694 Main Street, AmherstThere was a time in Amherst history when I could walk from the house I grew up at on High Street down Main street all the way to the Pelham line and never once pass a house only occupied by students. Now I would be hard pressed to find any of the former.
Take this house for instance at 694 Main Street. Cut to the police report:
12:14 AM (early Saturday morning)
RP (reporting party) Reports loud noise coming from listed location
Upon arrival, approximately 30-40 people on front porch talking loudly and consuming alcohol. When advised of the noise complaint, one party indicated that his neighbors needed to learn that this is a college town.
Citation issued to that party.
Party cleared out. All residents were advised of consequences if APD need respond this evening
Summons issued:
Elan Katz, 9 Ridgewood Drive, Wantagh, NY age 21
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Yes folks it gets better. Honestly, I can't make this up:
2:36 AM
RP reports loud voices at listed location
Loud music upon arrival. Listed parties taken into custody.
Refer to Arrest:
Elan Katz, 9 Ridgewood Drive, Wantagh, NY age 21
Daniel Schiatta, 32 Eastern Drive, Kendall Park, NJ, age 21
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So I guess the moral of this story is, if you are being a Nitwit don't defend your uncivil behavior, and after the cops give you a ticket for being a Nitwit--don't go continuing the activity into the very early hours of the morning.
Property ownership card for 694 Main Street, Amherst
Larry, you just need to learn that this is a college town, OK? Get that straight and you won't have any more problems.
ReplyDeleteSarcasm aside we considered buying in that neighborhood circa 1989/90 but saw fire escapes being added on previously single-family homes along Main St. and that was the red flag right there.
"Larry, you just need to learn that this is a college town, OK? Get that straight and you won't have any more problems."
ReplyDeleteI've lived in several college towns and have never experienced such horrible student rental slum housing. Most university towns require first and second year students live on campus. They also have countless apartments surrounding campus - professionally managed and maintained. I cannot believe the Town of Amherst lets UMass destroy the entire town like this - beautiful historic homes! Soon Amherst will be a town of student rentals and nothing else.
Problem is, any project proposed for student housing near the University gets torpedoed. We are in a position of having established neighborhoods in close proximity to a University serving 27,000 students. Something's gotta give and unfortunately (given our inability to find suitable locations for centralized off campus student housing) it seems to be the peace and quiet of town residents.
ReplyDeleteHere's my question:
ReplyDeleteIf I visited the other communities in America where the respective state universities are located, would I see this same amount of rental blight? In Burlington, VT? Or Orono, ME? Or Ann Arbor, MI? Or Columbus OH?
I really don't know.
Perhaps this is a basic human right that we weren't aware of: the right to occupy old houses, tear them apart, infringe on the quiet enjoyment of one's neighbors' properties, otherwise live like pigs, and then leave after four years. Perhaps that's part of "the pursuit of happiness".
Hi, Larry - where do you get the full narratives from the police reports? Thanks for your work!
ReplyDeleteAPD has a press briefing every Monday morning 8:30ish.
ReplyDeleteAlthough they probably would not allow just anyone to attend.
(There was a tiny bit of trepidation allowing me in.)
But the narrative logs are public documents, so you can request them under Mass Public Documents Law.