Abroad students shut out of Park Central

By Bobby Philbrook

Some students expecting to live in Park Central Apartments after returning from a quarter abroad were notified in November they would not have housing, causing most to rent from Domocilio, a more expensive option with prohibitive lease provisions.

"We all wanted to live together, but we were all going abroad," said Katie Ryan, referring to six of her friends. "So we put in an application at Park Central in the beginning of winter quarter last year. They said we were No. 5 on the waiting list."

For a variety of reasons, including a lack of on-campus housing, only approximately 400 juniors and seniors elect to live on campus their junior and senior years, while rest move off campus. Most rental houses require one-year leases. To avoid the trouble of finding sub-leasers, many students turn to apartment complexes with more flexible rental arrangements.

"We sent out notices in September to let those on the waiting list know their situation," said Akee Farahmand, the property manager at Park Central. "What kind of availability they have, what are their options. Specifically, we referred them to Domicilo."

A two-bedroom apartment at Park Central currently leases for between $1850 to $2000 every month while a two-bedroom at Domicilo leases for $2295.

The last week of November, while still in London, Ryan learned Park Central had called the parents of one of her anticipated roommates, telling them there was no room, and the group would have to seek housing elsewhere.

"I never received a call," said Ryan. "When I got back to the States, I had a message from them from November."

When Ryan's group turned in their application over a year ago, Park Central management "verbally assured us we had nothing to worry about," said Ryan. "And when we found out we couldn't live at Park Central, they referred us only to other Prometheus properties."

Prometheus, a privately held property management firm, manages both Park Central and Domicilio, along with 39 other apartment complexes in the Bay Area. Farahmand said, "Santa Clara is very familiar with this company."

Students living on campus in Sobrato Hall are familiar with the name of the property's owner. Although managed by Prometheus, Domicilio is owned by Sobrato Development Companies.

"We don't market mainly to students, but the location is ideal," said Christie Brown, leasing agent for Domocilio, adding that, "we actually didn't get as many students as we wanted" since the complex opened in July 2006. The 306-unit complex is currently 70 percent occupied.

Lauren Tavelli, a junior who studied abroad fall quarter, secured an apartment with her three roommates at Park Central by signing the lease in August, before they left for Europe.

"We turned in the initial application last November and put ourselves on the August waiting list," said Tavelli. "Finding subleasers was a pain, but the January waiting list seemed like a toss-up."

Tavelli and her three roommates still had to pay rent for an empty apartment in August before the sub-leasers moved in.

"We're glad we signed then because they just raised rent prices," said Tavelli. They pay $1600 a month for a two-bedroom. Farahmand said apartment prices at all Prometheus properties fluctuate according to demand.

Ryan eventually moved into a three-bedroom apartment at Domicilio with six of her friends where they pay $3425 for a month's rent.

She does not mind the high price she pays to live next to the baseball field and across the street from the university.

"Actually, after the bad experience we had with Park Central, I'm more than happy to live in Domicilo. The amenities are much greater," said Ryan.

"We have access to a brand new apartment, a pool and a movie theater. It's definitely cozy, but a lot of places off campus are. It works."

Contact Bobby Philbrook at (408) 554-4546 or rphilbrook@scu.edu.