The neighborhood of Sandy Hill is distinguished not only by its proximity to the University of Ottawa, but its historical roots. In the 19thcentury, Sandy Hill’s gorgeous townhouses and hilly terrain had a reputation as being one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in Ottawa. Unfortunately, in recent years its locale has posed problems both for the long term residents and the increasingly large student population, whose need for nearby affordable housing has placed pressure on the leafy avenues previously occupied by hard working, middle class families. In particular, these residents are worried that the influx of students threatens the quality of life in Sandy Hill.
These worries stem from the tendency of students to have loud parties that generate the corresponding detritus of plastic cups, glass bottles, and the incidental property damage incurred on drunken rampages. Many students, away from home for the first time, tend to overindulge in every area, from food to drink to other destructive behaviors. In the past, furniture has been left on lawns and then later ignited, posing a fire hazard to the surrounding houses. Although this behavior may seem shocking, it is merely a byproduct of misspent youthful energy. Although every population has a few so-called “bad apples,†the majority of college students simply require someguidance.
In effort to preserve the quality of life in Sandy Hill, a concerned group of community members formed the Action Sandy Hill (ASH) committee. ASH works in conjunction with the University to provide housing for the students and peace of mind for the long term residents, resulting in a more peaceful environment for all.
Delta Pi Fraternity, which is located in one of the historical residences neighbouring Stratchona Park, has been of particular aid to both ASH and the student body, providing a link that facilitates communication between the two groups. SinceSeptember, the fraternity has participated in a clean-up of both Stratchona Park and Sandy Hill community center, resulting in a far healthier and more vibrant looking community. Although some of the trash was due to the new student population, the clean-up revitalized the entire community by providing a much needed service. In October, Delta Pi put on a food drive,collecting over 500 pounds of canned food for the local food bank.
Delta Pi’s ability to anticipate the needs of the community while simultaneously engaging the student body to not only respect property, but to build relationships with their neighbors, has helped to create a vibrant communal atmosphere not seen since ASH’s founding. Although some Sandy Hill residents are still wary of the students that live in their neighbourhood, they should take the time to honestly ask themselves what changes have been wrought to their community, and how many of those changes have been beneficial.
The only way to address widespread difficulties such as these is to form working coalitions that fully address the concerns of both parties. Both ASH and Delta Pi have been doing the difficult work of not only addressing the central problems, but creating actionable solutions that benefit both the burgeoning student population and homeowners.
Students have an interest in preserving an environment in which they feel safe and able to properly execute their studies. Residents have an interest in maintaining their property values. Not surprisingly, both of these goals can be achieved with the same types of activities and attitudes. By fostering an atmosphere of preservation and harmony, the community can not only successfully host students, but keep long term residents happy. The best part of this arrangement is that these associations can improve the current conditions of the neighbourhood. Youthful energy makes otherwise labor intensive projects relatively simple and time efficient. With a responsible individual coordinating the efforts, structures and public facilities can be revitalized practically overnight.
The community has yet to fully explore what the partnership of Delta Pi and ASH may be able to accomplish. As trust is earned on both sides and basic problems resolved, both the students and the community members will be able to design projects that enhance the desirability of the neighborhood while maintaining an atmosphere suited to learning. With the clean-up a success and the community center outdoor ice rink next on Delta Pi’s agenda, the neighborhood of Sandy Hill may experience the most robust and financially lucrative period in its long and storied history.
