A Potential Solution to Help the Housing Crisis: Build More College Dorms
The opinions expressed in this post are strictly those of the author and do not necessarily reflect opinions or positions held by Indivisible Northampton-Swing Left Western MA.
I am writing to offer a new and innovative solution to address the housing crisis, particularly in college towns and cities: encouraging and assisting colleges and universities with building more dormitories to accommodate their students. With the growing demand for housing in these communities, it is essential to implement forward-looking measures to alleviate the strain on the apartment market and ensure affordable housing for everyone.
College towns are renowned for their vibrant academic environments, but the burden of student housing often falls on the local communities, driving up housing prices. The scarcity of apartments intensifies competition between students and local residents and leads to exorbitant rents and limited housing for both groups. Also, when students have the financial support of their parents, financial aid, or loans, the impact on rents is amplified, causing rental prices to soar beyond the usual market rates. By constructing more dormitories on college campuses, we can alleviate the pressure on the apartment market and help with these housing challenges.
The construction of additional dorms has several advantages. It provides affordable housing options for students, reducing high rents and the need to search for apartments. And it reduces competition between students and local residents for housing, fostering a more harmonious community. The availability of affordable dormitory housing benefits not only students but the entire community. Also, dorms can be built faster than other housing because of the special status colleges have under MA law, enabling them to construct buildings more densely and efficiently than other developers. The Dover Amendment, Chapter 40A(3) of MA General Laws, exempts colleges from most zoning requirements, which could significantly speed up the construction process.
Addressing the housing crisis through increased dorm construction will require collaboration between colleges, local governments, and developers. Financial incentives and grants can be offered to support these construction projects and ensure their economic viability. MassDevelopment can prioritize new student housing and provide assistance with funding or loans. Communities can contribute by considering dormitory housing in Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) calculations, or repurposing underutilized office buildings as student housing. By taking decisive action, a significant amount of student housing could be built soon.
In conclusion, the urgent housing crisis in college towns and cities, such as Northampton and Amherst, demands prompt action. By investing in the construction of more dorms, we can alleviate the strain on the apartment market, improve affordability, and create a more inclusive community for both students and local residents. Let’s advocate for this forward-thinking approach, urging colleges to prioritize the construction of more student housing to make a meaningful impact on the housing crisis in their communities. Please contact your state representatives to urge them to act on this issue.