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.

The second planned housing project, Vista Meadows, will be at the corner of Slack Street and Grand Avenue near the entrance to campus. It is expected to break ground in spring 2024. 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, the corporation 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, the corporation 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

Data collection - Establishing objectives - Establishing a Resource Center - Begin development projects

Medium Term

Loan Program(s) - Partner Program(s) - Campus Workshops - Increase childcare capacity

Long Term

Develop 400-600 units - A mix of for-sale and rental - Vista Meadows completed in 2025 - H9 completed in 2027

Interested Buyers

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.

Rental Demand

Population

Headcount

Rental Demand

Capture Rate

Faculty
1,396
83
6%
Staff
1,297
155
12%
Management
290
32
11%
TOTAL
2,983
270
9%

For Sale Demand

Population

Headcount

For Sale Demand

Capture Rate

Faculty
1,396
496
36%
Staff
1,297
332
26%
Management
290
76
26%
TOTAL
2,983
904
30%

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.

Visit Bella Montana

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.