John Carroll University neighbors call themselves ‘collateral damage’ in student housing expansion

john carroll university neighbors call themselves ‘collateral damage’ in student housing expansion

John Carroll University prepares for the future with plans that have neighbors worried about the present

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio (WOIO) – John Carroll University is in the midst of a $100 million investment that includes new athletic facilities, a new health college, and big changes to Fairmount Circle at Warrensville Center Road.

The university is making way for mixed-use retail and student housing at a former BP gas station off the circle, and a plaza that includes Pizzazz and Dave’s Cosmic Subs.

They’re also converting apartment buildings they own around the circle in University Heights and Shaker Heights to student housing.

“I’m 70 years old, and John Carroll is effectively evicting me and my wife from the home we have lived for 12.5 years,” said Ira Krumholz, a long-time Shaker resident.

“They want them out,” said Mike Madden, speaking at a Shaker Heights Council meeting. “Where’s my mother going to go at 90?”

JCU wants the first buildings converted for student housing by fall of 2024 with the rest converted by 2026.

“We know that what we’re proposing can be a burden on those tenants in the buildings, and we’re not taking that lightly,” said Jeremiah Swetel, John Carroll University’s AVP of Facilities. “We’ve given them at least two years’ notice now that this is what our intent is.”

The plan to convert the residential apartments to student housing requires zoning changes and some neighbors objected at the meeting, worried about the fabric of the neighborhood.

“It has diversity, it has a thriving economy, a wide variety of ages living together in community,” said Maria Tayek, a resident of Fairmount Villas. “This plan, this land grab, is going to mean the destruction of a model livable community.”

John Carroll will soon require undergraduate students to live on campus all four years and neighbors worry about the density of college students in proximity to their homes.

“College students who are acting like normal college students will be a problem for other residents,” said Iris Taylor Heard, another long-time resident.

Swetel said they’ve offered residents in the JCU-owned apartments rent forgiveness and packages to help them relocate.

For some, it’s not enough…

“Is council going to sit by and allow that to happen?” asked Tayek. “Allow us to be collateral damage? Because that’s what we are.”

“I believe there is a solution there, but I’m not sure what that solution is,” said Swetel.

The legislation to allow John Carroll to convert the apartments in Shaker Heights is now on hold, sent back to the planning committee.

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