ASI to review independent housing proposal

Nessa Hessami

A resolution proposing implementation of an independent housing plan to ease the crunch facing Sacramento State students will be discussed at Wednesday?s Associated Students, Inc. board meeting.

California State Student Association Representative Brandon Kline authored the resolution to assist the Sac State community with the current housing crunch. The resolution may work in conjunction with State Assembly Bill 1611, which would help establish funds for non-profit organizations such as ASI to build housing.

“We?re trying to get apartments, or any other kind of off campus housing,” Kline said. “Our ideal plan is to own low-cost apartment style housing. This resolution establishes the mandate for ASI to start looking for potential land. This will be our first step,” Kline said the project would specifically be an ASI project, and would have no affiliation with the campus? Housing and Residential Life program.

“It?s important for this to pass because it gives ASI the opportunity to help the housing problem that we are facing and will face in the years to come,” said ASI President Artemio Pimentel. “If we don?t do something about this, we will be faced with a serious housing problem in years to come.”

If the resolution passes, it would allow ASI to start making plans for potential housing developments, Kline said.

“Hopefully, everything will be planned in a year, so we can get started,” Kline said. “I would also like to see the University establish a Greek row. I think it would enhance campus life if we had one.”

Pimentel said a project like the proposed housing plan is important for students, particularly due to the recent campus housing shortage.

“We are looking forward to establishing affordable housing for students and making it as accessible as possible for students. We want to make it so students will want to live there,” Pimentel said.

In addition to ASI housing plans, Housing and Residential Life has also been working on plans to undergo apartment style housing.

“We did an assesment last year. If all goes as planned, we hope to have apartment style housing where the temporary buildings are located.” said Director Cynthia Cockrill. “We would like to have this done by 2005.”