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UKIAH, Calif. – Mendocino College is moving forward on its future student housing project located at the corner of Perkins and Main streets in downtown Ukiah.
Following completion of local approval processes, the college will begin the next phase of site preparation this spring, which college officials said will mark “visible progress” on its long‑term initiative to expand affordable student housing and support both students and the broader community.
In April, Mendocino College will begin demolition of the existing structures on the site, including the old “Dragon’s Lair” building.
New safety fencing will be installed beginning April 6, and the building will be fully wrapped prior to demolition due to the presence of hazardous materials, in accordance with all required environmental and safety regulations. Demolition is projected to take approximately 30 days.
These steps are part of a carefully managed process designed to ensure public safety and minimize disruption to surrounding neighbors and businesses.
“This next phase reflects years of planning and collaboration, and it allows us to responsibly prepare the site while we continue pursuing funding for construction,” said Tim Karas, president/superintendent of Mendocino College. “Each step forward brings us closer to delivering housing that will make a real difference for our students and our community.”
The project builds on the Mendocino College Foundation’s historic purchase of the property through donor support and its continued commitment to the future construction phase.
Student housing has been shown to improve retention, academic success, and housing stability, while also helping address broader housing shortages in the region.
“We conducted extensive research to understand our students’ housing challenges and identified a downtown Ukiah location as the best option,” said Karas. “This site offers proximity to essential services, local businesses, and transportation to campus, while positioning students as active participants in the city’s core.”
In its announcement, Mendocino College said it is committed to maintaining open communication with the community as this project moves forward.
While construction of student housing is anticipated in the coming years as funding is secured, the current site preparation work represents meaningful progress toward that goal.
“We look forward to a time when student housing residents will bring new energy to downtown Ukiah — supporting local businesses, utilizing nearby services, and contributing to the overall vitality of the city — while gaining the housing stability they need to focus on their education and succeed,” the college statement said.
