the SRA IV level. In other words, for non-tenured – non – management – staff, I am in the upper 30% of wage earners. Based on the low University salaries, I can not afford to buy a home in Davis even with 25% down.
I was johnny – on – the – spot when it was announced that the West Village planners were looking for a focus group of potential buyers. In an interview, I was asked how much money I made and how much I was willing to pay for a house. I told the interviewers exactly how much money I made and that I felt $300k was a good number for a University – subsidized home in Davis. (This was some time before the current melt down so it will be interesting to see what the University expects to sell units for now.)
I was refused entry to the focus group on the grounds that I “didn’t make enough money and I wasn’t willing to pay enough for a house”. At no time was I asked if I had a family or other people to support.
So I ask, if the planners didn’t want input from a staff person in the top 30% salary range because they are deemed unable to be involved in purchasing the housing – then who is? Given what I know about other University ventures I should not have been surprised. Clearly West Village is being built to profit those at the top and not to provide anything to those below.
I know that David thinks that West Village is meant to provide housing for staff at UCD. According to all the propaganda sent out by the University,I can see why he would be misled. Indeed, my tenured superiors also think my personal situation is exactly why West Village is being built.
However, let me share some empirical data. My technical job description is SRA III. For those of you outside the University, this stands for Senior Research Associate, 3rd level. This is the standard job description for UCD research – related staff employees. There are 4 levels, Level IV being the highest. Level V and above jobs generally denote Assistant Dean and Assistant Director and above.
My pay scale is in the upper 1/3 tier for my rank and it overlaps with pay for the SRA IV level. In other words, for non-tenured – non – management – staff, I am in the upper 30% of wage earners. Based on the low University salaries, I can not afford to buy a home in Davis even with 25% down.
I was johnny – on – the – spot when it was announced that the West Village planners were looking for a focus group of potential buyers. In an interview, I was asked how much money I made and how much I was willing to pay for a house. I told the interviewers exactly how much money I made and that I felt $300k was a good number for a University – subsidized home in Davis. (This was some time before the current melt down so it will be interesting to see what the University expects to sell units for now.)
I was refused entry to the focus group on the grounds that I “didn’t make enough money and I wasn’t willing to pay enough for a house”. At no time was I asked if I had a family or other people to support.
So I ask, if the planners didn’t want input from a staff person in the top 30% salary range because they are deemed unable to be involved in purchasing the housing – then who is? Given what I know about other University ventures I should not have been surprised. Clearly West Village is being built to profit those at the top and not to provide anything to those below.
Anonymous: Thank you for sharing this. If you wouldn’t mind contacting me, I would very much like to talk to you about this further.
email me
Anonymous: Thank you for sharing this. If you wouldn’t mind contacting me, I would very much like to talk to you about this further.
email me
Anonymous: Thank you for sharing this. If you wouldn’t mind contacting me, I would very much like to talk to you about this further.
email me
Anonymous: Thank you for sharing this. If you wouldn’t mind contacting me, I would very much like to talk to you about this further.
email me
I would think students would love to have a campus (rather than town-based, farther from campus and friends’ apartments), nice housing situation such as the one in SLO.
How to get UCD, which is facing massive cuts at present, to agree to fund and build something like that seems like a difficult question, though. Right now they effectively externalize the costs of providing student housing. It’s hard to see their reason to “bite.”
I would think students would love to have a campus (rather than town-based, farther from campus and friends’ apartments), nice housing situation such as the one in SLO.
How to get UCD, which is facing massive cuts at present, to agree to fund and build something like that seems like a difficult question, though. Right now they effectively externalize the costs of providing student housing. It’s hard to see their reason to “bite.”
I would think students would love to have a campus (rather than town-based, farther from campus and friends’ apartments), nice housing situation such as the one in SLO.
How to get UCD, which is facing massive cuts at present, to agree to fund and build something like that seems like a difficult question, though. Right now they effectively externalize the costs of providing student housing. It’s hard to see their reason to “bite.”
I would think students would love to have a campus (rather than town-based, farther from campus and friends’ apartments), nice housing situation such as the one in SLO.
How to get UCD, which is facing massive cuts at present, to agree to fund and build something like that seems like a difficult question, though. Right now they effectively externalize the costs of providing student housing. It’s hard to see their reason to “bite.”
“Page 2 of the West Village Implementation Plan show that Phase 1 of the project includes apartment-style housing for up to 1,980 students.
See: http://www.westvillage.ucdavis.edu/documents/west_village_implementation_plan_1.pdf
Phase 2 of the plan would add units to accommodate another 1,000.”
That’s good, but it’s only part of the expected increase in UCD enrollment over the next decade (assuming figures from a couple of years ago are still relevant). So a student housing project will still be needed, or more apartments scattered around Davis, or students will continue to compete for off-campus housing.
“Page 2 of the West Village Implementation Plan show that Phase 1 of the project includes apartment-style housing for up to 1,980 students.
See: http://www.westvillage.ucdavis.edu/documents/west_village_implementation_plan_1.pdf
Phase 2 of the plan would add units to accommodate another 1,000.”
That’s good, but it’s only part of the expected increase in UCD enrollment over the next decade (assuming figures from a couple of years ago are still relevant). So a student housing project will still be needed, or more apartments scattered around Davis, or students will continue to compete for off-campus housing.
“Page 2 of the West Village Implementation Plan show that Phase 1 of the project includes apartment-style housing for up to 1,980 students.
See: http://www.westvillage.ucdavis.edu/documents/west_village_implementation_plan_1.pdf
Phase 2 of the plan would add units to accommodate another 1,000.”
That’s good, but it’s only part of the expected increase in UCD enrollment over the next decade (assuming figures from a couple of years ago are still relevant). So a student housing project will still be needed, or more apartments scattered around Davis, or students will continue to compete for off-campus housing.
“Page 2 of the West Village Implementation Plan show that Phase 1 of the project includes apartment-style housing for up to 1,980 students.
See: http://www.westvillage.ucdavis.edu/documents/west_village_implementation_plan_1.pdf
Phase 2 of the plan would add units to accommodate another 1,000.”
That’s good, but it’s only part of the expected increase in UCD enrollment over the next decade (assuming figures from a couple of years ago are still relevant). So a student housing project will still be needed, or more apartments scattered around Davis, or students will continue to compete for off-campus housing.
Haven’t visited in awhile, but gotta say, this blog was a lot more interesting and people-oriented when it first started…tweaking Dunning, advocating for unions, the Buzayans, the poor Mexican migrant mother who died of heat stroke…now here’s DPD joining the establishment and advocating development?! Say it ain’t so, David!?
Haven’t visited in awhile, but gotta say, this blog was a lot more interesting and people-oriented when it first started…tweaking Dunning, advocating for unions, the Buzayans, the poor Mexican migrant mother who died of heat stroke…now here’s DPD joining the establishment and advocating development?! Say it ain’t so, David!?
Haven’t visited in awhile, but gotta say, this blog was a lot more interesting and people-oriented when it first started…tweaking Dunning, advocating for unions, the Buzayans, the poor Mexican migrant mother who died of heat stroke…now here’s DPD joining the establishment and advocating development?! Say it ain’t so, David!?
Haven’t visited in awhile, but gotta say, this blog was a lot more interesting and people-oriented when it first started…tweaking Dunning, advocating for unions, the Buzayans, the poor Mexican migrant mother who died of heat stroke…now here’s DPD joining the establishment and advocating development?! Say it ain’t so, David!?
“now here’s DPD joining the establishment and advocating development?! “
who built the house or apartment you live in? Oh that’s right, the evil developer.
“now here’s DPD joining the establishment and advocating development?! “
who built the house or apartment you live in? Oh that’s right, the evil developer.
“now here’s DPD joining the establishment and advocating development?! “
who built the house or apartment you live in? Oh that’s right, the evil developer.
“now here’s DPD joining the establishment and advocating development?! “
who built the house or apartment you live in? Oh that’s right, the evil developer.
“Dunning, advocating for unions, the Buzayans, the poor Mexican migrant mother who died of heat stroke…”
Oh those poor, poor Buzayans. How sad. How very sad.
“Dunning, advocating for unions, the Buzayans, the poor Mexican migrant mother who died of heat stroke…”
Oh those poor, poor Buzayans. How sad. How very sad.
“Dunning, advocating for unions, the Buzayans, the poor Mexican migrant mother who died of heat stroke…”
Oh those poor, poor Buzayans. How sad. How very sad.
“Dunning, advocating for unions, the Buzayans, the poor Mexican migrant mother who died of heat stroke…”
Oh those poor, poor Buzayans. How sad. How very sad.
Anon 12/5/08 12:13 PM:
My treatment was very similar to yours when inquiring about the West Village development.
Two years ago, a home opened up in the Aggie Village. It went to a faculty member. When I contacted the RE office on campus, I was told that our chances of getting into the Aggie Village or West Village were slim because those homes are reserved for high level admin and faculty. Anyone can ask to be put on the waiting list but you are always behind those senior employees so essentially, don’t hold your breath.
Couple that with UCD seed money loans and other preferential treatment, unless you are a asst. dean, director, or better, you’re screwed in this town.
And senior staff wonder why morale is low? go figure
Anon 12/5/08 12:13 PM:
My treatment was very similar to yours when inquiring about the West Village development.
Two years ago, a home opened up in the Aggie Village. It went to a faculty member. When I contacted the RE office on campus, I was told that our chances of getting into the Aggie Village or West Village were slim because those homes are reserved for high level admin and faculty. Anyone can ask to be put on the waiting list but you are always behind those senior employees so essentially, don’t hold your breath.
Couple that with UCD seed money loans and other preferential treatment, unless you are a asst. dean, director, or better, you’re screwed in this town.
And senior staff wonder why morale is low? go figure
Anon 12/5/08 12:13 PM:
My treatment was very similar to yours when inquiring about the West Village development.
Two years ago, a home opened up in the Aggie Village. It went to a faculty member. When I contacted the RE office on campus, I was told that our chances of getting into the Aggie Village or West Village were slim because those homes are reserved for high level admin and faculty. Anyone can ask to be put on the waiting list but you are always behind those senior employees so essentially, don’t hold your breath.
Couple that with UCD seed money loans and other preferential treatment, unless you are a asst. dean, director, or better, you’re screwed in this town.
And senior staff wonder why morale is low? go figure
Anon 12/5/08 12:13 PM:
My treatment was very similar to yours when inquiring about the West Village development.
Two years ago, a home opened up in the Aggie Village. It went to a faculty member. When I contacted the RE office on campus, I was told that our chances of getting into the Aggie Village or West Village were slim because those homes are reserved for high level admin and faculty. Anyone can ask to be put on the waiting list but you are always behind those senior employees so essentially, don’t hold your breath.
Couple that with UCD seed money loans and other preferential treatment, unless you are a asst. dean, director, or better, you’re screwed in this town.
And senior staff wonder why morale is low? go figure