Compromise reached on housing bill
Laura Schwartzman
Issue date: 3/26/07 Section: News
The College Park City Council cemented support Tuesday for a compromise on legislation aimed at shrinking the tax exempt area that now exists to entice developers interested in building student housing.
In a special session, six of eight council members supported amendments that would expand the area, after the mayor and council spoke with residents, student leaders and the landlord who controls more than half of the Knox Boxes.
The legislation, sponsored by state Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Prince George's and Anne Arundel) and the Prince George's House delegation, would charge developers a more than $7,000 one-time fee per student housing unit built.
But student housing constructed 1.5 miles around the campus would be exempt, and the amendment allows more development east of Route 1 to avoid the tax. Properties outside the exemption boundary can petition the fee, Mayor Stephen Brayman said.
The bill, which is intended to foster development closer to the university, provides revenue for Prince George's County Public Schools.
Student leaders feel the bill would discourage student housing development and aggravate the university's worst housing crisis in over a decade.
Student Government Association President Emma Simson lobbied to redraw the exemption zone boundaries around CDepot, AMF Bowling Center and the proposed PDC Campfire site, she said.
"We want to encourage more developers to come in and create student housing opportunities," said Simson, who added that 5,000 to 7,000 beds will be needed within the next 10 years.
Firth, whose Knox Box property is exempt from the tax, said that changing the proposed boundaries may harm existing student neighborhoods.
"By expanding the boundaries beyond what was recently proposed, you lose the opportunity to really consolidate the student housing," she said. "I represent [an area] where we're evaluating the opportunity to benefit the university and city. I think as you expand those boundaries, opportunities are going to disappear quickly."
Firth said housing built close to the university also decreases the need for students to cross Route 1 and other dangerous highways. "Safety is No. 1 on my list," she said.
Residents of Berwyn and other nearby areas are also wary of the compromised boundaries, which may bring more student housing to their communities.
District 2 Councilman Jack Perry, who opposes student housing built in Berwyn, said certain College Park neighborhoods have been "destroyed by student housing."
But students insist the expanded exceptions will benefit the areas that will most likely see increased student housing construction.
"Nobody wants a University View in the middle of Berwyn," said Graduate Student Government President Laura Moore, defending the compromise. "[It] preserves the neighborhoods and respects the wishes of people in Berwyn. We're in a position where there's student housing or we're living in people's basements. ... I think it's important to preserve these financial incentives. There's a really extreme need [for graduate housing]."
Moore said although it would be ideal if most student housing was within walking distance to the campus, the tight boundaries were not realistic and did not appeal to graduate students who "have the partying out of their systems" and often want to live separately from undergraduates.
Contact reporter Laura Schwartzman at newsdesk@dbk.umd.edu.
In a special session, six of eight council members supported amendments that would expand the area, after the mayor and council spoke with residents, student leaders and the landlord who controls more than half of the Knox Boxes.
The legislation, sponsored by state Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Prince George's and Anne Arundel) and the Prince George's House delegation, would charge developers a more than $7,000 one-time fee per student housing unit built.
But student housing constructed 1.5 miles around the campus would be exempt, and the amendment allows more development east of Route 1 to avoid the tax. Properties outside the exemption boundary can petition the fee, Mayor Stephen Brayman said.
The bill, which is intended to foster development closer to the university, provides revenue for Prince George's County Public Schools.
Student leaders feel the bill would discourage student housing development and aggravate the university's worst housing crisis in over a decade.
Student Government Association President Emma Simson lobbied to redraw the exemption zone boundaries around CDepot, AMF Bowling Center and the proposed PDC Campfire site, she said.
"We want to encourage more developers to come in and create student housing opportunities," said Simson, who added that 5,000 to 7,000 beds will be needed within the next 10 years.
Firth, whose Knox Box property is exempt from the tax, said that changing the proposed boundaries may harm existing student neighborhoods.
"By expanding the boundaries beyond what was recently proposed, you lose the opportunity to really consolidate the student housing," she said. "I represent [an area] where we're evaluating the opportunity to benefit the university and city. I think as you expand those boundaries, opportunities are going to disappear quickly."
Firth said housing built close to the university also decreases the need for students to cross Route 1 and other dangerous highways. "Safety is No. 1 on my list," she said.
Residents of Berwyn and other nearby areas are also wary of the compromised boundaries, which may bring more student housing to their communities.
District 2 Councilman Jack Perry, who opposes student housing built in Berwyn, said certain College Park neighborhoods have been "destroyed by student housing."
But students insist the expanded exceptions will benefit the areas that will most likely see increased student housing construction.
"Nobody wants a University View in the middle of Berwyn," said Graduate Student Government President Laura Moore, defending the compromise. "[It] preserves the neighborhoods and respects the wishes of people in Berwyn. We're in a position where there's student housing or we're living in people's basements. ... I think it's important to preserve these financial incentives. There's a really extreme need [for graduate housing]."
Moore said although it would be ideal if most student housing was within walking distance to the campus, the tight boundaries were not realistic and did not appeal to graduate students who "have the partying out of their systems" and often want to live separately from undergraduates.
Contact reporter Laura Schwartzman at newsdesk@dbk.umd.edu.
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