SLO Living 2022

Editor’s Note

Lauren Emo

Special Sections Coordinator

Imoved to San Luis Obispo from my hometown of San Jose when I was a freshman in college. I had never lived anywhere besides home before, so it felt like a momentous occasion. Along with my physical baggage, I also brought along with me a lot of uncertainty, fear and excitement. I quickly realized that moving and living in SLO was the greatest transition I’ve experienced. With its beautiful seaside views, diverse selection of restaurants and endless daytime and nighttime activities, living in SLO never gets old.

During my freshman year, I lived in Tenaya North Mountain Residence Halls and moved into a house with four of my best friends at the start of my sophomore year. Finding housing in SLO was difficult. There are so many options to choose from, but it is an extremely competitive market. I was unsure about how I should apply for housing, what to look for and how to find the best deals. Thus, I hope this booklet can be a guide and a roadmap for people who are feeling what I felt and who may not know where to start. It also includes articles highlighting the unique features SLO has to offer students.

In this booklet, you will find information and advice from things to keep in mind while finding a place to live to where to take a caffeine break amidst your search.

How to be a

GOOD NEIGHBOR

PIPE DOWN

Noise can’t be heard 50 feet from your property line between 7 AM and 10 PM or across your property line between 10 PM and 7 AM.

PARK SMART

Park on the street or in your driveway and not on your lawn or sidewalk.

HAVING A PARTY?

Register online one week in advance to avoid costly fines.

BE CLASSY, NOT TRASHY

Furniture is not allowed in the front yard, porch or roof and garbage cans must be out of public view, except for 24 hours before and 12 hours after pick-up.

Have a neighbor causing a disturbance?

Report to SLOPD at (805)781-7312

What to consider when looking for housing in SLO

By Xiomara Lopez

Proximity to Campus

When looking for a place to live, something to keep in mind is your proximity to campus. Your decision to either walk, drive or take the bus to campus may depend on the distance your housing situation is to Cal Poly. Without a car, being near a bus stop or closer to campus would be beneficial.

Important Amenities

Another thing that is important to establish is a list of amenities you would like included in a place. Some places cover all amenities; others only include a few or maybe none. These should be taken into consideration when looking

at specific places because paying for them may be on you and your roommates. It is often up to those who live in a house, and some apartments, to be responsible for the utility bills as well as the rent. The rent and amenities not included are separate bills and mainly have different due dates.

Another thing to note is if the place includes washers and dryers. Some places–normally apartments– do have them, but they cost money or some places don’t have any and you would need to make the decision on where to do laundry. Another amenity is the air conditioning and heating units. Again, some places do have them while some don’t. If having these things are a priority for you, look into places that have one or both.

An additional thing to consider is furniture. Some places are furnished meaning they come with some furniture already. On the other hand, if furniture isn’t provided, it’ll be up to you to furnish your space. See our guide to the “Best ways to get cheap furniture” for additional guidance

Roommates

Deciding who your roommates are going to be and how many roommates there will be is important to figure out before you start applying for housing. Roommates can be friends or people also interested in the same place. Knowing ahead of time who your roommates are going to be and how many roommates you want can help with the housing search.

Everyone can then collaborate and work together in finding a place all are satisfied with. Pricing can also differ depending on the number of roommates there are because rent can be split among more individuals. Depending on room size and other features, sometimes roommates pay different amounts of the rent and some roommates decide to split the rent evenly; this is something you should discuss with your roommates before moving in together. You should also consider living with people who have similar living preferences as you to avoid future conflict.

Duration of rent

Noting if there is a minimum amount of time to rent a place is something to consider. There might be a minimum time duration to rent, so if you don’t plan on staying in a place for the established limit, then a place with a minimum limit may not be ideal

Additionally, if the place is being rented out by multiple people, such as you and your roommates, look into how many contracts there are. There might be one housing contract for everyone or separate contracts. If there is one contract with everyone’s name and one roommate doesn’t pay their share of the rent, everyone else on the contract is responsible for it. On the other hand, having separate contracts leaves each

individual responsible for their rent and paying it on time. Usually, separate contracts are used for student housing and student-friendly complexes, and a single contract with houses and other apartment complexes.

Studenthousing options

You can find various studenthousing options and complexes in town. There are the student apartments on campus: Poly Canyon Village and Cerro Vista. Then, off campus, there are student-friendly apartment complexes such as Summit SLO, Academy Chorro, Mustang Village and more. Studentfriendly apartments typically include amenities and come fully furnished.

Touring

Being able to view a place beforehand can give a better idea of if the place will make a good fit. While pictures may convey what the place looks like, viewing it in person can change or reaffirm perceptions. Something to keep in mind is not all places have tours available, but go tour the ones that are open and available to help with decision-making on where to live. If there isn’t a tour inside the unit, visit the area around the place; viewing what is nearby and the overall location can help you gain a better idea about the place.

This takes time!

The number one thing to remember is searching and applying for housing takes time. It’s best to start early. Navigating the renting market is a learning process. Starting early and securing a place to live for the next school year can ease your worries later in the year, especially since housing options can quickly become limited as time passes. Doing research, utilizing numerous resources, asking questions and then applying doesn’t happen in an instant. It’s important to find and secure a place that you will enjoy for the next school year. For more resources and information about navigating housing for the school year, there is a Renter’s Certification course on Canvas from the Off-Campus Housing Support Program that provides a brief, educational series for those looking for a place to live next school year.

Prepare for SLO’s competitive offcampus housing market

By Gwendalyn Garcia

Transitioning into off campus housing is a unique milestone for any college student. At last, you can adventure into San Luis Obispo, where you can be closer to your favorite restaurants or the beach and even live among some of your closest college friends. Even if moving off-campus is an exciting dream come true, it can still be nerve-wracking to enter the competitive off-campus housing market in San Luis Obispo for the first time. With that being said, there is no better time than now to prepare yourself, and we got you covered with these special tips:

Get educated

If you are entering the off-campus housing market for the first time, all of the jargon and rules might sound completely foreign to you. Instead of jumping straight into searching for your new home, prioritize getting educated about the rental market, potential costs and your rights and responsibilities as a tenant.

Tip: Take a look into Cal Poly University Housing’s Educated Renters Certificate

Program, an asynchronous online Canvas course ready to prepare you as a renter and provide you with a certificate to show prospective landlords.

Start the search early, avoid procrastinating

When looking for fall housing off campus for the following academic year, most students begin their hunt during the winter and spring quarters. Although you might find some housing options if you wait later in the year, you risk not finding your best fit, or not finding housing at all. If you can help it, avoid procrastinating!

Gather your resources and glance at rental platforms

When you finally feel prepared to begin looking at housing options, rental listing sites are a great way to check out what offerings are currently available in your area. Popular sites such as Zillow offer San Luis Obispo-specific listings

and are recommended when entering the renter market. In one place, rental sites allow you to view possible listings, get a range of prices and send in your application.

Popular Websites: Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor

Save money with roommates or housemates

Rental listing sites are a great way to check out what offerings are currently availiable ...

“ ”

Look near campus for

student-friendly

housing

If you need help narrowing down your offcampus housing searches, start by looking into student-friendly housing developments specifically for Cal Poly’s student body. Not only do these options make walking and biking to campus easy, but they contain student-related amenities: large communal areas, entertainment spaces and much more.

The Inside Scoop: Some of the most popular student-friendly housing in the San Luis Obispo area include Mustang Village, Summit SLO, Academy SLO, and the Valencia Apartments.

The housing market can be pricey, especially if you’re in the midst of paying for college, but a great solution to reduce your fees is to consider roommates or housemates. In technical terms, a roommate is someone you share a bedroom with, and a housemate is someone you share a house or apartment with – both great money savers. You can split utility bills, the cost of groceries and any other expenses you decide.

Be timely and prepared when communicating with your landlord

To be an impressive applicant and renter, always be timely and prepared when communicating with your landlord. When it comes to turning in paperwork or contracts and paying rent, ensure you are meeting the required responsibilities expected of you. Creating a good relationship with your landlord can help avoid issues of eviction or lawsuits in the future.

With housing secured, consider subleasing over the summer

Once you finally secure off-campus housing, you will likely not want to go through the housing search all over again. This is when you should contemplate if subletting your apartment or room during the summer or a trip abroad works for you. While you’re away, someone will pay 7080% of the rent, and you won’t lose your space. You can find potential subletters on social media websites like Facebook and Craigslist or by word-of-mouth.

Shopping on a college budget: the best thrift finds in SLO

By Trevor Baumgardner

Updating your wardrobe on a college budget can be seen as a challenge. Many college students turn to thrift stores for fashionable second-hand clothing to overcome the hurdle of limited funds. Luckily for residents of San Luis Obispo, there is no shortage of these stores. Here are a few:

Fred & Betty’s

Benefiting local non-profit private school SLO Academy, Fred & Betty’s is a quaint little thrift store located on Higuera Street. Inside, you can expect to find an organized array of different clothing items, as well as unique vintage and antique knick-knacks. They also have a selection of affordable appliances and cooking supplies suitable for amateur chefs on a tight budget. Fred & Betty’s is a store with a little bit of everything, from sections dedicated to books, to paintings, jewelry, household items and more.

Goodwill Bins

Receiving its name from the literal bins they put clothes in, the Goodwill bins is a popular location among Cal Poly students for sourcing new, affordable outfits. Stripped of all the flair and presentation that a classic brick-and-mortar thrift store may have, the bins put everything in boxes or bins, and it’s up to courageous bingoers to search and dig through everything. Here, people can find clothing in addition to assortments of DVDs, books, home decor and extremely inexpensive furniture. The Goodwill bins is about a 15-minute drive from campus and is open seven days a week 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Fred

Calico Trading Co.

Calico Trading Co. is a more upscale secondhand consignment store. Here you won’t find as many steals and deals as you would expect from other thrift stores, but you will get handpicked, trendy items at a lower cost than their original price. This is because Calico Trading Co. sorts through and sources brand-name clothing and accessories. They also make sure their items are near and presentable, in order to provide a more polished shopping experience. The store also carries vintage apparel, home goods and locallymade accessories.

& Betty’s is a quaint little thrift store ... with a little bit of everything

Best ways to get cheap furniture

By Brianna Grossman

By now, you’ve hopefully settled into your dorm or apartment and are starting to better understand what goes into creating a personalized space. Whether it be utility carts, big mirrors, fuzzy rugs, shoe racks or a ton of other small, everyday bedroom pieces, it’s important to create a comfortable and inviting space that will make coming back from campus feel like stepping into a home.

With no Ikea for a couple of hundred miles and a tight college budget, it can be stressful to find cool furniture and somehow move it into your space. However, Cal Poly students have been doing it for years, so here are some tips to get cheap furniture in SLO.

Facebook Marketplace is your friend

Students and locals from the area are always selling or giving away used furniture on Facebook Marketplace. Furniture is typically pretty inexpensive and the pieces are secondhand, so this is a more sustainable way of decorating your home. The marketplace is also a good place to sell if you’re looking to make cash on furniture that no longer suits your space.

Like with any second-hand buying and selling website, always make sure to meet up in a public space or bring your friends along for the ride.

It’s important to create a comfortable and inviting space

“ ”

Thrifting

If online shopping isn’t your thing, there are also a lot of second-hand places around SLO that have unique pieces. Goodwill, Fred and Betty’s and Old School Mission Thrift are all safe bets for finding smaller furniture at a reasonable price—think: lamps, side tables, chairs, decorative items, and more.

For bigger pieces, it may be useful to look into SLO’s consignment stores, although prices are not guaranteed to be as low as a thrift shop.

Garage sales

Towards the end of each quarter, especially in the spring, lots of students will host garage or yard sales to get rid of furniture. Most sales are found through word-of-mouth or social media reposts, but keep an eye out for any posters on campus or in the area.

Hand-me-downs

The cheapest furniture, of course, is free furniture from your upperclassmen friends. If you know any older students who are moving out of SLO or are looking to get rid of some old furniture, reach out to them and ask if they’d consider selling or giving their furniture to you. Even trading pieces with friends is a fun way to save money and practice reusing and recycling.

There are tons of methods for getting furniture at a good price, especially in SLO where thrift culture is ever-present and extremely accessible. The best times to start looking are typically closer to graduation when many students are moving away, but always keep an eye out on Facebook Marketplace or social media to see any sale opportunities and keep a running list of things you need to avoid buying unnecessary pieces.

Approaching roommate relationships

By Gwendalyn Garcia

Living with roommates can be a great solution to saving money on rent, avoiding the loneliness of living on your own, and providing a great way of surrounding yourself with forever college friends.

Once you find your roommates, it might not always be smooth sailing once you start living with each other. Even if your roommate is your best friend or a completely random assignment, you never know when frustrations or conflicts

can arise. Everyone has different values, lifestyles and roommate expectations, and sometimes they do not come up until you are already living together.

Navigating the roommate search, living with roommates and getting through everything in between is no easy feat. If you need some tips and tricks, you are in luck. Here is a guide to hopefully ease some of those challenges that may arise.

Finding roommates

When you are looking for future roommates, the easiest methods include asking, listening, and doing some searching.

If you want to live with mutuals or a few close friends, you might already have your roommates all planned out, so now all you need to do is ask them. For those starting from scratch with no particular people in mind, your best bet will be to join Facebook groups about roommates or join online platforms like Roomies or Roomster to find people in your area. The roommate search is the easy part.

Everyone has different values, lifestyles and roommate expectations.

Once you find those people, who seem like great-looking candidates as roommates, it is time to vet your options. Spend some time getting to know your potential roommates and do not be afraid to create a list of questions for an interview where you will discover if a person will be your best match for a roommate. If you take this part seriously, you might find your ideal match and avoid the stress of conflict later.

Living with roommates

Once you finally start living with your roommates, it is time to see how your lifestyles mesh into one household. The best method for avoiding conflict is to be proactive and create a roommate contract early on. This contract will be a document filled with guidelines you and your roommates agree to follow while living together. While making the contract, it is the perfect opportunity to set rules, acknowledge one another’s pet peeves and define how your shared space should function during this time. With logistics covered, you should make the most of living with a roommate. This is a valuable

time to get to know someone in their natural habitat and create new memories with them.

Everything in between

Of course, we wish everything could be smooth sailing, but sometimes that is not the case, and whether we want it to or not, conflicts can arise out of nowhere. If you are starting to notice your roommate and you are just not getting along, or your guidelines break, remember these three things:

1.

Even if confrontation is challenging, you should spark conversations about issues bothering you with your roommate. Open communication is valuable and if done in a constructive manner, can prevent a build-up of issues.

2

.

You can utilize your Roommate Contract during mediation with your roommates. It can help you get on track or prompt a conversation about possible changes to the contract.

3

.

In the end, you do not have to be the best of friends with your roommate, but it is always important to remain respectful, reasonable and open-minded in times of disagreement.

Caffeine Breaks

By Trevor Baumgardner

Finding the energy and motivation to study and complete schoolwork on a minimal amount of sleep is a seemingly impossible feat without the use of caffeine. Getting away from campus to get your fix of caffeine can be the solution to a more productive work session. Listed below are just a few locations that can satisfy your caffeine needs.

Getting away from campus to get your fix of caffeine can be the solution to a more productive work session.

Nautical Bean

Alongside its walls you can find skateboards, Star Wars memorabilia, vintage lunch boxes and more. Nautical Bean offers a unique visual experience to accompany its wide selection of brewed beverages and food items. Nautical bean provides a perfect environment for a caffeinated study session. Free wifi and well-cushioned booths allow students to

spend extended time on whatever work they have for the week. The family-owned coffee shop has two locations, one off of Parker Street and another off of Los Osos Valley Road. If you’re looking for a lively study environment, you can stop by Nautical Bean for your next pick-me-up.

Linnaea’s Cafe

When first entering Linnaea’s, you will see a traditional coffee bar with a small seating area next to a window with a view of the street. Here, at the front of the cafe, you can pick up a latte made from freshly ground organic coffee beans with one of Linnaea’s freshly baked goods. However, if you venture down the hall, you’ll discover Linnaea’s

patio garden. The hidden garden is home to a small koi pond accompanied by eye-catching greenery and a number of different seating options. This unique outdoor setting makes it a popular spot for students to catch a break from campus and work in a quiet and grounding environment.

Field Day Coffee

Field Day Coffee is a specialty coffee company that serves coffee sourced from all over the world. They have coffee from national coffee roasters like Soul Chai from Portland and Sey Coffee from Brooklyn, but they also have coffee from international coffee roasters like La Cabra from Aarhus, Denmark. Field Day’s location is akin to a small, open warehouse

that allows for fresh air to flow through the cafe, and creates a peaceful work environment. In addition to coffee, Field Day also serves wine, beer and pastries daily, but be sure to stop by on Tuesdays and Sundays when they sell their housemade bagels.

Student-friendly hangout spots around SLO

By Caitlin Garcia

De-stressing after a long week is essential, especially for Cal Poly students. Finding quick and convenient things to do nearby may feel difficult, but San Luis Obispo has plenty to offer. No matter the time of day or night, here are some student-friendly hangout spots for your next day off.

SLO Public Market

As a newer addition to San Luis Obispo’s many attractions, the Public Market invites you to dine and shop in this ranch-style collective of local vendors and boutiques. Located off S. Higuera St., the Public Market is home to restaurants, bakeries, breweries and more. With inside and outdoor seating, the market is the place to be, open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m every day of the week.

Avila Pier

Whether it’s clear skies or just a bit chilly, Avila Beach Pier and the downtown shops are the definition of shopping with a view. Alongside the waterfront restaurants, tasting rooms and markets, Avila Beach hosts all types of events, including farmer’s markets, art on the beach and concerts.

Fremont Theater

Fremont Theater is a SLO classic with iconic designs that are hard to overlook. The downtown venue hosts entertainment for all, from live concerts to genre-specific dance parties. Keep a close eye on the theater’s schedule to get your tickets in time because they sell out fast.

SLO Botanical Garden

What started as a Cal Poly senior project is now a community favorite. The San Luis Obispo

“ ”

Botanical Garden is an idyllic sanctuary of diverse nature. In addition to the garden’s daily hours, a new immersive holiday exhibit will be opening on Friday, Nov. 11. Nature Nights at the SLO Botanical Garden features large-scale artistic lighting of the gardens, wire sculptures and local food and drink.

Puzzle Effect Escape Rooms

Taking a break from school does not always entail a break for the mind. If you’re looking for something to keep the brain strong while having fun with friends, Puzzle Effect downtown is the perfect escape. Open until 8 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends, Puzzle Effect offers a selection of themed escape rooms to suit your interests and challenge your wit.

Finding quick and convenient things to do nearby may feel difficult, but San Luis Obispo has plenty to offer.

SLO’s Sunset Guide

By Brianna Grossman

San Luis Obispo’s hills can be a pain, especially when having to walk to and from campus, or anywhere for that matter. Luckily, however, they create some great sunset spots to check out after weekday lectures or for weekend outings. Here’s a guide to SLO’s best sunset views and how to best enjoy them.

Perfumo Canyon

Arguably one of the more popular sunset spots in SLO, Prefumo Canyon is a long, scenic, winding drive off of Los Osos Valley Rd. It consists of a breathtaking view of SLO’s beautiful hills, a distant look at Morro Rock and lots of open space to take pictures with friends and enjoy the setting sun. It’s fun to set out a picnic blanket and enjoy charcuterie with a view, or on windier days, it’s typical to bring snacks and set up in the back of your car to vibe out to music from your radio with your friends.

Terrace Hill

Terrace Hill is definitely a SLO favorite and it’s the best place to go when you’re in a time crunch or just want to stay closer to campus. Located in the railroad district, Terrace Hill is

a short five-minute uphill walk to an incredible 360-degree view of SLO. It is an ideal spot for a picnic, graduation pictures, evening walks, celebrations with friends and seeing all the best parts of SLO in one place. Typically, Terrace Hill can be chilly, especially in the fall and winter months so always wear layers for the best experience.

Terrace Hill is a short fiveminute walk to an incredible 360° view of SLO

”

The Pismo Dunes

The famous Pismo Dunes are an obvious choice for this sunset guide because of how justifiably popular they are. If you’re willing to take the short drive to Pismo Beach and pay a small fee to drive on the sand, you and your friends can drive down the coast to the dunes for an incredible look at how expansive they are. During sunset, the dunes appear almost unreal and make for really cool pictures. Bring a blanket and a pair of flip-flops because it gets super sandy quite quickly. Definitely add the Pismo Dunes during sunset to your SLO bucket list.

Morro Rock

What could possibly make Morro Rock more picturesque? Morro Rock during golden hour. The views of Morro Rock from the adjacent beaches are incredible during sunset; the pastel colors and white mist from the ocean surround the rock and offer a captivating view of the Pacific. Due to its location close to downtown, there are surrounding restaurants with good seafood and breathtaking views of the rock that make this sunset spot even more desirable.

Montaña de Oro

If you’re down for a bit of a drive, making the trip to Montaña de Oro’s Bluff trail for sunset is a must. The long stretch of coast offers tons of different spots to admire the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding nature. There are benches and picnic tables scattered throughout the trail and lots of parking along the way that gives you lots of freedom to choose your favorite spot. Coastal spaces can drop in temperature quickly in the evenings, so plan to bring jackets or blankets, especially if you’re walking the trail.

Pirate’s Cove

Admittedly, Pirate’s Cove doesn’t have the clearest view of the sunset, however, it is very beautiful and picturesque during sunset, deserving a spot on this guide. Just before the freeway exit to Avila beach, Pirate’s Cove is at the top of a moderately steep road that leads to a breathtaking view of the Pacific Coast. With sufficient parking space and plenty of viewpoints, Pirate’s Cove is a peaceful spot away from the more popular places to take your mind off of everyday stressors and enjoy golden hour on the water. Since it is rocky, and there aren’t a ton of seating areas to spread out a blanket, sitting in the back of your car, turning on your speaker and bringing take-out food is the best way to enjoy Pirate’s cove.