SignOnSanDiego has an interesting article about the problem with “Mini Dorms” in SDSU-adjacent College View Estates, which is near my ‘hood. Basically a Mini-Dorm is best described as “10 college kids in a run-down 2BR rancher”.

Living in the College Area, we have our share of College Kid problems too. Although Rolando Village is just far enough away from SDSU to avoid the worst of the partying and noise, we still have a lot of college kids in the area.

The biggest problem we’ve had is the driving – SDSU kids like to tear-ass around the residential neighborhoods in their lifted trucks, despite the fact that we’ve got tons of little kids and seniors in the area. Thankfully, the City of San Diego heeded our call for more stop signs, and we’ve recently received three new stop signs on my block, which has made a noticeable difference.

There are 2 houses on my block which can be considered “Mini Dorms”. One is just a white trash family who rents their garage to any crackhead with enough cash to pay the rent. The other is a well-kept home with several “Cabanas” in the backyard that are popular with foreign students. The owners are a very nice gay couple and to date we have really had zero problems.

I do feel for the people close to SDSU. There are some blocks in El Cerrito and College View Estates that are nearly 100% college rentals. The city does have a program in place to target chronic party houses, which seems to work, but there is no legal limit on residents in a single family home. Past attempts at the city to enforce this have been struck down by the courts.

Mini-dorms raise ire of neighbors