Turns out it’s not all good in the hood.
It seems the number of students seeking residency in Sandy Hill, the neighbourhood near the University of Ottawa (U of O), is booming and so are the complaints.
Sandy Hill residents are circulating a petition opposing the university’s plan to build more residences in their community due to a difference in demographics, excessive noise, after-hours partying, and garbage.
The U of O residence association and its members should be listening to the voices of the Sandy Hill community rather than calling it shortsighted.
Students are transient and not as included in the community, whereas homeowners may have built entire lives in the neighbourhood.
As students, it’s easy to sympathize with those in a similar situation as us, but it’s worth noting U of O residences are concentrated largely in one community, rather than on an isolated campus or dispersed through multiple neighbourhoods like Carleton students are.
That being said, U of O doesn’t have any other location options for new residences.
This situation is clearly not ideal for either party and there needs to be a little give and take. U of O should hear out the community’s concerns in a public forum.
Students should invest in the community, build a park, pick up some garbage, and tone down the late-night rowdiness.
If they give as much as they get, Sandy Hill might welcome students, and student residences, with open arms.
