Official groundbreaking at site of new LTCC dorms - "It's a game changer"

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - What started as a dream 50 years ago has now moved into stages never before imagined at Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC).

"This is a truly historical day for LTCC," said the college's President Jeff DeFranco on Tuesday in front of a crowd of state and community leaders, project staff, and the public. "This project is a game changer for the college, the community, and the students."

They were gathered at the location of the new student housing at LTCC. The 32,000 square foot, 33-room, 100-bed dormitory will sit between the library and the gym, overlooking Trout Creek.

"This will fundamentally transform this campus for the next 50 years," said DeFranco of the project which comes at a time when students are challenged to find affordable housing while working and going to school full time.

Double occupancy rooms will cost students $500 per month, including utilities. Single occupancy will be $795 per month, including utilities. The housing is dedicated to low-income full-time students. They plan to be open by Summer 2025.

"It's much more than a housing project," said DeFranco. "It is a student success project."

Once the stressor of finding safe and affordable housing is removed, the students can focus on their successes.

State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil was at the ceremony to celebrate education which she calls the "great equalizer." She told the story of her own background. She was born to immigrant parents and knew early on that school would give her stability. Even though she ended up in foster care, and then living with her grandmother in Mexico, Alvarado-Gil's goal was college back in the United States. She said she found her passion, her "back-stop" in community college and is a champion for education.

There are 116 community colleges in California, very few of them with residential housing, or dorms.

"Housing crisis affects students - pushes them to work multiple jobs," said the Chancellor of California Community Colleges, Dr. Sonya Christian. She said that community colleges are uniquely equipped to meet the housing needs of students.

"Community colleges are the backbone of communities," said Dr. Christian. "This is a no-brainer," she added about affordable housing on campuses.

Roberta Mason was part of a small group that wanted South Lake Tahoe to have a community college 50 years ago. They found their first president in Dr. Jim Duke, then the college moved into a motel on Lake Tahoe Blvd.

"It's amazing and gratifying," said Roberta, whose name is on the LTCC Library to acknowledge her 40 years as a trustee. "All the hard work that has gone into this, by Jeff [DeFranco] particularly. Fifty years ago we didn't ever envision a campus, let alone a dorm."

The on-campus housing at LTCC is possible through a $39.3M housing grant from the State of California, and funds from 2014's Measure F allowed for planning and pre-site management of the land - setting the stage for the housing.

The El Dorado Community Foundation is fundraising for the project's community kitchen so all residents can prepare meals and gather as a community. Their goal of $350,000 will cover an industrial refrigerator, two industrial sinks, two ovens with stovetops, two dishwashers, one large community table with seating for 16, with additional tables and chairs and couches in the surrounding area, cabinetry, countertops, and finishes.

At the end of the speeches, presenters and partners took to the shovels.

"This is more than a simple turn of the shovel, it reinforces the commitment of the system to support students in academic success. This is a historical milestone for LTCC and the community it serves," said DeFranco.

In the photo above, left to right: LTCC Trustee Jeff Cowen, Student Trustee Daniella Valdivia, Trustee/Board President Tony Sears, Community College Trustee Pamela Haynes, Community College Chancellor Dr. Sonya Christian, LTCC President Jeff DeFranco, State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil, LTCC Trustee Kerry David, LTCC Trustee Nancy Dalton, and LTCC Trustee Dr. Karen Borges.