Pacifico Student Cooperative Housing

Pacifico Student Cooperative Housing is a student housing co-op, located at the end of Drew Circle, on Unitrans W bus line, as well as right off the Putah Creek Parkway and South Davis Bike Path. The purpose of Pacifico is to provide cooperative, low-cost student housing (some non-students live here too) for those attending UC-Davis and other schools in Davis and Sacramento communities. Non-students may also apply. Pacifico strives to engage in continuous educational programs that further the principles of cooperation through mutual, self-help living at a minimal cost. To this end, each resident will contribute 4 hours in workshifts per week (cleaning, cooking, gardening, shopping for supplies, etc.) and there are many opportunities for leadership and involvement through committees and the council.

Pacifico is also looking for applicants for their five compensated "Coordinator" positions, who will also be members of the coop. These positions will be given a rent stipend and full workshift credit for their positions. The coordinators will, respectively, be responsible for Maintenance, Membership services, Inventory, Meal Planning, and Labor coordination. The coordinators will work with the full-time staff and the membership at large to make sure that the services offered by Pacifico are high quality and affordable. More information can be found at http://jobs.pacifico.coop.

There are four separate buildings: Kyoto, Unity, Rochdale, and Kaweah, though many residents refer to them by their address: A, B, C, and D (respectively). One's experience can vary greatly there depending on which building/floor you're in, due to the different housemates, and the different arrangements that may have been made or ground-rules in each area (ie, some allow pets, some are quieter than others, etc). Depending on whether you want a place to live quietly by yourself or you want a place to socialize with others will determine how you feel about living here. Like most cooperative living, the members are usually friendly to outsiders too.

a sandwich board by the MU Bus Terminal

Each of Pacifico's four buildings are comprised of twenty small single-occupancy rooms, four larger single-occupancy rooms, two small double-occupancy rooms, and two larger double occupancy rooms, and one of the buildings has a studio apartment. Additionally, each building has a fully equipped community kitchen, large dining area, furnished community living room and laundry facilities. Each room includes computer and DSL Internet access as well as phone and cable hook-ups. Visually, it seems more like a dorm (shared bathrooms, communal lounge space, communal dining area, communal kitchen) than Agrarian Effort (etc) on campus, which are structured as houses. Pacifico is home to a diverse mix of students from within the U.S. and abroad. Because of the low cost, available benefits, and convenience of family-style living, Pacifico is a time- and money-saving choice for many international, transfer, and re-entry students — or for any graduate or undergraduate students who want to give co-op living a try. For more information about the membership and application process, as well as workshifts and other frequently asked questions, visit Pacifico's website.

Media

• Aggie article April 2007

A Fresh Start?

Note: Davis Campus Cooperatives, who owns Pacifico, actually sought a partnership with North American Students of Cooperation as early as 2005 (City of Davis Staff Report). In danger of losing their property to the City of Davis because of a 30% vacancy, Davis Campus Cooperatives requested suspension of their loan payment to the city and a memorandum of understanding establishing a relationship between Pacifico [Davis Campus Cooperatives] and NASCO. This memorandum, signed August 2006, established NASCO as operational director and board. The property on which Pacifico was built was provided through the City of Davis Inclusionary Housing Ordinance and financed in part through City of Davis affordable housing funds; this city funding marks Pacifico as a predominantly income restricted development intended to serve "very low and low income students, as well as other one to two person households." Prior to this memorandum of understanding, management of the property was contracted to MBS Property Management, a professional management company located in West Sacramento.

Beginning Sept. 1, 2006, Pacifico will officially be affiliated with NASCO, who will bring management support and assistance with cooperative education and community organizing. The previous management company will no longer be employed. In the process, the members of Pacifico have had the opportunity to become more involved in the day-to-day decision-making and there is a growing core of co-opers willing to contribute their time into improving their co-op community and housing enjoyment level. Pacifico members recently founded the Cooperative Living Alliance as one step toward building strong co-op ties.

In prior years, Pacifico has operated as somewhat of a hybrid cooperative: the general architecture isn't very conducive to communal living, although it does allow residents more privacy than the On Campus Co-ops. Due to inconsistent marketing and lack of education, Pacifico members haven't always identified themselves as a co-operative or even realize that it's a co-op when they move in. As a result, some residents are apathetic to the concept of co-operative living and look at Pacifico as just a cheap place to live. Over time, however, each house has developed a different atmosphere and chemistry between housemates; and many residents have chosen to live at Pacifico for years and worked hard to improve their house. As one member put it: "Pacifico is place is for personal improvement and interpersonal communication, not meant to be only a cheap place to live!!!!!"

Prior Comments

These were from before the NASCO affiliation

2005-05-25 10:13:52   I lived there for a year. It was awful. The general architectural design wasn't conducive to cooperative living at all (basically, it made it quite possible to just stay in your room most of the time), and due to incompetent marketing, many of the residents didn't realize it was anything more than a cheap apartment until the day they moved in. That was just the first year though, and things may have gotten better since then, but I'm still rather suspicious. —BarnabasTruman

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2005-11-16 16:26:40   I do not live there but a friend of mine does. What they have experienced agrees with the other comments. From what I have heard many students who have moved there did not know it was a co-op until they moved in. —MyaBrn

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2005-11-18 16:30:18   All i want to say is that every house has a different atmosphere and chemistry among housemates. I've lived in A house for more than 2 years and i enjoy living there. You should come back and visit to see the improvements we made. Lots of stuffs are going on. I don't know if you have heard about Resident Council, it is run by interested residents for house improvement. Maybe you are one of those people who just sleep there. If you choose to live there, why not dig up everything about the place? —EthanKong

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2005-11-18 16:33:58   If anyone is interested in coming to our Thanksgiving dinner next Monday 7-ish, email me. we have a giant dinner planned. —EthanKong

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2005-11-18 17:36:30   Those 1st two commeters are wack and shouldn't be looked upon for the truth of the matter. The reality with any Davis blind housing situation, is that residents are at risk of living with some crummy fellow students that don't make the effort to get to know their neighbors. I've been living at Pacifico for more then 3 years and as of yet, have only run into a couple people who haven't liked the housing situation. These were people like Mr. Truman who wanted to be in solitude throughout the entire day. —EddieGalbavy

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2005-11-19 00:52:27   What do you mean, "Mr. Truman... wanted to be in solitude throughout the entire day"? I took the job of house manager because nobody else wanted it, and because I thought maybe I could organize the residents and make things better. I was wrong; most of the residents just didn't care. I also wedged my way into the DCC Board of Directors in hopes of maybe getting some influence and steering things in a better direction. Again, it didn't work—DCC is (or was, anyway) an old boys' club with no interest in listening to dissenting voices. In short: I did everything I could to get that co-op working in its first year of existence, and it still failed. Don't accuse me of being "wack," untruthful, or "wanting to be in solitude throughout the entire day." —BarnabasTruman

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2005-11-20 18:57:22   The place is very dysfunctional for the most part. To me it seems that the majority of the residents are pretty apathetic to the concept of co-operative living and look at it as just a cheap place to live. Nothing really gets done and the existing structures and rules generally aren't adhered to or enforced. It doesnt matter in the long run as the Co-Op Board is having a hard time making the loan payments on this place and we may all be gone when our leases expire. —AnonEmuss —AnonEmuss

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2005-11-23 11:31:23   Like you said, it is apathetic that a lot of residents in the house, especially B, are not willing to contribute their time into improving their housing enjoyment level. And thank you for Truman's work as a house manager of one of the houses (don't know which) at such a difficult time, the 1st year of Pacifico Co-op. But the thing is - it is a long time ago. What happened to your life in the last few years! YOu Can't keep the same view on things for more than a day! Things change and we are absolutly different than the time you're here. By the way, if anyone sees the co-op as a cheap place to live, they should not sign their lease at all. There are some other cheap places too, why pick this one that does not fit your life style? When Nasco step in, no one can lack on their contribution as a co-oper anymore. This place is for personal improvement and interpersonal communication, not mean to be only a cheap place to live!!!!! —EthanKong

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2005-11-23 23:00:34   I apologize for making the wack accusation...I realize that residents go into the co-op with different expectations, and I personally really enjoy the ability to, at times, get really involved and get to know other members of the house; then at other times, close my door, do my own thing and not have to socialize. In other words, I sorta see it as a good starter co-op. If you are really looking for a tight-knit commune, then yeah, you might be disappointed...but I was looking for part single-guy apartment, part cooperative, and a really affordable rent; and that's what I've experienced so far. Plus, I agree with E-Kong. —EddieGalbavy

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2006-02-16 14:19:40   Mostly harmless and if you speak Cantonese this is the place for you —AmiBitter

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2006-02-22 00:17:53   I also don't live there but heard rumors that the rooms are really small, not friendly to people who wants more space. I also heard that the walls are thin, you can hear everything your neighbors are doing, plus the house politics and drama with twenty something people, bleh. —AsukaRei

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2006-02-23 20:58:11   The walls are indeed paper thin and the doors slam like bank vaults when people close them they also have funny electronic locks that are really annoying. The rooms are really tiny although there are a few large ones on every floor. Politics here is pretty harmless the drama is all petty for the most part. over all a good group of folks, but living in mass as it were can be trying. —IsthisRight

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2006-04-06 12:22:05   Pacifico has been a really great experience for me. The people that I live with are wonderful. Currently the co-op is going through a reorganization that could use new and interesting people. It is a very open environment that allows you to interact with new cultures and people. If you enjoy living in a group, check us out! :) —ChrisAltavilla

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2006-04-23 21:15:44   Questions for those who do/have lived there (answer in page text if you wish): What are weekly duty examples? Are meals eaten together? Anything else special? —SteveDavison

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2006-06-27 20:35:44   Pacifico management is very poor on maintaince our latest problem is a chronic lack of water pressure it is impossible to take a shower here in the morning and in the evening it is not much better. there are myriad problems that need to be fixed here. i can't recommend this place to anyone. —IsthisRight

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2006-06-29 08:11:41   Writing as somone who has lived in, worked for, and co-managed cooperative housing for the past 13 years, I have observed that the Pacifico residents historically have felt disempowered as a result of an outside management company. Co-ops are supposed to be self-managed and controlled! Starting Sept. 1, the management company will be completely gone, and the members will have control and responsibility for addressing the marketing, house atmosphere, maintenance concerns, etc. Like "IsThisRight" and some of the other posts, I wouldn't recommend living in a co-op run by a professional management company. It's disempowering and dysfunctional, to say the least. But I did live at Pacifico (specially kaweah house) for two months (I was in davis temporarily) and found my housemates enthusiastic, caring, motivated, cooperative, and working very hard to create a resident-empower co-op that will start officially in two months. Anyone who moves in now will have a lot of influence of organizing Pacifico co-op. I think it's challenging to switch from a disempowered tenant perspective to one of cooperative ownership, but amazing when it happens.—HoJoSparks

• Note: Holly Jo Sparks is also the Director of NASCO Administration & Development.
  

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2006-07-04 09:47:38   Water pressure is now fixed. —KyleHinshaw

Comments:

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2006-10-03 17:39:40   I just noticed that Pacifico's association with NASCO has been posted here as beginning September 1, 2006. I recall an association between Pacific and NASCO far earlier. Since Pacifico receives City of Davis funds, I believe they got a community block grant, this should be fairly easy to research. —AlphaDog

• Note: Pacifico was already an active member and supporter of NASCO, when members of Pacifico approached NASCO regarding their management concerns in 2003. It wasn't until Fall 2005, however, that the DCC Board initiated a formal process of partnering with NASCO, which went into effect on Sept 1, 2006.
  

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2007-06-29 13:43:09   KwokChungYu, my roommate from the dorms, will be living here for 07-08. -JasonDunne

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2007-08-31 15:14:38   This place is a drama filled sesspool that is only slightly cheaper than geting an apartment. The walls are thin, the cleaning/basic supplies such as paper towels and toilet paper are in short supply despite which of the 4 houses you live in. The up side is that it is home to many international students, especially Asians and the culture is diverse. The location stinks, it's near a farm seperated by the bike path where people notoriously use the bench area to do drugs (of a high caliber) and the residents and the management company at Sharps and Flats (the apartment complex Pacifico faces) are very rude and stay up late partying, only being out done by the 6:45am wake-up call of lawn mowers and leaf blowers from their gardners. Overall, a cheap situation no one should place themself in for too long. Also, if you are of a particuarly sensitive nature in any capacity, this place is guaranteed to make you uncomfortable and leave a sour taste in your mouth. Oh yea, and in the summer there are many wasps and the lawn behind Kyoto "A" House sometimes resembles a set location in "Platoon". There are some decent folks scattered about that make the experience a bearable one if you absolutely must live at Pacifico, though you should probably ask yourself what you've done to merit such a sentence before actually moving there. And yea, the water pumps are still an issue (there isn't much around these here parts that aren't). —Tomassi00

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2008-03-06 01:28:15   i'm thinking of getting a room here for 08-09

how big of a hassle are the work hours?

i'm all for helping out but sometimes after spending a day on campus, i just want to close my door and be alone —fredchen

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2008-06-06 16:35:26   I think the issues about the architecture of Pacifico raised on this page are interesting. A lot of the folks from different types of coops put a great deal of stock in the coop they liked being the "ideal" way to design a coop. But I have lived in coops which were in institutional buildings with very strong senses of community, and lovely multi-room historic houses with very poor ties between the members.

Pacifico falls more to the "institutional" end of the spectrum, which may be a turn off to some folks. But to others, it means the buildings are recently built and in good shape, and that they get the run of 19 living rooms, study rooms, and dining rooms. Me, I tend to like the "institutional" looking coops... they are big, and new, and you feel like you are "getting away with something" by having the freedom of control over these spaces.

(As a full disclosure, I also work for NASCO, and live at Pacifico in order to help the members bring about some changes. I have also lived at 21st Street coop in Austin TX, Sasona Coop in Austin, and Vail Coop in Ann Arbor, Michigan.) —DanielMiller

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2008-06-06 16:41:34   @fredchen: the work hours, when things are working well, are less of a hassle than having to do all the housekeeping at bill-paying in your own apartment, because they should just be about an hour per week or predictable work, and you know that all of the other details are being taken care of by someone else. But, like most things that are run democratically, it is possible that the system has friction. But an hour per week is a pretty good estimate of how much time you will spend doing work hours.

As far as closing your door and being alone: well, the common areas are just that, and there may be people using them. But your own room would be your space, and I have never had a problem with being able to close my door to be left alone. The time spent with others is opt-in, as opposed to opt-out. —DanielMiller

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2008-06-25 19:51:09   I am thinking about living in Pacifico too, But i am a guitar player, I usually keep my volume low, would the wall still too thin to contain my sound? —raysonk

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2008-06-25 21:14:16   2005-11-23 23:00:34 I apologize for making the wack accusation...I realize that residents go into the co-op with different expectations, and I personally really enjoy the ability to, at times, get really involved and get to know other members of the house; then at other times, close my door, do my own thing and not have to socialize. In other words, I sorta see it as a good starter co-op. If you are really looking for a tight-knit commune, then yeah, you might be disappointed...but I was looking for part single-guy apartment, part cooperative, and a really affordable rent; and that's what I've experienced so far. Plus, I agree with E-Kong. —EddieGalbavy

You guys living there still agree to this??

—raysonk

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2008-07-10 16:56:46   @raysonk: The different floors of the different buildings use different standards of what would be an acceptable noise level. Some of the floors do have musicians living on them, and others are strictly quiet. If the music was super-loud, or played very late, even the louder areas might complain, but the louder areas are more permissive than the average apartment complex, and you have the advantage of having a way to talk to your surrounding neighbors to find out what will and won't work. —DanielMiller

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2009-07-27 19:50:28   After reading some of the mentioned comments I am quite reluctant to live here. Are there any recent tenants who can share some of their experiences? I will be curious to hear them. —AvidSpots

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2009-10-23 18:57:21   Pacifico's greatest strength is its location. It is located 1.6 miles from the Silo bus terminal(and therefore most of campus).

Directly on the Davis Bike Path and the Putah Creek Greenbelt leading into the UC Davis Arboretum, the T. Elliot Weier Redwood Grove and the Wyatt Deck (Redwood deck and gazebo for music performances) the 25 minute walk or 12 minute bike ride to campus is the most picturesque commute to UC Davis available ANYWHERE in Davis.

With Safeway a four minute walk away, kaiser permanente across the street, downtown a twenty minute walk and the W and M line right there, its about as convenient as it gets.

Having grown up in an oak and redwood covered rural wine county, I really appreciated the VERY BEAUTIFUL SETTING and was impressed with the convenience.

—Chrismcgovern