Spring Break
The Daily OrangeMaking noise: Residents reflect on neighborhood tensions over Mayfest
By Julia Terruso
Posted: 4/20/09, 2:46 AM EST Section: News
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Over the years, Lewis, 81, has fought the city on housing ordinances. He's fought Syracuse University on building the Carrier Dome, and he's even fought the complaints of his own wife, who said she would rather not live among noisy student renters.
Lewis is the current treasurer and former seven-year president of the South East University Neighborhood Association, the oldest and arguably strongest neighborhood organization in Syracuse. He is a watchdog for a neighborhood he wants to protect and a living history of the changing university area.
But he remains here. This is his home. It has been for 49 years, 11 months and eight days. Through the years he's seen the neighborhood change, but what brought him to Syracuse - and what keeps him here - is the hope that it doesn't.
"I knew from experience that cities constantly change, areas change," he said. "But I knew if we lived up near the university that the university area would never change. It will always be the same. Well, in some respects."
Lewis voices the concerns and expectations of many university-area residents who've seen the student population move deeper into the neighborhood. When Lewis moved to his home on Lancaster Avenue nearly 50 years ago, he paid $17,200 for the three-story, four-bedroom house. At the time, there were only three houses with students on the block. The rest were families. Lewis' children had a group of young friends who would walk to school together. Noise violations, property damage and annual block parties weren't even on the radar.
"The circus"
Tuesday's MayFest block party on Euclid Avenue is about as nerve-wracking for neighbors as it is anticipated by students.
MayFest was established in 2005, and it established its notorious block party reputation in 2007. In an attempt to separate itself from the off-campus partying, the university renamed MayFest to SU Showcase this year. Last year, 36 houses along Euclid Avenue hosted more than 2,500 students, and police issued no citations.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Jack
posted 4/20/09 @ 11:22 AM EST
"SEUNA receives $250,000 a year from SU, and much of this money goes toward attracting more families to the neighborhood"
wow... what the hell are they thinking. (Continued…)
Layla
posted 4/20/09 @ 2:28 PM EST
I live in the Westcott area with my husband and baby, and don't hesitate to call the police when students get out of hand. A few months ago, we woke up and found several cars parked crazily on lawns and sidewalks in front of the house next-door. (Continued…)
Neal
posted 4/20/09 @ 3:17 PM EST
Layla, I don't necessarily agree with what you're presenting here. How about students and members of the off-campus community engaging with each other in a community instead of just keeping to themselves? Granted, students are lacking in respect for non-university residents but maybe there's something to be said for "you get in return what you give. (Continued…)
Kaylen Thorpe
posted 4/20/09 @ 5:37 PM EST
Face it, the opportunities to build such a sense of community are few and far between. The weather sucks most of the year and we hide inside...and during the summer when folks are out, most students aren't here. (Continued…)
Retrovirus
posted 4/21/09 @ 11:32 AM EST
I'm 47 years old and have been a resident of the Westcott Nation for five years. I like living among students -- they're fun, interesting, and give the neighborhood some color. (Continued…)
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