Waking up to the smell of rotting garbage, some UB students dress in bitter cold bedrooms and slush through snow to their cars, hoping they're still there. Encountering rats and other rodents on the street is only a bonus. The homeless beg for money and vandalism is rampant.
These students chose to trade the ease and expense of dorm life for a cheaper option: University Heights.
Mary Clare Fahey, the off campus services and relations coordinator, estimates that somewhere between 25 percent and 30 percent of UB students choose to live in the University Heights by South Campus each year. Despite the inconveniences, Fahey still contends that the Heights are a great option for students looking to move off campus.
"Some people don't do well with sharing a shower with fourteen other people, so for them University Heights is an excellent place to live," Fahey said. "For the most part, it's a great place, and it's a vital part of the City of Buffalo."
The Heights are infamous for their inexpensive rent and close proximity to some of Buffalo's nightlife. For what these houses have in cheap rent, with spaces usually costing no more then $150 to $300 per month, they often cost students some major bucks during the winter months. Poor insulation and large quarters cause gas bills to skyrocket.
"There's a major draft that comes across my house," said Frank Schirripa, a sophomore business major.
Fahey recommends students choosing to live in the Heights speak to the gas company before signing their leases for a rough estimate of how much it will cost to heat their homes.
Safety is also a huge concern for Heights residents. Joseph Musgni, a sophomore finance major, has experienced the dangers of living in the Heights firsthand.
"Our friends have gotten mugged on the way home," Musgni said. "It's mad cheap, but they need to crack down on parties and crime."
Fahey recognizes that there is a slightly higher instance of crime in the Heights, but still advises students to take the same safety precautions as they would in any other location.
"There are some safety concerns, but you have that no matter where you choose to live," Fahey said. "One street is as safe as the next. It's really a matter of having safe practices at home."
While the neighborhood is known for partying and crime, efforts are being made to increase police presence and decrease noise levels and public drunkenness.
"There are some noise levels to contend with, but I think most students try to be very considerate of neighbors around them," Fahey said.
The Heights also has a reputation for questionable landlords. Students have horror stories of repairs that are never made and landlords that never bother to return phone calls.
"The biggest problems I see from students who live off campus is that a landlord promises to do things before they move in and they are never done," Fahey said.
She recommends addressing repairs in the lease so that landlords will be bound to make repairs in a timely manner.
Autonomy is a major perk of living in this neighborhood. Students generally feel a strong sense of community, as well as independence while living in the area.
"Students who live off campus can decide how loud they want to be, how low or high they want the heat. They hold more of their own destiny in their hands," Fahey said.
Residents also enjoy being close to South Campus only a 15-minute walk away, and many utilize the free safety van rides in the evenings. Additionally, there are many restaurants along Main Street.
Those with parking say parking is only a minor inconvenience.
"You have to move your car to different sides of the streets every week, and if you don't move it they'll give you a ticket at 4:01," Schirripa said. "They don't do a good job of plowing the streets either. Parking is okay, but the later at night you try to park the harder it is."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
