Jeff Bourgeois sees a college tradition taking root in a vacant lot of wild shrubs and grasses.

The assistant director of residential life for Cal State San Bernardino said he welcomes the addition of apartments for 460 students in 2004.

"It increases a sense of pride by fostering that traditional college environment," Bourgeois said Monday by phone.

A Denver-based developer plans to break ground in August on student housing on private property at the corner of University Parkway and Northpark Boulevard adjacent to the university.

Cal State trustees are expected to authorize the chancellor to enter into a building agreement with American Campus-Titan LLC at a regular meeting in Long Beach today and Wednesday.

The drug- and alcohol-free housing should be available by fall 2004, said Lydia Ortega, acting director for the office of housing and residential life.

The apartment project will bring to 1,500 the number of students living on the 16,000-student campus. Cal State San Bernardino expects to grow from its current population to about 25,000 in 10 years.

The proposal to build five three-story apartment buildings has already gone before the city of San Bernardino Planning Commission.

The apartments are privately owned, but students will obtain housing contracts through the university, Ortega said.

Each building will have 12 apartments and individually rented bedrooms. The apartments come in two models: a four bedroom, four bathroom and a four bedroom, two bathroom.

Rent will start at $500 a month and include all utilities, Ortega said.

The proposal also calls for 16,000 square feet of commercial and retail space plus a restaurant. The company plans to install a crosswalk for students to get from the apartments to campus, Ortega said by phone Monday.

The Titan company is a subsidiary of American Campus Communities, a national company that specializes in on- and off-campus student housing.