It was recently announced that GMH Communities, an off-campus student housing developer, plans to build 225 apartments on Rensch Road opposite UB's North Campus at Sweet Home Road.
If all goes as planned, once opened this would be the third such large off-campus housing development to pop up in span of five years, totaling almost 700 apartments and nearly 2,300 beds. Others include American Campus Communities' University Village at Sweet Home and their proposed Willow Ridge-area complex.
According to President John B. Simpson, by 2020 UB will have grown by 10,000 students, and yet there is presently nowhere to house such a large number of new pupils. In fact, we have trouble finding rooms and beds for the population we have now.
As a result, private companies have jumped on the opportunity and the Town of Amherst has already received two formal proposals to build large off-campus student housing complexes similar to the Sweet Home Apartments.
Is there a problem?
Not if you're a private housing developer cashing in on this proposition, like American Campus Communities or GMH Communities.
But if you're an Amherst resident, Amherst Police Chief John J. Moslow or President Simpson, there's more than a problem.
College students aren't exactly known for their keen ability to abide by the law, and as a result, Chief Moslow's officers are burdened with handling the excessive number of 911 calls to off-campus student lodging facilities. This is already a problem at the Sweet Home Apartments, but what's more, this situation has left a bad taste in the mouths of many Amherst residents.
Not only are Amherstonians angry that their tax dollars are going toward policing off-campus student housing, but residents such as those in Amherst's Willow Ridge neighborhood have expressed concern that new student facilities will negatively alter the character of their community.
It's time to consider the options.
First off, as far as we're concerned, UB's reputation is being tarnished by the activities of a comparatively small number of our student population, namely those causing anguish among the public. Secondly, UB is losing out on revenue to be gained from students living on campus. Thirdly, according to Vice President of Student Affairs Dennis R. Black, students living off campus are at a disadvantage versus those who reside on university grounds as far as their overall academic career is concerned.
So why not work hand-in-hand with the surrounding communities?
As one of the most powerful people in Western New York, Simpson could broker a deal with Amherst officials to set a moratorium on off-campus student housing facilities until the UB2020 comprehensive plan is completed in the spring of 2008. This would allow the university to finalize on-campus housing plans, in the long run allowing for more students to find a safe-haven right at UB. This option would also reduce the potential strain on the Amherst PD caused by further off-campus housing development.
The university could also establish a contract with off-campus housing developers whose properties are adjacent to either campus so that University Police patrol their facilities and answer emergency calls instead of Amherst's officers. For this, the University Police would be appropriately compensated for their services.
Another option per the policing issue is that Amherst officials could step up to the plate by demanding that off-campus developers establish their own on-site security team, adequately manned by properly certified personnel.
Even though 2020 is still 13 years away, it's clear that action needs to be taken immediately to remedy this situation. Postponement will leave UB in a heap of trouble and continue to negatively impact our reputation among community members.
We need results now.
