Home Owners – �鶹��Ƶ

Residential Pollinator Garden Guide for State College Borough

Ada Inman — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 17:22:21 +0000

The town of State College is in the process of providing its residence with detailed guidance on promoting pollinators through pollinator gardening approaches and habitat. Students are asked to provide recommendations specific to the State College geography for the establishment of pollinator habitat/gardens in State College residential neighborhoods, including native plants materials, guidance on planting and maintenance of pollinator gardens and its footprint to curtain overgrown areas.

Sustainable Communities Collaborative Contact Info
University Faculty Contact
Heather Karsten, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Crop Production / Ecology
hdk3@psu.edu
814-863-3179

Housing Designs for Sullivan, IN

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:39:10 +0000

The City of Sullivan, IN has a neighborhood revitalization plan and requires new housing that will attract new homeowners to Sullivan. The IAD251 course offers Interior Architecture Design sophomores and juniors the opportunity to design their own unique home, so they were tasked with developing concepts and floor plans for Sullivan’s empty lots. The course [...]

Sustainable Housing Unit

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:39:10 +0000

Students in ENGR401 were tasked with providing recommendations for an energy efficient heating and cooling system for a housing design provided by IAD251. Students performed necessary calculations and compared information with sustainability factors. There are also further recommendations for building sustainable housing. [...]

Wayfinding

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:39:08 +0000

The comuniparques Project is Tijuana’s urban greening program, which aims to renovate several of Tijuana’s degraded city parks and create capacities for sustainable communities through community engagement and installation of green infrastructure. In their first phase of work, the program is focusing on two parks in the Residencial del Bosque and Matamoros neighborhoods.

In collaboration with students from SDSU’s Environmental Conservation Practice course (Geography 570), as well as students from Universidad de las Californias International and Colegio de la Frontera Norte (COLEF), our class will develope signage for these parks. Our class developed plans and park designs created by students in GEO570, and used community demographics gathered by students and the project in Tijuana. The signage must identify and communicate information about the park to residents, and help engage them in the many uses of the park.

The Sage Project Contact Info
Kristofer Patron
Program Administrator
kpatron@sdsu.edu
(619) 594-0103

University Faculty Contact
Chris McCampbell
Art

Local Government / Community Contact

Parks & Recreation

SDSU West Expansion: Site Analysis

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:39:07 +0000

SDSU West is the in-process development site of what is now Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley. San Diego State University is looking to expand their campus in order to create higher education opportunities for current and future students, provide mixeduse residential and commercial developments, and establish a new Aztec stadium for multiuse purposes. Public Administration 350 students visited the soon-to be SDSU West site and, using acquired language and field work methods, assessed paths, edges, nodes, and landmarks. Students took photographs of the site and its features and compiled comments, observations, and perceived needs. This report is comprised of student recommendations that detail what they believe will make SDSU West the most feasible place to live, learn, and work.

The Sage Project Contact Info
Kristofer Patron
Program Administrator
kpatron@sdsu.edu
(619) 594-0103

University Faculty Contact
Kim

Local Government / Community Contact

San Diego State University Mission Valley Housing Policy Options

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:39:07 +0000

This report was created through a partnership with the Sage Project at San Diego State University (SDSU) during the spring of 2019. The research contained herein was conducted by students in an upper-division political science course headed by Professor Brian Adams. The given goal was to provide a policy analysis providing options for affordable housing at the future SDSU Mission Valley site. A differentiation between market-rate and non-profit-provided housing was made to divide this research into two main policy areas with multiple subsections within those areas. The data gathered on these topics include definitions, advantages, disadvantages, case studies, and potential feasibility. We acknowledge the fiscal, temporal, and political limitations that could prevent SDSU from pursuing some of the more philanthropic options in delivering housing to its community; bottom lines must be considered, and loans repaid. Market-rate student housing can be delivered through various avenues including the public (university-owned) and private sphere. A confluence between the two parties can allow for public-private partnerships, which have been successfully used to create student-only housing, as seen at The Green, at the University of California, Davis; or mixed-use buildings with retail and commercial spaces that include both student and residential housing, as seen in the University of Central Florida’s Creative Village. Micro units are a growing trend showing favor among student-aged demographics that could be accomplished through both the public and private sector. Non-profits organizations, like the Collegiate Housing Foundation, have financed over $3.1 billion in student housing facilities with multiple examples at the University of California, Irvine. On a smaller scale, student housing cooperatives, such as the Berkeley Student Cooperative, have provided students with low-cost housing for nearly a century—although the model seems limited in scalability. We recognize how contingent SDSU’s decision-making will likely be when considering policy options for its Mission Valley site. Our aim is to allow for informed decision-making given quality information.

The Sage Project Contact Info
Kristofer Patron
Program Administrator
kpatron@sdsu.edu
(619) 594-0103

University Faculty Contact
Brian Adams

Local Government / Community Contact

SDSU Mission Valley: Concerns and Considerations on Affordable Housing

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:39:07 +0000

San Diego State University (SDSU)’s partnership with the Sage Project has allowed current students to be involved in the planning process for the new Mission Valley campus. In its initial run of collaborations, SDSU staff had a goal in mind for participants: to conduct individual policy analyses related to housing in Mission Valley, focusing primarily on affordability and lessons from other contexts. In this study, we analyzed potential issues the project might face in future public-private partnerships and student access. We also addressed the question of who might be eli-gible for affordable housing programs. Five reports were conducted and compiled into one comprehensive document, using primary and secondary sources, and pre-senting current similar projects in higher education as models.

In this report, we explore three primary research questions in order to develop recommendations for the SDSU Mission Valley project based on its stated goal and through conversation with individuals involved in the planning process for Mission Valley. Based on our research, we offer three recommendations moving forward. First, maintain a clear dedication to maintaining affordability for residents in all mis-sion statements for in any public-private partnerships the university considers. Second, maintain open channels of communication with students and other stakeholders in the planning and development process in order to maximize student access. Finally, consider transfer students as a priority population for affordable housing units, as they are most likely to meet eligibility criteria.

The Sage Project Contact Info
Kristofer Patron
Program Administrator
kpatron@sdsu.edu
(619) 594-0103

University Faculty Contact
Kristen Hill Maher

Local Government / Community Contact

Emergency Operations Policy Research and Planning for National City’s Disaster Preparedness and Response

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:39:07 +0000

National City’s Debris Management Annex is a plan which establishes an organizational structure and process by which National City can coordinate and manage, in the most effective and efficient way, the clearance, removal, and disposal of debris following an emergency or disaster. This annex establishes a Debris Management Organization and outlines Staff, Contractor, and Partner Agency responsibilities. In addition, it contains four appendices including Debris Contractor Oversight Team Standard Operating Guidelines; a Sample Debris Removal and Disposal Monitoring Plan; Debris Clearing, Removal, and Disposal Guidelines; and a Debris Removal Applicants Contracting Checklist. Capitalizing on the resources available through county, state, and federal partner organizations, contractors, and within National City, this annex is flexible enough to respond to any emergency regardless of the size, scale, or scope

The Sage Project Contact Info
Kristofer Patron
Program Administrator
kpatron@sdsu.edu
(619) 594-0103

University Faculty Contact

Homeland Security

Local Government / Community Contact

Survey of Noise Exposure in National City Port Area Residents

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:39:07 +0000

The purpose of this study was to determine the attitudes of the residents of National City toward noise in their community and to compare that to information about the actual noise levels to which the residents are exposed. This is intended to provide information about when and what type of noise may be a problem in the area. A target area near the San Diego Marine Terminal in National City was chosen for study. The study was done via door-to-door administration of surveys about environmental noise. Questions included several types of noise residents might be exposed to, and when and how much the residents are annoyed by the noise. Sound level measurements were also taken in the target area at two times during the day for comparison: morning and midday. Overall, the residents did not report that their community was a noisy environment; however, those who did report that the community was noisy were most bothered in the evening and overnight.

The Sage Project Contact Info
Kristofer Patron
Program Administrator
kpatron@sdsu.edu
(619) 594-0103

University Faculty Contact

Local Government / Community Contact

Civic Center Microgrid Feasibility Study

Victor Manzanilla — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:39:07 +0000

Energy is a major operating cost for local governments. City of National City has taken many steps to reduce energy usage in its facilities implementing energy efficiency and conservation. The City is now considering the implementation of a microgrid, which is a renewable resource generator that empowers a geographic area to use its own electricity when available and to rely on the existing utility grid when it is not. The goal is to become more energy independent, self-sufficient, and take advantage of any alternative energy benefits available.

This feasibility study commissioned by the City of National City identifies energy cost saving methods for the Civic Center complex. The subject buildings included for this study are: Arts Center, City Hall, Fire Station 34, Library, Kimball Park, MLK Community Center, Police Station and Senior Center.

The results provided from our report are based on our research and analysis. Based on the client’s available funding, we have provided different system implementation options. Our recommendation is for the initial photovoltaic system to be installed on the Arts Center and to wait to install secondary systems as the cost of photovoltaic decreases in the future and as more funding becomes available. Once secondary systems have been installed, Net Energy Metering can assist in cost efficiency.

To recommend our options for future energy cost reductions, we conducted the following five steps. First, we determined the annual usage per building for the 12-month period from October 2012 to September 2013. Second, we used the annual usage information to obtain a contractor’s estimate for the cost in implementing a photovoltaic system. Third, we researched external funding sources, rebate programs and financing options for renewable energy sources. Fourth, we used the quoted cost and available external funding sources to develop a cost/benefit analysis on implementation of the photovoltaic system. Lastly, we prepared a Request for Proposal for the City of National City to issue to contractors for a photovoltaic system.

The Sage Project Contact Info
Kristofer Patron
Program Administrator
kpatron@sdsu.edu
(619) 594-0103

University Faculty Contact

Local Government / Community Contact