District creation upsets landlords

Councilwoman says historic designation needed to preserve neighborhood character

The district, which was created last summer, consists of Yale Avenue, Calvert Road, Columbia Avenue and the University of Maryland, College Park as its boundaries.

The historic district designation is a reaction to additions and drastic changes some homeowners have made to their properties, said Councilwoman Stephanie Stullich (Dist. 3), a leading proponent of the district and former president of the Old Town Citizens Association (OTCA).

‘‘People in the neighborhood don’t like that. They want the buildings to look nice and the community to look nice,” she said.

James Kane, the association’s vice president, called the district establishment unnecessary. The designation means people who want to repair their homes have to use the same materials originally used on the house, even if newer or better materials are available, he said. Some of the houses were built recently, he said.

By restricting what materials can be used, landlords might incur additional expenses when they need to repair their homes, he said. Unless they raised rents, which would make it more difficult to rent to students, they could lose money.

‘‘That’s hogwash. All the historic district does is help preserve the architecture and exterior of historic properties,” Mayor Stephen A. Brayman said. ‘‘It in no way regulates the use and will not prohibit or hinder students or any other residents from renting properties.”

Landlords seeking to renovate their properties could apply for federal or state tax credits, and that would reduce costs and help make the properties more attractive to renters, he said.

With the university facing a housing crisis that could leave 600 undergraduate students without on-campus housing when classes resume this fall, Student Government President Andrew Friedson said the possibility of students not being able to live in Old Town is a concern.

‘‘I think there’s a balance between the character and aesthetic of the neighborhood and having convenient and affordable and safe housing,” he said. ‘‘Housing is one of my biggest issues. We need more housing and we need it to be affordable.”

Because students have to consider so many factors in selecting an apartment, such as whether to rent a room in a house, have a roommate or get a single apartment, Friedson said he couldn’t offer a firm dollar figure for rent that students would consider to be affordable.