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Living next to students can be rewarding, challenging
There are a few things students should know in order to be
by Jill Aho | Senior News Editor
A tall tree nearly obscures Connie Berglund's small white house from the street. It doesn't stand out among the other houses on the block, only the height of grass separates her property from her student neighbors.
Here on Harris Street, that is one of the few things that distinguish permanent residents like Berglund from people who rent. Berglund estimates one-third of the homes on her street are rentals, most of which are occupied by students. She has lived here since the 1970s and has seen many people come and go.
Berglund says she makes an effort to meet her neighbors when new people move to the area.
"I also give them information about renting and renters' rights and always try to talk with them personally," Berglund said.
Berglund works at the University Health Center and is used to dealing with students. At the health center she feels she is helping to teach students how to be responsible health care consumers, and she views living next to students as a teaching opportunity as well.
"I think they aren't aware, and in many cases the students I get next door to me or wherever, it may be their first time they are renting on their own and they don't know what it's like to be a neighbor," she said.
Berglund said it takes time for young people to learn what kind of relationship they should have with the people next door. Berglund said she has seen student drug dealers, massive amounts of people living in one residence, and some renters who have never had a party in the two years they have lived there.
Overcrowding
Sherryl Lockhart, a land use inspector for the city of Eugene, said one of the things Berglund has noticed can multiply the annoyances of living next to students: too many people in one house. Eugene city code says just five unrelated people can share a single-family dwelling in the lowest density zoned areas, like Berglund's Amazon neighborhood. Lockhart says this doesn't apply to families.
"We don't regulate how big a family can be," she said.
Here on Harris Street, that is one of the few things that distinguish permanent residents like Berglund from people who rent. Berglund estimates one-third of the homes on her street are rentals, most of which are occupied by students. She has lived here since the 1970s and has seen many people come and go.
Berglund says she makes an effort to meet her neighbors when new people move to the area.
"I also give them information about renting and renters' rights and always try to talk with them personally," Berglund said.
Berglund works at the University Health Center and is used to dealing with students. At the health center she feels she is helping to teach students how to be responsible health care consumers, and she views living next to students as a teaching opportunity as well.
"I think they aren't aware, and in many cases the students I get next door to me or wherever, it may be their first time they are renting on their own and they don't know what it's like to be a neighbor," she said.
Berglund said it takes time for young people to learn what kind of relationship they should have with the people next door. Berglund said she has seen student drug dealers, massive amounts of people living in one residence, and some renters who have never had a party in the two years they have lived there.
Overcrowding
Sherryl Lockhart, a land use inspector for the city of Eugene, said one of the things Berglund has noticed can multiply the annoyances of living next to students: too many people in one house. Eugene city code says just five unrelated people can share a single-family dwelling in the lowest density zoned areas, like Berglund's Amazon neighborhood. Lockhart says this doesn't apply to families.
"We don't regulate how big a family can be," she said.
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