Potential law has no current effect on off-campus housing
A contested law between Syracuse University-area landlords and the city of Syracuse could stifle the expansion of off-campus housing in the future. While current student houses around Euclid Avenue are grandfathered in, the law will prohibit landlords to purchase new homes that could be converted into student housing if there are more bedrooms than parking spaces. This creates an issue, as most student-owned houses have limited parking spots but may have up to eight people actually living in the house. While this potential new law has no immediate effect on off-campus student housing, it could be the first step to a bigger issue. Currently, this law would only affect landlords, as they would no longer be able to purchase new houses with the incorrect bedroom-parking ratio. Students will still be able to rent the same houses that have always been rented, and nearby families will continue to deal with the original complaints of living in a campus neighborhood. Even though this law currently does not harm or benefit anyone drastically, it could have drawbacks later on starting a trend of anti-off campus legislation. This law makes it harder for landlords to buy additional property going forth.However, having this law approved would be one small victory for the members of the South East University Neighborhood Association (SEUNA). SEUNA is concerned that as more students move into the university area, families will move out. Even though this law currently does not harm or benefit anyone, and will probably never affect students, things could be different five years down the road. Essentially, this law will make it harder for landlords to own more property.
