NOISE COMPLAINT
Brady Holt
Issue date: 4/22/08 Section: News
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The university's housing crisis forced the tenants of 4805 to move from traditional, on-campus student housing to a block of mostly permanent residents. At the same time, College Park City Council members are aiming to crack down on noise violators, which leaves students living in traditionally non-student neighborhoods stuck between a rock and a quiet place.
Most of 4805's current tenants became the first to rent out the house in 2006, after the house had been owned by families and even a group of nuns in the past. Residents on the block soon realized their neighborhood would be forever changed by their new and younger neighbors - and all the loud music and drunken parties they bring with them. And that, the 4805 tenants said, is where their troubles began.
"We're surrounded by residents, so they automatically hated us," said senior physical education major Clif Frailey. He said one of his new neighbors came over to lecture the group as soon as she saw them, saying "I hope you guys are never going to be loud, because I'm going to have my eye on you."
The tenants' problems started with warnings from the city based on complaints from neighbors. Then those warnings escalated into official noise violations, at which point the tenants racked up a total of $3,000 in fines. The students have not been fined in more than a year but continue to receive complaints for what District 3 Councilwoman Stephanie Stullich still considers loud parties.
The housemates now try to confine their parties to a soundproofed basement, they said, and they post a lookout at the front door both for people who might congregate on the lawn - the biggest noise problem, the residents said - and for the "little white cars" driven by the city's code enforcement division.
Frailey accused his neighbors of being too willing to phone in complaints, calling the city over daytime backyard activities such as barbecues and Wiffle ball but never complaining about louder noises such as the trains that pass several times each night about a block away.
"Don't tell me you can't sleep through a party if you can't hear the train blowing its horn," senior physiology and neurobiology major Warren Spitz said.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 48
Resident of College Ave
posted 4/22/08 @ 9:57 AM EST
And as a resident of the area, I want to go to bed at a decent hour because I have to work at 6AM. So I want peace and quiet and I will call the police each time I hear loud noises. (Continued…)
Greg
posted 4/22/08 @ 11:06 AM EST
College Park is a large area. Just because you live in college park and are in college doesn't give you the right to disturb your neighbors.
Rico
posted 4/22/08 @ 11:42 AM EST
What did you expect when you moved to COLLEGE PARK a COLLEGE TOWN? Common sense.
H.B Wilson
posted 4/22/08 @ 12:30 PM EST
What have these guys done for the residents on street that would encourage then not the call the police? Do they keep the yard and the street clean? Do they add anything to the community besides noise? Have they helped the community in anyway?
It is always easier to call the police on a faceless rabble than someone you know. (Continued…)
JB Miller
posted 4/22/08 @ 1:17 PM EST
This boils down the the blatant prejudice practiced by the City of College Park. All of their legislative efforts are aimed at students while their councilmanic districts are drawn carefully as to not allow students onto the council. (Continued…)
CP student
posted 4/22/08 @ 1:23 PM EST
Maybe the City of College Park should stop focusing their simple minds on the noise violations and start focusing on the crime here. I know the people who have had their homes broken into by "the cuddler" and i think something should be done about that. (Continued…)
alex
posted 4/22/08 @ 1:27 PM EST
Honestly, the city of College Park would be NOTHING without the University of Maryland. We wouldn't have shops, restaurants or bars like chipotle, cornerstone, or noodles. (Continued…)
Johnny Lawrence
posted 4/22/08 @ 1:32 PM EST
To respond to the "what have students done for us?" comments by some of the College Park residents.
Without the University of Maryland, and the students that come with it, this town would be an absolute shithole. (Continued…)
Johnny Lawrence
posted 4/22/08 @ 1:33 PM EST
Damn Alex, you beat me to it.
Mayor McCheese
posted 4/22/08 @ 2:12 PM EST
Interesting take. Break the law and then write about how the citizens better appreciate you living here. Show some empathy. Nobody is saying not to party just keep it the f down at night and stop acting like a bunch of babies. (Continued…)
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