STUDENT HOUSING
other forms off correspondence, to illustrate the impact of student landlords who’ve converted former family homes into multiresidential dwellings with up to eight bedrooms or more, often leading to issues such as parking on lawns, late night parties, littering and other inappropriate behaviour.
One of those landlords referred to by residents is Oliver Jahn of Owl Properties, who said he wouldn’t be making any comment before letting the appeal process run its course.
In the past, Jahn has argued that purpose-built student housing would alleviate many of the problems experienced with students living in private homes. The stacked townhouse proposal was to be registered as a lodging house with the city and, if approved, would have had one fulltime supervisor on site at all times.
However, Jerome James, a resident who says he has been subjected to inebriated, rooftop gatherings next door to his family home, says the 24/7 supervisor role creates an “illusion that there’s someone down the hall.”
James, a Western University engineering grad who served as a resident assistant in student residences, said there’s much more to caring for the health and well-being of students. He believes the privately-run student lodge concept is a “tragedy waiting to happen.
“It breeds a culture of recklessness,” he said.
James also argued that amenities on-site for students were insufficient.
Despite a belief that most students will use buses, those living in the area say the majority still use cars and that the 65 parking spaces being proposed as part of the development would be insufficient.
No purpose-built student housing should be constructed in the middle of a low-rise residential neighbourhood until the city has a chance to better study the Lower Doon area for future development, said Murray, citing the intentions of city officials who plan to study the area more comprehensively.
The neighbourhood might be at a tipping point, he said, “but it can be saved.”