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Mini-Dorm Battle Brewing at City Hall

A San Diego City Council committee is looking into ways of regulating “mini-dorms.” These are single-family homes rented to multiple college students. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce has more.

Mini-Dorm Battle Brewing at City Hall

A San Diego City Council committee is looking into ways of regulating “mini-dorms.”   These are single-family homes rented to multiple college students. KPBS Reporter Ed Joyce has more.

Residents in some college neighborhoods say the students have loud, all-night parties, park on lawns and toss trash on the streets. City Councilman Jim Madaffer’s district includes the College Area surrounding San Diego State University. He says the mini-dorms are typically owned by absentee landlords. Madaffer says the homes are often modified to pack in more students.

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Madaffer: This is not an indictment on San Diego State University or on all students in general. By and large most students are outstanding and know how to act responsibly. What typically has happened is a few bad apples ruin it for everybody.

Madaffer spoke on the KPBS Radio program “These Days.”  Part of the problem is a shortage of student housing at SDSU. A school spokesman says there are future plans to add more residence halls on campus.  Ed Joyce, KPBS News.

(Photo: Cars fill the driveway at a "mini-dorm" in the College area. Tobin Vaughn/KPBS. )