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Our Story

Davis Campus Co-ops (DCC)

Our co-op's history began in 1982, when a non-profit organization called the Davis Campus Cooperatives (DCC) was formed on campus to provide low-cost housing for students attending University of California, Davis. DCC opened its first student co-ops on Parkway Circle in 1988. Pioneer Co-op and Kagawa Co-op continue to operate in the same location today, providing housing for twenty students.

In 1988, (the same year the Parkway Circle co-ops opened), a delegation from the Japanese Consumer Cooperatives visited Davis and formed a partnership with DCC that would lead to the birth of Pacifico. With a commitment of $400,000 from its Japanese partners, DCC gained the support of ASUCD and the Davis City Council to develop another housing co-op off-campus. Ten years following that first visit by the Japanese, the developers of Allegre Apartments agreed to donate land to DCC for the purpose of establishing a new student housing co-op. Construction began in March 2000, and after a summer of building, the first three of Pacifico's four co-op buildings - Kyoto, Unity & Rochdale - opened their doors.

Pacifico Co-op Is Born

Acknowledging its international origins and diverse membership, the name "Pacifico" represents a number of different but unified meanings:

Pacifico's fourth and final building - Kaweah - opened its doors in 2003, adding an interesting twist to the co-op's history. Slackening of the economy and housing market in Davis, along with a newly-organizing co-op community, conspired to cause vacancy rates at Pacifico to peak. The professional management company hired to help make living at Pacifico convenient had difficulty with helping Pacifico through a decline in the housing market, and with the unique changes to the normal management approach required when the resident are the owners of the complex.  Because of vacancies and because of the mismatch between a democratic coop and a traditional apartment management company, Pacifico was in danger of going out of business unless changes were made.

Adopted by NASCO in 2005!

In Fall 2005, DCC and the members of Pacifico voted to pursue a management arrangement with the North American Students of Co-operation (NASCO), a non-profit umbrella organization, specializing in co-op education and networking. NASCO could bring democratic management experience and cooperatively-pooled funds to help get the co-op back on its feet. The changes made to Pacifico by its members and board are long-term changes, intended to preserve Pacifico as an affordable community for generations of students, but already the members of the coop have more freedom and control over their environment.  We are already looking forward to a stronger and more sustainable future. So, whether you're looking for a cheap and convenient place to stay while attending school or you're in search of a fun and diverse home away from home, now is an exciting time to become a part of Pacifico's history.