UC Davis Celebrates Two New Housing Projects Financed by Collegiate Housing Foundation

July 19, 2021
University of California Davis
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The University of California, Davis, today (July 19) celebrated milestones in two major student housing projects: The Green at West Village is completed and work on the Orchard Park apartment project is officially underway following a ceremonial groundbreaking.

“These important milestones on Orchard Park and The Green at West Village are helping to fill a critical need for on-campus housing,” UC Davis Chancellor Gary S. May said at The Green, site of the celebration for both milestones. The audience saw a video of the ceremonial groundbreaking at Orchard Park, which took place Sunday (July 18).

“This is a big win for students, the university and our surrounding communities,” the chancellor said. “It’s all thanks to close collaboration with the city of Davis, Yolo County and our development partners.”

The Green at West Village provides about 3,300 beds primarily for transfer and continuing undergraduate students. The first phase of the project, with 1,000 beds, opened last fall. The complex includes nine four-story apartment buildings, indoor and outdoor community spaces, recreation fields, and a community building with a fitness center, multipurpose room and student support services.

At the time of groundbreaking in 2019, The Green was the largest student housing construction project in the country.

The Orchard Park apartment complex will comprise almost 1,600 beds in just over 600 apartment units for single graduate students, and students with families. Apartments will be rented at below-market rates for comparable properties. The complex will include two community buildings, one for families and one for graduate students. Orchard Park will be open for tenants in the fall of 2023.

Because of the scale of the projects, both are being carried out as public-private partnerships funded through tax-exempt bond sales. The Michaels Organization is the developer for both projects. The Green at West Village is owned by a national nonprofit organization, Collegiate Housing Foundation, with a ground lease from UC Davis. The facility is managed by Michaels Student Living Management, with UC Davis Student Housing and Dining Services providing marketing, leasing and on-site student support services. Orchard Park will be managed in the same way once complete.