The proposed UC San Diego’s Ridge Walk North Living and Learning Neighborhood Project has been approved by the California Coastal Commission. The mixed-use project will take up more than 926,000 square feet on the La Jolla campus.
The Ridge Walk plan calls for demolishing more than 131,000 square feet of existing structures. This is so as to build housing for 2,400 undergraduate students. Additionally, office and classroom space for Thurgood Marshall College, the School of Global Policy and Strategy, and the Department of Economics will be built. 19 additional classrooms, a dining area, and a 150-seat lecture hall will also be added.
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The four buildings in the project will range in height from six to 18 floors. On a 20.9-acre site west of Geisel Library, the construction also features new walkways, stormwater infrastructure, and landscaping. Starting this summer, work is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
The issue was accepted without a presentation or discussion because it was on the Coastal Commission’s consent agenda. Chairwoman Donne Brownsey, however, questioned whether more bike racks could be added and whether the planned electric bike charging stations were adequate. Reps for UCSD stated that they would forward the inquiries along to the design team for consideration.
More on the Ridge Walk North Living Neighborhood in UC San Diego
The UC Board of Regents approved UCSD’s request to create Ridge Walk North in March. It is part of a $1.1 billion project that also included the construction of a student centre. The project would be close to a section of a eucalyptus forest.
The forest is listed on both the California Register of Historical Resources and the National Register of Historic Places. As a result, the commission added a number of requirements to its decision to approve the development, many of which were focused on protecting the environment.
