From a fictitious third story of the downtown Rudolph's Coffee & Tea building, residents can spread out on their apartments' private decks and enjoy the serenity of San Luis Obispo Creek babbling below.

Or so Gabrielle Serriere envisions.

The Cal Poly architecture student and her 16 classmates spent the spring quarter coming up with affordable housing solutions for downtown San Luis Obispo by infilling on top of current structures. Infill is making room for more homes without constructing brand new buildings.

The students' designs, if made real, would add close to 200 residential units along Higuera and Monterey streets.

"Architecture has changed," said Serriere, 21. "These days we don't have as many opportunities to build brand-new buildings. We have to add on to the current buildings and try not to ruin the character of what we already have."

Lecturer Alice Mueller got the idea for the "Downtown Studio" class after reading The Tribune's series last summer on the county's housing crisis. She obtained a $5,000 Community Development Initiative Grant from the university and set up a downtown studio donated by EDA Design Professionals.

Mueller required each student to choose a block on either Monterey or Higuera streets and increase housing density on existing one-story buildings. Using Auto-CAD computer programs, the students created floor plans and elevations of their "new" buildings.

They then used foamcore and wood to form three-dimensional models.

"We are very aware of the need for affordable housing, especially if it means you or your children will be able to afford a place so they can stay in San Luis Obispo County," Mueller said.

The students' designs are as unique as the many facets of downtown.

Serriere's creation near Higuera and Nipomo streets features a third-floor atrium and is sprinkled with plants to pair nicely with a large ficus tree on Higuera and the creek behind the building, she said.

The 26-unit complex also includes four small office spaces for residents who might want to work where they live to cut down on travel.

Jason Claypool added 10 lofts on top of Firestone Grill and other nearby buildings. The new housing would include a laundry services area and courtyard and would feature great views of Higuera Street and Thursday night Farmers Market, Claypool said.

"I like these practical projects. We're addressing a real-life issue," Claypool said. "It would be great if somebody picked up our plan and did it."

Nicholas Williams had perhaps the most unique design -Êa reflecting pool with retail space on the first floor and residential lofts on the second.

Mike Draze, the city's director of long-range planning, looked at the proposals and said they gave him some new views on downtown housing.

"They weren't extremely realistic, but it gives us some new concepts and ideas," he said. "It's bits and pieces of these ideas that can be used."

George Moylan, the city's Housing Authority director, said "smart growth" in the city will likely start with infill housing.

"There is obviously a need to further intensify our downtown," said Moylan, who said he has yet to see the students' designs. "Any outside looks we can get at the problem and potential solutions are good. Students bring some creativity and can take a good hard look at things and dream a little bit."