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Our neighborhood has survived numerous challenges to construct a stable and diverse neighborhood. Another challenge now rears its head. As a member of the clergy said, “We are a neighborhood with students; we do not want to be a student neighborhood.” In point of fact about 20% of our residents are college students, largely from Washington University.
Until this decade, students could largely be found in multi-family buildings, a number owned and managed by university affiliated entities. The financial meltdown that began in 2008 brought about a number of foreclosures. These were scooped up by investors who fixed up the dwellings and sought students as tenants. Charging each about $500 a month guaranteed them a sweet profit. However, they often violated a city ordinance by packing in a sizable number of student renters. A city ordinance states there be no more than three unrelated people in a dwelling unit.
The presence of students in single family homes is a growing problem here. It is most acute on 58 and 5900 Pershing where 22 such homes are owned by absentee landlords. They often lack landscaping, have bikes tied up outside, and never see snow shoveled. Student life is often not compatible with the lifestyles of families or older people.
A subcommittee on zoning and housing has been formed under the auspices of the SDCC’s Community Development Committee. It has been meeting twice a week and is working with a city official. They are developing test cases to ensure wider application of the “no more than three unrelated persons” regulation. Washington University has representatives on the subcommittee.
Potentially we should try to ensure that speculator/investors are not able to purchase single family homes easily. More could be done to widely advertise the availability of our historic single family homes to potential owner-occupants, perhaps to incoming university faculty. This challenge is one faced in numerous college towns. If you are interested in this subject, please contact subcommittee chair, Linda Cross through the SDCC office.
Students play a positive role. Seeing them walk or bike here throughout the day and evening makes our streets safer. Some have volunteered at events. However, we still need families in single homes to remain as a neighborhood. We can’t return to the good old days but we can act to shape the future.
