Letter: Stony Brook University Is Not Planning Sufficiently for Growth

The following letter to the editor was submitted by Anthony DeRosa.

I am all in favor of the University growing, whether it be in its educational programs, sports programs, or hospital leadership and achievements. My only concern is that the University is not planning sufficiently for its growth in student population, and therefore is unable to house its students on campus, or in properly zoned off campus housing.

Thousands of homeowners in the Three Village area have seen their quality of life impacted, and prices of homes plunge as a result of absentee landlords buying houses and renting to multiple students, above the four allowed by town law. Many of them do not keep up the properties and put students lives in danger by cramming a large number of students in one home.

Town officials and University personnel have done a number of things to assist in reducing the number of illegal rentals in our neighborhood. The burden, however, is now on the residents to identify the illegal boarding houses and the Town to enforce the new laws. This does not seem right.

Our single family neighborhood should not continue to be used as a place to house the overflow of students who attend the University and do not have a place to live. Although the University is planning to add additional beds (1,100 over a 3-5 year period) it is not nearly enough. The August 29, 2013 article in the sports section [of Newsday] titled "SBU president Stanley delivers pep talk" was a good one and I'm in favor of it. However I would hope that soon I will see a similar article titled "SBU president gives pep talk to Three Village Residents."

I also hope it includes the same last two sentences ... but referring to our housing issue instead of the sports stadium. Hopefully that message will put the residents and students at ease about the near and future plans the University has for restoring our neighborhood and protecting our investments, while at the same time accommodating and protecting our students.

Anthony DeRosa
Member, Stony Brook Concerned Homeowners