The Town is working on or considering several initiatives that will impact or expand housing Amherst. It began work last August to update its Housing Production Plan (HPP), last updated in 2013, which will chart a path toward addressing the affordable housing needs of low- and moderate-income people in Amherst.

Discussions are happening about different zoning updates that could encourage or manage housing production. The Planning Board is discussing possible bylaw and zoning changes, including changes related to accessory dwelling units, adding zoning overlays for apartment complexes, and defining what constitutes student housing. And, the Town Council will decide soon about a zoning overlay on University Drive to encourage significant new housing in an area adjacent to the UMass-Amherst campus.

Housing, particularly affordable housing, is a complex topic with many diverse perspectives. The Current strives to present multiple viewpoints on this topic and promote open and respectful discussion. We will continue to share perspectives about housing, including this one from resident Rani Parker, a neighbor to several university students.

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We Need More Housing For Everyone

By Rani Parker

I am saddened by the recent viewpoint column from one of our students, Liam Rue. I live in the historic district adjacent to the UMass campus. I have enjoyed the presence of a diversity of students as part of my everyday life and the many wonderful arts that I am able to access because of the university.

For the past year I have also been living next door to a house full of undergrads who I appreciate very much. They have been consistently sensitive to our exposure to each other due to the closeness of our houses and they have been nothing but the best neighbors. They are all graduating in May and I will be sad to see them leave. That so much ill will exists between the students and us is truly troublesome to me.

As the student notes, it is irresponsible for the University to accept students well beyond their capacity to house (on campus and off). I don’t think more students per house will solve our problems, since rents tend to be charged per student, not per room. Allowing more students per house will only incentivize investors to crowd the same homes with more students. Neither is tearing down historic neighborhoods that pre-date Amherst becoming the flagship campus of the state university system by two centuries. Nor is it a good solution to simply push out the people who live there in order to accommodate students.

I do believe we need more housing and more density, and we need more and better regulation and enforcement so students get their money’s worth. We also need year-long residents so our businesses can thrive and so we can afford good schools which attract top faculty to the universities. Our tax base makes this Town work as a desirable place for everyone.

Most of us do not disrespect students…we appreciate your presence and the richness students  bring to Amherst. UMass has a huge campus with lots of land. It should build more student housing – as noted, students prefer to live closer to campus. Where space is available, there should be more housing for everyone, including many families that cannot live here because of the high rates owners can charge to students. But before building, let’s keep in mind that so much of the land is wetlands, so proper environmental assessments are required, along with appropriate construction standards.

I confess I am not an expert in housing or zoning, but I know that zoning exists for a reason. Constant rezoning and constant “overlays” make me wonder if the principles that initiated zoning in the first place are being respected.

I do believe that students, like everyone else, have the right to safe and secure housing. I hope students who are feeling that the town does not want them will rethink their point of view. Engage with your neighbors and you will see that our concern is that you and we have safe and secure homes. We don’t want you paying a fortune to live in a dump as many students do.

Yes, we will resist having our irreplaceable historic homes torn down to accommodate more new building, but we do want you to get your money’s worth. Putting more students in one home will not achieve that. You will just be paying the same rent for less space and if you don’t like living with six other people (as you state) you will like it less when you have to live with eight or ten other people and still pay the rents that you do now.