The Foothill-De Anza Community College District Board of Trustees recently reviewed progress on voter-approved Measure G bond projects, highlighting sustainability and facilities upgrades while questioning slow occupancy in employee housing.
Multiple projects across both campuses were covered during a Feb. 2 presentation, many of which will be discussed in greater detail during upcoming study sessions. Sustainability-related projects funded by the voter-approved $898 million general obligation bond will be featured in a dedicated presentation next month, with a full update on the Creative Arts Center planned for April.
Facilities improvements funded through Measure G are advancing, with work underway on HVAC upgrades tied to the Foothill College pool renovation. The district has submitted air-source heat pump designs to the Division of the State Architect and is addressing reviewer comments. Work has also begun to expand the district’s campuswide building management system, starting with Building D120 and extending to Smithwick Hall, the plant building at Foothill, the Creative Arts Building at De Anza and De Anza’s Physical Education renovation.
Work is progressing at the Sunnyvale Education Center, where Measure G funds are being spent on spaces for emergency medical, respiratory therapy and radiologic technology programs.
The board spent a significant portion of its meeting discussing employee housing projects supported by the bond. At Scholars Row, one apartment is currently occupied, with 12 applications approved and move-ins expected in March. An additional 40 applications remain under review. Two apartments are occupied by staff at the Acacia project in Palo Alto, with one more approved and additional applications pending.
Trustee Laura Casas asked why it has taken so long to move people into the Acacia units. Staff cited property management challenges and the complexity of income verification. “There’s a lot of verification that needs to be done,” said Joel Cadiz, executive director of facilities and operations. Cadiz noted that applicants do not always respond promptly to requests for documentation.
Administrators also pointed to affordability. Acacia rents are capped at 120 percent of Area Median Income (AMI), compared with 150 percent at Scholars Row, and are higher overall. “Those are the two major things that are preventing our employees from considering that,” Cadiz told the board, despite recent improvements in property management staffing.
Demand varies by AMI tier, administrators said. Units at 80 percent AMI filled quickly, while higher-cost 120 percent units have been less attractive compared with housing in neighboring communities, and the five-year occupancy limit has made some employees hesitant to move in.
The update also highlighted the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. New chargers are being installed at multiple locations, including four ports at the Foothill Campus Center, 17 at Lot 5 at Foothill, eight at the Performing Arts Center parking area, and additional ports at courtyard and parking lot locations on both campuses.
Administrators added that work under Measure G is ongoing and that future board discussions may revisit housing policies as projects continue to come online.
