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I posted this in another comment: "Given the high construction cost everywhere, this is not surprising. I had a friend with a backyard slopping down a hill. He

I posted this in another comment: "Given the high construction cost everywhere, this is not surprising. I had a friend with a backyard slopping down a hill. He got some quotes to put in a deck and redo his yard. No one quoted anything less than 200k." Both of these situations are in California. Construction costs are extremely high right now.

sudosysgen 5y ago
Look. This isn't how it works. What happened is that no contractor thought it was worthwhile to take on a small project when they were busy with bigger fish. So they quoted him a ridiculous price. It's not because it would actually cost them 200 000$ in labour and material to build a deck and redo a yard. Besides, for a billion dollar you're not dealing with local contractors, at that price you can even contract international companies, let alone bring in labour from the rest of the country.
- TigeriusKirk 5y ago
  What should a dorm building cost per room? Can you show a comparable project in California to support that estimate?
  - sudosysgen 5y ago
    The average cost of a condo unit in the state of California is around 400 000$ :https://homeguides.sfgate.com/california-condo-vs-house-92553.html https://homeguides.sfgate.com/california-condo-vs-house-9255... https://la.curbed.com/2019/1/23/18194592/los-angeles-condos-for-sale-market https://la.curbed.com/2019/1/23/18194592/los-angeles-condos-... Including the cost of land, for a full condo. It would correspond to a construction price of a condo of ~300 000$. A dormitory room is going to cost less than a condo.
    - TigeriusKirk 5y ago
      Units built for the homeless in Los Angeles are costing $500,000 and up. "When Los Angeles voters approved Prop. HHH in 2016, city officials predicted units would cost $350,000 to $414,000. In reality, prices have jumped to as much as $701,000 per unit, with 60 percent of the living spaces expected to exceed half a million dollars each." You'll notice even the low end that was promoted to voters is higher than $330,000. https://www.dailynews.com/2020/02/21/prop-hhh-projects-in-la-cost-up-to-700000-a-unit-to-house-homeless-heres-why/ https://www.dailynews.com/2020/02/21/prop-hhh-projects-in-la...
      - sudosysgen 5y ago
        That includes the cost of the land. The UCSB proposal doesn't include it. This construction has to deal with NIMBYs and related delays, again UCSB doesn't have to bother with that. And most of all these aren't single occupancy units. They are units for 2-3 people. So yes, construction costs would be around the 350k mark when you take into account the land, for multi bedroom units, versus a single bedroom.
LegitShady 5y ago
what kind of slope? what does "redo his yard" mean? How much earth has to be moved? The deck is likely a small addendum to the cost of the earthwork, so its silly to talk about the deck as if its the same project.

sudosysgen 5y ago

Look. This isn't how it works. What happened is that no contractor thought it was worthwhile to take on a small project when they were busy with bigger fish. So they quoted him a ridiculous price. It's not because it would actually cost them 200 000$ in labour and material to build a deck and redo a yard. Besides, for a billion dollar you're not dealing with local contractors, at that price you can even contract international companies, let alone bring in labour from the rest of the country.

TigeriusKirk 5y ago
What should a dorm building cost per room? Can you show a comparable project in California to support that estimate?
- sudosysgen 5y ago
  The average cost of a condo unit in the state of California is around 400 000$ :https://homeguides.sfgate.com/california-condo-vs-house-92553.html https://homeguides.sfgate.com/california-condo-vs-house-9255... https://la.curbed.com/2019/1/23/18194592/los-angeles-condos-for-sale-market https://la.curbed.com/2019/1/23/18194592/los-angeles-condos-... Including the cost of land, for a full condo. It would correspond to a construction price of a condo of ~300 000$. A dormitory room is going to cost less than a condo.
  - TigeriusKirk 5y ago
    Units built for the homeless in Los Angeles are costing $500,000 and up. "When Los Angeles voters approved Prop. HHH in 2016, city officials predicted units would cost $350,000 to $414,000. In reality, prices have jumped to as much as $701,000 per unit, with 60 percent of the living spaces expected to exceed half a million dollars each." You'll notice even the low end that was promoted to voters is higher than $330,000. https://www.dailynews.com/2020/02/21/prop-hhh-projects-in-la-cost-up-to-700000-a-unit-to-house-homeless-heres-why/ https://www.dailynews.com/2020/02/21/prop-hhh-projects-in-la...
    - sudosysgen 5y ago
      That includes the cost of the land. The UCSB proposal doesn't include it. This construction has to deal with NIMBYs and related delays, again UCSB doesn't have to bother with that. And most of all these aren't single occupancy units. They are units for 2-3 people. So yes, construction costs would be around the 350k mark when you take into account the land, for multi bedroom units, versus a single bedroom.

LegitShady 5y ago

what kind of slope? what does "redo his yard" mean? How much earth has to be moved? The deck is likely a small addendum to the cost of the earthwork, so its silly to talk about the deck as if its the same project.