A consortium of organizations headed by the North Shore – Barrington Association of Realtors brought a professor in from Massachusetts to tell Evanston that its so-called “brothel law,” which prohibits more than three unrelated persons from living in the same house, fails to deal with problems that are already addressed by other laws on the books.
A consortium of organizations headed by the North Shore – Barrington Association of Realtors brought a professor in from Massachusetts to tell Evanston that its so-called “brothel law,” which prohibits more than three unrelated persons from living in the same house, fails to deal with problems that are already addressed by other laws on the books.
“The problem is the noise and the trash,” said Dr. Ellen Pader of the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. “It’s not that there are more than three unrelated people living in the house,” she declared.
She made her remarks Wednesday in a lecture at the Evanston Public Library. The event, widely publicized on the Northwestern campus, drew a mixture of students, landlords, and homeowners.
Laws such as the one in Evanston are not unique to this community, she said. Other places have similar laws, usually in university communities, in an attempt to reduce the discomforts to neighbors that result from college students prone to partying late into the night, particularly on weekends.
Pader, an associate professor of regional planning, traced the history of occupancy laws, dating from colonial days in America, as immigrants from various cultures arrived in this country and found that sometimes it was difficult melding different cultural traditions in the same or adjacent neighborhoods.
Community standards were articulated through the use of building codes, zoning ordinances, and occupancy laws as a way to make residents feel safe and comfortable, she said.
Her solution for Evanston: “Maintenance.” Landlords who pay close attention to upkeep and appearance of their properties, she said, will find that their neighbors won’t mind that they may have more than three unrelated persons living in their house.
As for the neighbors who don’t board students in their homes, Dr. Pader said that “if you live close to a college campus, you have to decide whether the nuisance is something you want to put up with or not.”
Overcrowding around campus.
She is missing the real problem,which is the overcrowding of homes around campus.I guess we just have to wait for a tragedy to happen,I pray it does not come to this.
Point not missed
@Anonymous: Professor Pader did not miss that point at all — unfortunately many people in community do not appreciate the nuance of the issue. With or without the "brothel law," it is unlawful to pack too many people into a residential dwelling unit. This applies to both related and unrelated persons. Rescinding this law would still not allow ten people to live in a one bedroom apartment. What she is talking about is letting four people live in a four bedroom apartment — to contend that that is unsafe is silly.
Howard Handler
Government Affairs Director
North Shore – Barrington Association of REALTORS
Evanston code
The Evanston code says under no circumstances can more than two people per bedroom live in a unit.
It is under the definition of a family and so would be more restrictive for unrelated people.
Brothels—A Student Solution ?
The NU students keep protesting the brothel law, but I don't recall them makiing any proposals to solve the issue other than wanting the city to remove the law.
I doubt the city will admit it, but probably neighbors would, that aside from 'real' safety issue, that a big part of the issue is noise, garbage, parties, etc..
If the students would write a code of behavior and inforce it for the housing units [Greek, rented longterm/shorterm, that would be a big step forward. This might be fines, expel students who violate rules, etc.. Perhaps limit the hours of parties esp. if there is music.
Also prevent garbage, bottles, etc. on the lawns and property and clean-up ASAP any that does accumulate.
There are probably issues the city has with landlords and these could be addressed independently.
If the students can propose solutions to the concerns the city and neighbors have, the law might be changed.