Concerns are rising within the Tredyffrin Township community as Villanova University’s student housing footprint expands, writes Brooke Schultz for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Student partying has been an ongoing issue for the Mount Pleasant Avenue neighborhood, which is home to many seniors, families, and children. Due to the neighborhood’s proximity to several Villanova University student rentals, residents often encounter litter in their yards, loud music, and fast-driving rideshares.
Residents worry about the disturbances, particularly for the safety of the younger children who play in the neighborhood.
The tension continues to grow as Villanova debut its new Cabrini Campus this August, pushing student renters even closer to Tredyffrin.
The new campus comes after two decades of steady student rental development near the neighborhood.
They have broached the topic with township officials and local police, advocating for stronger ordinances regarding student behavior. While they empathize with the younger crowd, when it comes to public indecency or substance use, neighbors describe the incidents as becoming a quality-of-life issue.
A student housing ordinance was adopted ten years ago to control occupancy and neighborhood congestion. Coordinated efforts between residents and township officials have pushed for updated regulations, while Villanova reassures the community of its Student Code of Conduct and the university’s focus on student accountability.
Read more about the ongoing concerns from Tredyffrin Township residents amid Villanova University’s expansion in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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