San Diego is My Home

16
Oct

No Place Like Home

Author: HelenKay, Category: Housing, Neighborhoods, Politics, SDSU

The housing battle between students and residents continues in the area around SDSU.  Mini dorms - those fabulous living arrangements where too many students try to live in a too small place - have long been a touchy issue.  This year is no different.

The problem usually arises when a neighborhood home in a residential area is rented out to students.  A two-bedroom house becomes a home for ten as every available inch of inside space, sometimes including the family room,  is used for beds.  The result being noise, partying and parking problems.    

Enter a developer who wants to turn a heap of rubble on El Cajon into a multi-level dorm with retail on the ground floors.  The developer has made this work in university areas across the country.  The developer argues that with this new dorm there will be ample parking, residential staff and the eyesore will be gone.  Students say they need to live somewhere and it’s not their fault SDSU does not have enough living space.   Some also point out that living next to SDSU you should expect to see students everywhere.  Area residents sense a bait-and-switch coming where the developer promises an okay situation and, instead,  leaves behind a bunch of college party animals, no parking and bad retail.

So, what’s the answer?  No idea.  But, if you care about this issue and live near SDSU you may want to check out the Rolando Community Council Meeting tonight at 7:00pm at the Methodist Church (4855 Seminole Drive).