A rendering shows a proposal for a three-wing building of 624 beds of student housing on Cabrillo College's Aptos campus.

A rendering shows a proposed housing project on Cabrillo College’s Aptos campus. (Cabrillo College)

Community meeting on Cabrillo housing

  • 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29.
  • Cabrillo Horticulture Center, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos.

APTOS >> Cabrillo College leaders plan to host a community meeting Wednesday to describe and answer questions about a proposed housing project on the college’s Aptos campus. The proposal envisions 624 beds for students of Cabrillo College and UC Santa Cruz. Units rented to Cabrillo students would be below-market-rate at prices set by the state. 

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The project is expected to break ground this year and finish construction in 2027, said Cabrillo College spokesperson Kristin Fabos. About 60% of the dorms would be for Cabrillo students and 40% for UCSC students — including those who have transferred to UCSC from Cabrillo.

“It really is forward thinking in a big way, in trying to address a systemic problem,” Cabrillo College President Matt Wetstein said of the housing project. “I just think when students see it and see the design, and when they see it come to fruition and get built — it’s a big game changer for the students in our area.”

At its Jan. 6 meeting, Cabrillo trustees approved a $1 million budget for the multinational Greystar Worldwide LLC to complete about two months of pre-development work. A full plan set is expected to be ready by April for submission to the California Division of the State Architect, which oversees construction of K-12 schools and community colleges, Fabos said.

Problems with property manager Greystar

Cabrillo College trustees unanimously approved Greystar to build and manage the housing at their Nov. 4 meeting. One of the largest property management companies in the world, Greystar manages more than 700,000 apartments in the U.S. and has faced several class action lawsuits. A civil suit filed in federal court in September alleged “junk” utility fees. 

Greystar manages the University of California-owned Hilltop Apartments on Western Drive in Santa Cruz. Tenants at the apartment complex, most of whom are UC Santa Cruz students, have experienced a myriad of problems including rodents, lagging maintenance, unresponsive management, unexplained fees and exorbitant rent hikes, Santa Cruz Local reported.

“The well-being of our residents is a top priority, and the Hilltop addresses properly reported issues in a timely manner,” a Greystar representative wrote in an email. “Any reported pest issues are referred to professional exterminators.” ​​Hilltop’s manager told Santa Cruz Local there were no billing issues with unexplained charges. 

Four representatives from Cabrillo — Cabrillo College President Matt Wetstein, Interim Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services Alicia Gregory, Director of Facilities Planning and Plant Operations Jon Salisbury, and Dean of Student Services Michelle Donohue —  and UCSC’s Director of Real Estate and Contract Services Nikki Vamosi reviewed the Cabrillo housing proposal from Greystar and three other companies. 

The group recommended Greystar for approval, then the Cabrillo trustees all voted in favor of it Nov. 4.

In a Nov. 21 interview, Wetstein said he was aware of the concerns about Greystar, but he declined to comment on whether that factored into the group’s decision to go with the company. He said all facets of the proposals were considered, including the buildings’ design, the revenue structure, and the plans for operation, maintenance and security.

“The design elements they brought to the table were really strong,” Wetstein said of Greystar.

When pressed on whether he had concerns with Greystar as the property manager given the problems at Hilltop Apartments near UCSC, Wetsein said he was not concerned. 

“Those concerns, if they come up, would get addressed,” Wetstein said. “But the contract for operations is going to be on a five-year basis.” In other words, the college will not be locked in to Greystar or any other property manager for more than five years at a time, he said.

If the property management is “unsatisfactory,” Wetstein said, “we’re obviously going to hear about it from the students.” Complaints would go to an advisory board or to Cabrillo administration, Wetstein said.

Oversight for the housing will be the responsibility of an advisory board that includes representatives from Cabrillo College, UC Santa Cruz and the nonprofit Collegiate Housing Foundation, Wetstein said.

A Cabrillo College housing proposal near Cabrillo College Drive could include a child care center. (Cabrillo College/Jones Lang LaSalle IP Inc.)

The Cabrillo housing project

The Cabrillo College housing project is the first housing to be built on the campus since it opened in 1959. 

With about 3,300 full-time students and more than 6,200 part-time students enrolled in fall 2024, Cabrillo has been ranked the best community college in California and one of the most affordable. In-state annual tuition and fees were less than $1,500 last school year. Still, some students at Cabrillo — and UCSC — live in vehicles and struggle to pay for housing and food. Cabrillo operates a Nourishment and Essential Supports Team (NEST) with a food pantry and offers some housing resources. 

Cabrillo’s housing proposal was approved with about $111 million in state money through a grant program established in 2021 to fund the creation of affordable student housing statewide. Greystar’s estimated monthly rent for this project is $1,046 per bed in 2024 dollars. State law sets increases and affordability limits on units funded through this program.

Part of a sports field at Cabrillo College is expected to be redeveloped into student housing. (Tyler Maldonado — Santa Cruz Local file)

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Nik Altenberg is a copy editor and fact checker at Santa Cruz Local. Altenberg grew up in Santa Cruz and holds a bachelor’s degree in Latin American and Latinx Studies from UC Santa Cruz.