Item B: Neighborhood Livability Working Group Report

Home Browse Search

Neighborhood Livability Working Group "There needs to be a light at 19th and Alder for safe bicycle and pedestrian crossing." "Ours is a residential street but used as a major N-S route for university students...some BARREL down the street making it scary for me with two toddlers. Our street is not monitored enough for speed and it is unsafe for my children to ride bikes." B. Zoning & Land Use Issues 1. Property Upkeep A significant number of rental houses are neglected by both the landlords and tenants unaware or uncaring of how it reflects on the neighborhood. Landlord neglect is a problem with unkempt lawns, lack of regular maintenance inside and out, and this sends a message to renters that it is okay to neglect the general neighborhood standards. Moreover, often times a nice home or new apartment complex will have trash cans sitting out with trash blowing around the yard and street for days on end. Often if a party occurs, the obvious signs in the yard - trash, cigarette butts, and bottles up and down the street and in the neighboring yards - are neglected by the neighbor who threw the party. "It would also be nice if the U of O cleaned up our neighborhood after home football games and when students move out and leave behind lots of trash. I'm sort of tired of carrying home empty bottles of Mad Dog and other cheap alcohol when I walk my dog in the morning!" "As far as appearance the students tend to park on lawns and do not keep up the property (the single resident homes) they rent. They leave garbage cans out on the street constantly." "Homes converted to student housing has resulted in heavy impact of new, temporary residents oblivious to this being a neighborhood of people needing to maintain decent standards regarding noise, care of property and adjoining areas." "Many students trash their rentals." "Landlords could be encouraged to take more pride in their properties - new paint, garbage clean-up, landscaping, etc." "I feel that the ongoing changes of students and the lack of expectation for the rental agencies to maintain their properties is a major concern to the neighborhood. I get tired of teaching new neighbors to not be feral." 3DUNLQJ'HQVLW\,VVXHV The neighborhoods adjacent to the UO have an abundance of parking issues arising out of the increased density and continued expectation of parking for all. There is no lack of public outcry about this matter, which deal with both the zoning and transportation systems. "Our neighborhood is expected to carry more than its fair share of increased density and parking for the U of O with very little help from the U of O or the City of Eugene." "When I say on street parking, I want it reduced and I want more focus placed on biking including on street bike parking. Cars are the past, we need to start making smarter investments in our future. We need to discourage car use of in state and out of state students alike and promote biking and walking, fixing sidewalks as well." "Tickets should be given to every car parked in a yard or across a sidewalk to maintain a basic aesthetic respect for place." 47 Page