Vision

“Traditional residential planning practices force Americans to own and rely on their cars, to consume electricity and natural gas at unsustainable levels, and to live in isolation and fear of break-ins. The design of community itself has to change, if Americans can ever break free of these limitations and embrace a better way of living…”

—David Jacobson, Bay Area Development Consultant

College Heights, a neighborhood development proposed for the Hayward hills, is designed to meet six complementary goals:

• Affordable housing: including many units under HUD 110% of median income
• Sustainability: Green buildings, native landscaping, solar energy, and water conservation
• Alternative mobility: more walking, less pavement and parking, less auto-dependency
• Health, safety, and security: Walkways with no cars, quiet, clean air, defendable space
• Appealing design: attractive building facades, walkways, and landscaping
• Community: A secure, friendly community balancing privacy and neighborliness

The 29.6 acre old quarry in the Hayward hills has steeply-sloped open space around 18.6 acres of developable quarry floor. Within the developable area are a knoll on the west, descending slopes on the south, high ground in the middle, and a large flat area of old quarry floor on the north and east. The site plan proposes 732 energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly townhouses and condominiums with parks, trails, open space, a Village Center and Village Bus.
The Hayward Area Planning Association website and on-line advertising have developed a long list of enthusiastic people hoping to live in College Heights.