Real estate reps, students spar city rule
Gal Tziperman Lotan and Jeanine Budd
Issue date: 3/13/08 Section: City Pulse
A new proposal intended to shake undergraduate college students out of crammed off-campus apartments won unanimous approval yesterday by the nine members of the Boston Zoning Commision (BZC).
The ordinance was spearheaded by City Councilor Michael Ross, who represents Mission Hill, a neighborhood densely populated by Northeastern, Wentworth Institute of Technology and Massachusetts College of Art and Design students, and others. He said the ordinance was designed to lower rents and create more affordable housing for families.
Now, Mayor Thomas Menino's office is working with the Inspectional Services Department on the logistics of enforcing the proposed rule. It will become law as soon as Menino signs it, which he is expected to do as he authored a letter in support of the proposal earlier this week.
This proposal received unanimous support from City Council and the Boston Redevelopment Authority's approval.
But some skeptics at the public hearing preceding the vote said the proposed ordinance may only force a wealthy student population to expand into even more neighborhoods and cause problems for responsible property owners.
"It's falsely based. ... They should be enforcing the existing laws," said Oscar Brookins, an economics professor at Northeastern who owns and rents property in the area. "Where are students going to go? It has a potential of expanding the number of housing units in the neighborhood that students will take over. And it's going to come to pass that, say you have a house which is five or six bedrooms, the one I live in is eight, so how am I supposed to deal with this limit of four?"
Brookins said the Northeastern administration is supporting the proposal because it's in the institution's interest: The squandering of housing possibilities in the city means more students will opt to pay the university to live in a residence hall.
Still, Ross maintains: "We're saving Mission Hill from losing all its residents." He referred to the neighborhood as a "housing factory" that should be preserved for families and young professionals in the neighborhood.
The ordinance was spearheaded by City Councilor Michael Ross, who represents Mission Hill, a neighborhood densely populated by Northeastern, Wentworth Institute of Technology and Massachusetts College of Art and Design students, and others. He said the ordinance was designed to lower rents and create more affordable housing for families.
Now, Mayor Thomas Menino's office is working with the Inspectional Services Department on the logistics of enforcing the proposed rule. It will become law as soon as Menino signs it, which he is expected to do as he authored a letter in support of the proposal earlier this week.
This proposal received unanimous support from City Council and the Boston Redevelopment Authority's approval.
But some skeptics at the public hearing preceding the vote said the proposed ordinance may only force a wealthy student population to expand into even more neighborhoods and cause problems for responsible property owners.
"It's falsely based. ... They should be enforcing the existing laws," said Oscar Brookins, an economics professor at Northeastern who owns and rents property in the area. "Where are students going to go? It has a potential of expanding the number of housing units in the neighborhood that students will take over. And it's going to come to pass that, say you have a house which is five or six bedrooms, the one I live in is eight, so how am I supposed to deal with this limit of four?"
Brookins said the Northeastern administration is supporting the proposal because it's in the institution's interest: The squandering of housing possibilities in the city means more students will opt to pay the university to live in a residence hall.
Still, Ross maintains: "We're saving Mission Hill from losing all its residents." He referred to the neighborhood as a "housing factory" that should be preserved for families and young professionals in the neighborhood.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 6
Mitch Buchanon
posted 3/13/08 @ 9:41 AM EST
""For the property owners, real estate brokers and students in the area, Ross said, "You can't make good public policy based on the profit of few. Some people took a real gamble, buying expensive houses that they cannot afford to mortgage on without putting five, or six, or seven students in them. (Continued…)
Marcus
posted 3/13/08 @ 11:52 AM EST
Replace "undergraduates" with any other group (African Americans, Hispanics, Caucasians, women) and you will see the immediate problem. This will be immediately struck down in court. (Continued…)
Rick
posted 3/13/08 @ 1:17 PM EST
I am looking at this a different way, so they want to control rent prices so families can stay on mission hill. This new law will force landlords too decrease rent on the large apartments on the hill so that groups of 4 students can afford it. (Continued…)
RBeliveau
Rick
posted 3/13/08 @ 2:00 PM EST
I am looking at this a different way, so they want to control rent prices so families can stay on mission hill. This new law will force landlords too decrease rent on the large apartments on the hill so that groups of 4 students can afford it. (Continued…)
Bob
posted 3/14/08 @ 9:51 AM EST
Alex stop being such a bitch. Time to stop acting like you are 40 years old, or when you are 40 you will be pissed that you were too "mature" to have some fun and hang out with friends. (Continued…)
Post a Comment