Faculty and Staff Housing
Creating Attainable Housing
Access to attainable housing is consistently cited as a major hurdle in hiring and retaining new faculty and staff members. Cal Poly Partners, alongside the university, is developing additional housing for campus community members to help ease this burden. The first of these developments, Bella Montaña, was completed in 2006 and offers 69 owner-occupied homes near campus.
Cal Poly Partners recently acquired The Harvest Lofts, comprised of 120 studio and one-bedroom rental units, located 4 miles south of the main campus. These rental units provide a reliable, hassle-free housing solution as faculty and staff transition to their new roles within the university. In spring 2024, the second planned housing project, Vista Meadows, broke ground. Located at the corner of Slack Street and Grand Avenue near the entrance to campus. The units will be available to faculty and staff to purchase. Following the completion of Vista Meadows, work will move forward on a third project adjacent to Bella Montana. To help further expand housing options for faculty and staff, Cal Poly Partners and the project steering committee have established a Faculty and Staff Housing Program with long-term goals and objectives while also creating a sustainable and scalable operating model that can be used for other future projects.
Faculty and Staff Housing Program
To make an impact and ease some of the financial stress for our faculty and staff, Cal Poly Partners and our university partners have created a set of clear goals. The Faculty and Staff Housing Program will evolve as needed. Currently it includes three phases.
Short Term
Medium Term
Long Term
Interest Form
Mortgage Assistance Program
The Mortgage Assistance Program was created to make purchasing homes within Cal Poly Partner communities easier for Cal Poly community members. The program includes no down payment or Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) requirement. Interested faculty and staff can contact Cherise Long at SESLOC for more information.
Housing Demand Analysis
In December 2021 Cal Poly Partners, alongside the university, launched a survey to help gain a better understanding of the current housing needs and desires and gauge interest in future housing projects. More than 34 percent of the 3,084 employees surveyed, responded.
The survey was followed by eight focus group sessions and a demand study.
The demand study findings, while not surprising, add data points and personal stories that highlight the housing challenge and how it impacts individual employees and, ultimately, the university.
Faculty and Staff Housing Developments
Bella Montaña
Completed in 2006, Bella Montaña’s 69 units are available to faculty and staff for 50%-60% of current market value. Conveniently located near the Cal Poly campus at the northwest corner of Highland Drive and North Santa Rosa Street.
Vista Meadows
This neighborhood on the corner of the Grand Avenue entrance to campus is expected to break ground in spring 2024. The single family units are in the design phase and are scheduled to be complete in late 2025.
This is a concept rendering and is not representative of the final product.
H9
Located just north of the Bella Montana community, H9 is planned to include 200 units available for sale or rent to faculty and staff. This is currently in the feasibility stage.
