CSU Bakersfield students may have a new option when it comes to housing in the near future. Developers are bringing a new trend of apartment style living with dorm room essentials right here to Bakersfield.
A local planning firm, McIntosh & Associates, recently submitted a proposal to the city of Bakersfield to build two five-story student housing facilities less than a mile from CSUB.
“What we have is a request for a private off-campus student housing consisting of 180 units, 660 beds,” said Paul Johnson, a principal planner with the city’s Development Services department.
In city planning documents obtained by 23ABC, the complex is planned to be built on the northeast corner of stockdale highway and coffee road—a plan that has CSUB looking to keep students on campus.
In a statement to 23ABC CSUB’s president said that students who live on campus perform better in the classroom.
Some local students say given the opportunity they would have chosen to live on campus because of the convenience.
“When you’re away from your campus, I feel that you lack the education environment. So being on campus, it would be more convenient for you, I believe,” said 21-year-old student, Luke Clark.
The proposal is currently under review—meaning construction on the housing could be at least a year away.
“We will review it for approximately 30 days to make sure that it meets the development guidelines for the city. and then we will set up for a public hearing for consideration,” said Johnson.
We reached out to McIntosh & Associates but, at the time of Friday, had not heard back.
Public hearings for plannings are held the second Tuesday of every month, but this specific proposal has not yet been scheduled for an upcoming meeting.
