Is SDSU considered an Urban campus? (transfer, community college, to move)

[aboveordinary]

I've never really considered SDSU to be in the suburbs. I go there now. You can walk a long distance from the campus. In the suburbs, it isn't like that. When I think of suburbia, I think of cookie cutter homes. The north side of the 8 freeway across from SDSU is definetly suburbia, but the area to the south and west most definitely isn't. The trolley stops at SDSU and continues to downtown to the west and Santee to the east. To get to the beach, you take the trolley to Old Town and then catch the bus you want there. SDSU has several bus routes that go different places as well including a new Rapid Transit line. There are a lot of commuter students because SDSU takes in a lot of transfer students from the local community colleges. They also have a lot of on campus dorms and off campus apartments nearby.

[NYSD1995]

I would say it's similar to the more built-out areas of the valley, i.e. Northridge is a good proxy. Given the housing stock was built to accomodate a few thousand residents and now there are tens of thousands living in the area, it qualifies as urban, albeit without most of the built environment (apartment buildings, multi-story bulidings) most people associate with an urban area.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by abrandnewme18

How long does it take to get to downtown?

I wish it was. :/

There are a couple of different ways to get downtown. A lot of people simply ride the trolley all the way but that can take a while as there are a lot of stops. If you check the schedules and plan it, take the bus that goes to El Cajon blvd. The 15 I think it is. Transfer at the Boulevard Transit center next to I-15 and take the 235. Let's you off right at City College and there is only one stop between there on University. Besides that, it stays on the freeway until downtown.

[Jenkay]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

There are a couple of different ways to get downtown. A lot of people simply ride the trolley all the way but that can take a while as there are a lot of stops. If you check the schedules and plan it, take the bus that goes to El Cajon blvd. The 15 I think it is. Transfer at the Boulevard Transit center next to I-15 and take the 235. Let's you off right at City College and there is only one stop between there on University. Besides that, it stays on the freeway until downtown.

It's nowhere near that complicated.

The #11 bus goes from SDSU along Adams, though Hillcrest, through bankers hill, and into downtown. You can hop off it at 30th to access North Park, and it goes through lots of great areas and takes you to walking distance of balboa park (based on the assumption that a college-age bus rider is up for walking few blocks) No transfers. I was taking that bus 10 years ago and it's still running. Also, the rapid bus service between SDSU and downtown just started.

http://www.sdmts.com/RouteFiles/images/maps/view/11.gif

SANDAG :: PROJECTS :: San Diego's Regional Planning Agency

http://www.sdmts.com/marketing/images/215.gif

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by Sassberto

I would say it's similar to the more built-out areas of the valley, i.e. Northridge is a good proxy. Given the housing stock was built to accomodate a few thousand residents and now there are tens of thousands living in the area, it qualifies as urban, albeit without most of the built environment (apartment buildings, multi-story bulidings) most people associate with an urban area.

Sounds kind of like the worst of both worlds.

[sdurbanite]

When I think of an urban campus, I picture Georgetown, Columbia, Penn, Harvard, among others. SDSU, not so much.

This project currently under construction might change the campus setting in the future.

South Campus Plaza Construction Begins This Month At SDSU | KPBS

[MarciaMarshaMarcia]

Originally Posted by aboveordinary

I've never really considered SDSU to be in the suburbs. I go there now. You can walk a long distance from the campus. In the suburbs, it isn't like that. When I think of suburbia, I think of cookie cutter homes. The north side of the 8 freeway across from SDSU is definetly suburbia, but the area to the south and west most definitely isn't. The trolley stops at SDSU and continues to downtown to the west and Santee to the east. To get to the beach, you take the trolley to Old Town and then catch the bus you want there. SDSU has several bus routes that go different places as well including a new Rapid Transit line. There are a lot of commuter students because SDSU takes in a lot of transfer students from the local community colleges. They also have a lot of on campus dorms and off campus apartments nearby.

I went to grad school at SDSU in the late 7O's when it was still possible to park on one of the residential sidestreets off College & walk about a mile into campus. Those streets were/are lined with lookalike, mid-century, stucco, 2 or 3 bedroom houses. The houses are still there. They are still lived in. That is the quintessential definition of suburbia. As others have mentioned, an urban campus is different, ex. Yale, Harvard, Columbia.

[NYSD1995]

FYI - Nearly 60,000 people live in the 92115 zip code.

[abrandnewme18]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

Sounds kind of like the worst of both worlds.

Yeah..

[abrandnewme18]

Are there clubs or at least bars in the SDSU campus area? Or are they all downtown?