A turf war over Towson
Neighbors at odds with students living in residential areas near the University
Kiel McLaughlin
News | 3/30/08
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The battlefield is described by one non-student by pointing down Ridge Avenue from the front lawn of his row home, stating that on one side of the road are those who wish to "preserve the community," and students populate the other side.
While Ridge Avenue has been the site of numerous verbal altercations between Towson students and home-owning neighbors, issues between the renters and the community members extends beyond the narrow one-way street.
President of the Greater Towson Council of Community Associations Ed Kilcullen said that last week three drunken young men stumbled past his home on Burke Avenue. As one of the young men urinated in the street, another relieved himself on a neighbor's front yard and the third leapt on top of Kilcullen's car.
Kilcullen could not confirm these three men were Towson students living in the residential community, but he said the behavior is in line with that of many off-campus students.
As the growth institution of the University System of Maryland, Towson has increased overall enrollment each year, leading to a housing crunch on campus. With more students and the same number of beds, a greater number of students have been forced to find housing off campus, filling local apartment complexes.
"There are more students every year. And when Kenilworth and the Colony and those places all fill up, where are we supposed to live?" junior business and sports management major Alex Pitt said.
Pitt lives with fraternity brother Ben Fishbein, a sophomore art education major, and another roommate on Ridge Avenue in a home purchased by Fishbein in June 2007.
If three or more unrelated people live on a single property, it's deemed a boarding house and is illegal according to Baltimore County zoning codes.
But because since Fishbein owns the home, with financial assistance from his family, he is allowed to have his two roommates.
The three Sigma Alpha Epsilon members have met with Towson's judicial affairs office, Pitt and Fishbein said. Their residence has become a heated point of contention for several neighbors.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 30
Greg
posted 3/31/08 @ 9:56 AM EST
The turf war in Towson could be solved by simple mutual respect. Unfortunately, the Towson community has chosen all out warfare. It is not the entire Towson University population that engages in these behaviors, yet the community has targeted the entire university with requests such as "Cancel Tigerfest. (Continued…)
JLG
posted 3/31/08 @ 10:19 AM EST
It is amazing how students don't have a clue as to how to behave among others. They don't seem to know how to 'fit in' and become a positive part of a nice neighborhood. (Continued…)
Towson Alumni
posted 3/31/08 @ 11:39 AM EST
Is that you J.L. Grumpy?!
alumnus
posted 3/31/08 @ 6:35 PM EST
This is just more proof that TU needs more money to build on-campus housing.
They also need to put Greek Life on campus in a fraternity row that is secluded from residents. (Continued…)
citizen
posted 3/31/08 @ 8:33 PM EST
"There is nothing wrong with college ghettos" Really? Tell that to the neighbors who are paying their mortgage and taxes, and expect to be able to live in peace. (Continued…)
I don't have to do what you say
posted 3/31/08 @ 9:26 PM EST
Your the idiot Citizen! Keep paying that mortgage will the price of your property tumbles due to the declining economy and the fact that Towson is becoming another college park muawaahahahahahaha!!!!
Taxpayer
posted 3/31/08 @ 9:43 PM EST
One student has suggested that students stop spending money at area businesses...that may not be a bad thing. With all of the money being spent to improve the Towson core, it would be nice to see some businesses that cater to area families return and thrive. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 4/01/08 @ 12:32 AM EST
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/realestate/bal-re.insider23mar23,0,191216.story
seems that residents of the Campus Hills neighborhood seem to embrace the presence of being around local colleges. (Continued…)
neighbor
posted 4/01/08 @ 11:21 AM EST
The college students are not the root of all the problems. Some of the vandalism can be attributed to some of the other foot traffic in the neighborhood. (Continued…)
Concerned Alumnus
posted 4/01/08 @ 11:55 AM EST
Here's a few tips for students living off campus in neighborhoods:
* Pressure the University to build Greek Housing on Campus - it is good for everyone - TU's reputation and status as a "real" university and relations with the community (not having pseudo frat houses in neighborhoods). (Continued…)
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