The complexity of addressing student housing issues hitting home with council
By Greg MacDonald, Chronicle Staff
News
Oct 28, 2009
The city is set to re-examine its vision for Northdale and other core neighbourhoods after a workshop session Monday brought up serious concerns from several councillors.
The workshop began with staff listing off the successes and various policies the city uses to regulate the student-dominated neighbourhoods surrounding the city’s two universities.
Council’s official policy is to attract families back into the neighbourhoods — some of which have 95 per cent of homes being rented out.
But Coun. Diane Freeman sees a disconnect between the city’s plan and reality.
“If the idea is to reintegrate families into existing single family dwellings there is no support system for families, I don’t see how that can happen,” Freeman said.
With no elementary school in the vicinity of Northdale, which is bounded by University Avenue, Columbia Street, Albert Street and King Street, families have no incentives to move into the neighbourhood, she said.
“The only amenities available north of the university are for students,” Freeman said. “I don’t think what we have in place there is going to work because there is nothing for families.”
The afternoon workshop, held before Monday night’s council meeting, was an education session for councillors in response to a neighbourhood meeting held during the summer.
During that meeting, Coun. Jan d’Ailly and Mayor Brenda Halloran heard a multitude of concerns from the Northdale community association.
Those complaints included the usual — noisy parties, garbage-strewn properties and other behavioural issues.
But there were also calls for a special policy area to help the remaining permanent residents get the same price for their homes as licensed lodging houses demand.
The situation for seniors in the neighbourhood was especially disconcerting, Halloran said.
“What really struck me is what to do with seniors who feel stuck in these homes — they can’t sell them,” Halloran said. “It’s becoming increasingly difficult for me to say it’s a zoning issue and that’s it.
“Our role as a council is to listen to the residents and find a strategy to help.”
It’s not just the seniors councillors should worry about, added Coun. Mark Whaley, who lived in one of the post-war homes that make up Northdale.
“Those houses were temporary and prefabricated,” Whaley said. “Sixty years later, they’re filled with students and sometimes unsafe.
“At the same time, developers who want to build something better in the neighbourhood have to go to the OMB (Ontario Municipal Board) to get anything done.”
He believes the city needs to rezone the area to make it more student friendly and forget attracting families to the traditional homes.
“We’ve seen all the tools and successes that we’ve had over the years, but I think that we have a little way to go,” Whaley said.
Council didn’t commit to any rezoning or change in philosophy, but Jan d’Ailly, the ward councillor for the area, will hold a town hall meeting on Nov. 26 to gain feedback on the community about what they want to see in the area.
Following that meeting, council will hold another session to discuss the area. D’Ailly wants that to include a review of council’s vision for the university neighbourhoods.
And while he wants a review, d’Ailly was quick to tout the successes the city has had.
“Four years ago, there was garbage on the streets and it was a lot worse,” he said. “There are no more keg parties and street parties usually. We’ve done a good job but we have to keep going.
“We should making this a model neighbourhood, where students and residents can walk down the street on garbage day and at 3 a. m. on Saturday night and say they’re proud to live there.”
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
Form the Record Friday October 16 2009
City to look at hiring extra police for student areas
By Liz Monteiro, Record staff
WATERLOO – Christine Carmody likes the idea of police officers
patrolling her neighbourhood. And the Waterloo woman has
no problem with the City of Waterloo paying the costs of hiring extra
police patrols in the Northdale neighbourhood adjacent to Wilfrid
Laurier University.
“Bylaw cannot control it. Police are the only ones who can stop it,’’
she said, referring to student rowdiness including late-night
parties, loud gatherings and public urination.
“It’s a stopgap measure but not a solution,’’ said Carmody, who
believes changing the zoning in the area to allow higher-density
apartments rather than singlehouse dwellings is the answer.
Coun. Ian McLean wants city staff to look at the potential costs
of hiring police officers to patrol streets near the two universities
during the months of September and October and March and April.
“Since I’ve been on council, student housing and behavioural
issues have been the No. 1issue on council,’’ he said. “I’ve finally got
to the point to say it’s time to say enough.’’
He wants to starts a pilot project in which the city hires paidduty
officers to walk the street near the universities.
“I’ve waited long enough,’’ he said.
McLean said city bylaw officers are not trained to deal with behavioural
issues and shouldn’t be expected to deal with unruly students.
He also says police have priority calls and public nuisance
calls won’t be responded to immediately if police are dealing with
domestic calls or car crashes.
Carmody said the city has created a “de facto student ghetto”
of her neighbourhood and they should pay the costs.
“Living here isn’t pleasant at all. I’d give anything to get out of
here,’’ she said. Carmody, has lived on Albert
Street for 12 years and has tried unsuccessfully to sell her house.
Police call special policing
a ‘dangerous concept’
“The City of Waterloo keeps downplaying the problem. They
keep saying it’s fine but it’s not fine,’’ said the mother of two
young children.
For homecoming weekend at Laurier earlier this month, Carmody
called Mayor Brenda Halloran and councillor, Jan d’Ailly
when a party next door to her house attracted nearly 400 people
on a Saturday morning.
She said that some students were smoking drugs and drinking
beer on her driveway.
Police responded, shut down the party and laid charges.
Coun. Mark Whaley said that asking citizens to pay extra for
more officers in a selected neighbourhood is a double-tax for
ratepayers.
Police say they, too, are also hesitant about a plan to pay for
extra officers.
“It’s a delicate issue,’’ said Staff Sgt. Mark Bullock.
He is the project co-ordinator for Project Safe Semester, an
enforcement strategy which has increased the police presence in
neighbourhoods surrounding the universities.
Bullock also said paying for extra officers is an “extra burden
on taxpayers.’’
He said if one area of the city gets paid officers, other neighbourhoods
who are experiencing drug activity or a rash of break
and enters will also want extra patrols.
“Other neighbourhoods have issues that are equally important
to them,’’ Bullock said. “Special policing is a dangerous concept.’’
He said that Project Safe Semester has been successful over
its three year lifespan. The fiveweek strategy, which ended after
Laurier’s homecoming weekend on Oct. 4, led to 650 charges this
year.
There were fewer large-scale house parties and this year’s
homecoming weekend was the quietest event in the last five
years, Bullock said.
He said that the Waterloo detachment dedicates one sergeant
and five officers to the neighbourhoods around the
universities year round.
Bullock said that he would like to see council support a police
staffing plan to meet the needs of the neighbourhoods.
Halloran said she’s willing to talk about hiring police officers,
but says that there will be a double cost to the taxpayer.
Halloran said Project Safe Semester had been successful in
enforcing rules and educating students on appropriate behaviour.
“There has been a strong concerted effort from our officers
and the police and there have been positive results,’’ she said.
Jim Barry, the city’s director of bylaw enforcement, said that a
report on the additional costs of hiring police for extra patrols
will come to council in December.
He said that the costs range from $50 to $80 an hour per officer.
David McMurray, dean of students at Laurier, said that the
university is hosting a meeting with councillors and the mayor to
talk about extra police patrols.
He said he wants to know more about how many officers would
patrol the neighbourhoods and when.
McMurray said the university is currently facing a budget crisis
and the institution needs to make cuts and is not looking at increasing
costs.
City to look at hiring extra police for student areas
By Liz Monteiro, Record staff
WATERLOO – Christine Carmody likes the idea of police officers
patrolling her neighbourhood. And the Waterloo woman has
no problem with the City of Waterloo paying the costs of hiring extra
police patrols in the Northdale neighbourhood adjacent to Wilfrid
Laurier University.
“Bylaw cannot control it. Police are the only ones who can stop it,’’
she said, referring to student rowdiness including late-night
parties, loud gatherings and public urination.
“It’s a stopgap measure but not a solution,’’ said Carmody, who
believes changing the zoning in the area to allow higher-density
apartments rather than singlehouse dwellings is the answer.
Coun. Ian McLean wants city staff to look at the potential costs
of hiring police officers to patrol streets near the two universities
during the months of September and October and March and April.
“Since I’ve been on council, student housing and behavioural
issues have been the No. 1issue on council,’’ he said. “I’ve finally got
to the point to say it’s time to say enough.’’
He wants to starts a pilot project in which the city hires paidduty
officers to walk the street near the universities.
“I’ve waited long enough,’’ he said.
McLean said city bylaw officers are not trained to deal with behavioural
issues and shouldn’t be expected to deal with unruly students.
He also says police have priority calls and public nuisance
calls won’t be responded to immediately if police are dealing with
domestic calls or car crashes.
Carmody said the city has created a “de facto student ghetto”
of her neighbourhood and they should pay the costs.
“Living here isn’t pleasant at all. I’d give anything to get out of
here,’’ she said. Carmody, has lived on Albert
Street for 12 years and has tried unsuccessfully to sell her house.
Police call special policing
a ‘dangerous concept’
“The City of Waterloo keeps downplaying the problem. They
keep saying it’s fine but it’s not fine,’’ said the mother of two
young children.
For homecoming weekend at Laurier earlier this month, Carmody
called Mayor Brenda Halloran and councillor, Jan d’Ailly
when a party next door to her house attracted nearly 400 people
on a Saturday morning.
She said that some students were smoking drugs and drinking
beer on her driveway.
Police responded, shut down the party and laid charges.
Coun. Mark Whaley said that asking citizens to pay extra for
more officers in a selected neighbourhood is a double-tax for
ratepayers.
Police say they, too, are also hesitant about a plan to pay for
extra officers.
“It’s a delicate issue,’’ said Staff Sgt. Mark Bullock.
He is the project co-ordinator for Project Safe Semester, an
enforcement strategy which has increased the police presence in
neighbourhoods surrounding the universities.
Bullock also said paying for extra officers is an “extra burden
on taxpayers.’’
He said if one area of the city gets paid officers, other neighbourhoods
who are experiencing drug activity or a rash of break
and enters will also want extra patrols.
“Other neighbourhoods have issues that are equally important
to them,’’ Bullock said. “Special policing is a dangerous concept.’’
He said that Project Safe Semester has been successful over
its three year lifespan. The fiveweek strategy, which ended after
Laurier’s homecoming weekend on Oct. 4, led to 650 charges this
year.
There were fewer large-scale house parties and this year’s
homecoming weekend was the quietest event in the last five
years, Bullock said.
He said that the Waterloo detachment dedicates one sergeant
and five officers to the neighbourhoods around the
universities year round.
Bullock said that he would like to see council support a police
staffing plan to meet the needs of the neighbourhoods.
Halloran said she’s willing to talk about hiring police officers,
but says that there will be a double cost to the taxpayer.
Halloran said Project Safe Semester had been successful in
enforcing rules and educating students on appropriate behaviour.
“There has been a strong concerted effort from our officers
and the police and there have been positive results,’’ she said.
Jim Barry, the city’s director of bylaw enforcement, said that a
report on the additional costs of hiring police for extra patrols
will come to council in December.
He said that the costs range from $50 to $80 an hour per officer.
David McMurray, dean of students at Laurier, said that the
university is hosting a meeting with councillors and the mayor to
talk about extra police patrols.
He said he wants to know more about how many officers would
patrol the neighbourhoods and when.
McMurray said the university is currently facing a budget crisis
and the institution needs to make cuts and is not looking at increasing
costs.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Beef up police patrols in student area, says McLean
By Greg MacDonald, Chronicle Staff
News
Oct 14, 2009
A Waterloo city councillor wants to hire part-time police officers to patrol the city’s core neighbourhoods.
Coun. Ian McLean believes it’s time for the city to deal with issues in neighbourhoods such as Northdale that pop every spring and autumn.
Residents in the core neighbourhoods often complain about issues related to noise and public intoxication when students return to university. McLean believes a beefed-up enforcement strategy anchored by off-duty officers funded by the city and other partners could help.
“I’m not saying it’s any certain type of people causing the problems,” McLean said. “People can come to their own conclusions on that”
“But I think that this is something we’ve been dealing with for a number of years and we need another tool in our toolbox.”
The UpTown Business Improvement Area currently uses this strategy in the city’s core.
McLean believes that there is a gap in the enforcement in the area because city bylaw officers don’t have the power to charge for many infractions. At the same time, noise and alcohol-related offences are a lower priority for police, he added.
“If someone calls in a noise complaint and (the police) are also getting calls for two accidents in New Hamburg and a break and enter in Kitchener, then it might be three hours before they respond to the noise call — as well it should be,” McLean said. “But that doesn’t change the fact that we need some presence in our neighbourhoods.”
McLean has asked city staff to review the plan in time for this year’s budget cycle. He’s not sure of what it would cost, but if it’s reasonable, McLean wants patrols Thursday to Saturday nights in April, May, September and October.
McLean also plans to ask the universities to kick in some funds to help cover the costs.
The extra patrols would be a welcome sight in Northdale, the neighbourhood between University and Columbia just north of WLU.
But it does not deal with some of the systemic issues plaguing the neighbourhood, said Deborah Easson, chair of the Northdale Residents Association.
Permanent residents and students will continue to butt heads, no matter how many police are around, she said.
“We have two groups of people with different beliefs and expectations,” she said. “The city should turn this into a student precinct.”
Additional officers would be a good stopgap measure to help quell some of the problems, she added.
By Greg MacDonald, Chronicle Staff
News
Oct 14, 2009
A Waterloo city councillor wants to hire part-time police officers to patrol the city’s core neighbourhoods.
Coun. Ian McLean believes it’s time for the city to deal with issues in neighbourhoods such as Northdale that pop every spring and autumn.
Residents in the core neighbourhoods often complain about issues related to noise and public intoxication when students return to university. McLean believes a beefed-up enforcement strategy anchored by off-duty officers funded by the city and other partners could help.
“I’m not saying it’s any certain type of people causing the problems,” McLean said. “People can come to their own conclusions on that”
“But I think that this is something we’ve been dealing with for a number of years and we need another tool in our toolbox.”
The UpTown Business Improvement Area currently uses this strategy in the city’s core.
McLean believes that there is a gap in the enforcement in the area because city bylaw officers don’t have the power to charge for many infractions. At the same time, noise and alcohol-related offences are a lower priority for police, he added.
“If someone calls in a noise complaint and (the police) are also getting calls for two accidents in New Hamburg and a break and enter in Kitchener, then it might be three hours before they respond to the noise call — as well it should be,” McLean said. “But that doesn’t change the fact that we need some presence in our neighbourhoods.”
McLean has asked city staff to review the plan in time for this year’s budget cycle. He’s not sure of what it would cost, but if it’s reasonable, McLean wants patrols Thursday to Saturday nights in April, May, September and October.
McLean also plans to ask the universities to kick in some funds to help cover the costs.
The extra patrols would be a welcome sight in Northdale, the neighbourhood between University and Columbia just north of WLU.
But it does not deal with some of the systemic issues plaguing the neighbourhood, said Deborah Easson, chair of the Northdale Residents Association.
Permanent residents and students will continue to butt heads, no matter how many police are around, she said.
“We have two groups of people with different beliefs and expectations,” she said. “The city should turn this into a student precinct.”
Additional officers would be a good stopgap measure to help quell some of the problems, she added.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
From the Record
Saturday October 3rd 2009
Help Northdale
Re: Party’s cancellation fails to
deter Queen’s alumni — Sept. 24
Waterloo’s Northdale neighbourhood is already experiencing
the beginnings of the same rowdiness issues as the residential
areas of Queen’s University in Kingston. I am embarrassed by
our own “ghetto”-in-the-making that tarnishes our region’s reputation.
How did this occur? Our supposedly intelligent community
allowed licensing of lodging houses (rent-by-the-room) along University
and Columbia streets to support the universities’ student
accommodation studies. Permanent residents are now outnumbered
10 to one. What remains are neglected properties, garbage, and
noisy keg parties. Why should people in Waterloo
care? Their city and regional tax dollars are paying for periodic
daily garbage collection, police response and bylaw enforcement.
The universities aren’t footing the costs as universities are tax exempt.
Now imagine Northdale Village with a vibrant streetscape
including attractive townhouses and low rise condos plus a bustling
shopping mews. Northdale Village could be a world class town
centre for those who work, study and live in the area — a diverse,
urban village that the Region of Waterloo could be proud of.
Karen Earle
Waterloo
Saturday October 3rd 2009
Help Northdale
Re: Party’s cancellation fails to
deter Queen’s alumni — Sept. 24
Waterloo’s Northdale neighbourhood is already experiencing
the beginnings of the same rowdiness issues as the residential
areas of Queen’s University in Kingston. I am embarrassed by
our own “ghetto”-in-the-making that tarnishes our region’s reputation.
How did this occur? Our supposedly intelligent community
allowed licensing of lodging houses (rent-by-the-room) along University
and Columbia streets to support the universities’ student
accommodation studies. Permanent residents are now outnumbered
10 to one. What remains are neglected properties, garbage, and
noisy keg parties. Why should people in Waterloo
care? Their city and regional tax dollars are paying for periodic
daily garbage collection, police response and bylaw enforcement.
The universities aren’t footing the costs as universities are tax exempt.
Now imagine Northdale Village with a vibrant streetscape
including attractive townhouses and low rise condos plus a bustling
shopping mews. Northdale Village could be a world class town
centre for those who work, study and live in the area — a diverse,
urban village that the Region of Waterloo could be proud of.
Karen Earle
Waterloo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)