Quiet neighborhood where doors stayed unlocked now changed by student influx

A Historic Neighborhood in Turmoil

The quiet, tree-lined streets of an historic Pennsylvania neighborhood, once known for their sense of community and safety, are now facing a wave of late-night chaos. Residents of Mount Pleasant Avenue in Tredyffrin Township, located about 21 miles northwest of Philadelphia, have reported a dramatic shift in their environment. What was once a close-knit community where families felt safe enough to leave their doors unlocked is now overwhelmed by noise, drunkenness, and disorder.

Neighbors along Mount Pleasant Avenue describe the situation as a stark contrast to the past. They speak of late-night parties, speeding traffic, public urination, and students stumbling through the streets at all hours. The disruption has left many residents feeling uneasy and concerned about their quality of life.

Rosalynn Simmons, a local resident, shared her frustration with WPVI, describing the scene as one of chaos. “They're speeding. They have Uber's everywhere. They're yelling. There's drunk kids coming up and down the street. They're throwing up, someone peed on my car a few weeks ago,” she said.

The issues are particularly acute in a historically black neighborhood that has been home to multigenerational families, aging residents, and young children. For many, the change has been jarring. Danielle Galloway, another resident, noted that the neighborhood used to be a place where doors were rarely locked. “Around here, we never had to worry about locking our doors, but now we do because you've got drunk kids wandering into people's homes,” she explained.

The problems are centered around homes rented out to Villanova University students near the university campus. These rentals often lead to weekend parties that stretch from daylight hours into the next morning. Local media reports cite township police records showing repeated calls to the neighborhood over noise complaints, disputes, and other disturbances tied to off-campus student housing.

One incident involved officers responding to a home blasting Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” shortly after 3 a.m. While official complaints highlight some of the issues, residents say they experience much more than what is reported. They frequently wake up to beer cans strewn across yards, vomit left on private property, and drunk students wandering through the area after parties.

Tom Traun, a 77-year-old resident who has lived in the neighborhood for half a century, described the situation as spiraling whenever parties erupt. “When it comes time to party, there is no control,” he said. He added that students often urinate outside and loud gatherings continue late into the night.

Residents have noticed a significant change over the last two decades as more homes were converted into student rentals. While earlier generations of renters caused fewer issues, many locals believe behavior has worsened in recent years. “This current generation, they're the party ones, which is fine, but when it gets to be out of hand, that's the problem,” Galloway said.

The tension has intensified ahead of Villanova’s planned opening of its new Cabrini campus at the former site of Cabrini University. Residents fear this move could bring even more student activity closer to the already strained neighborhood.

Families who have lived there for generations say they no longer feel comfortable allowing children to freely play outside the way they once did. Galloway, whose extended family has deep roots on the block, worries about her 9-year-old grandson. She told the Inquirer that she wants stricter accountability for landlords renting homes to students. “The ordinance needs to be rewritten,” she said. “The homeowners need to take responsibility of who they're renting to.”

Township officials have acknowledged the growing frustration. Police Captain Tyler Moyer, who has served on the force for more than two decades, said officers have spent years responding to complaints in the area. He mentioned that police began proactively visiting student rental houses at the start of the school year to warn residents about potential citations tied to noise violations and underage drinking.

Despite these efforts, many residents believe enforcement remains inadequate. “On the weekends, they need to patrol more and they don't,” Galloway said. Others have become exhausted after years of dealing with the disturbances. Some neighbors have reportedly stopped contacting police entirely, believing little changes after complaints are made.

Kevin Stroman, 70, who grew up in the neighborhood and runs a mentoring program at the historic Carr School/Mount Pleasant Chapel near one of the student houses, said he has tried to intervene by speaking directly to student renters. “When the parents aren't getting on them, the college is not getting on them, the police are not getting on them, and then you got the neighbors,” he said. “All we can do is make a little fuss, but there's not a lot we can do.”

At a recent township meeting, supervisor Carlotta Johnson-Pugh expressed concerns that some residents felt they were not receiving the same treatment as other communities in Tredyffrin. “I don't know what more can be done to stop - I'm just going to say - the madness of kids,” she said. “But they seem to just be out of hand.”

Villanova University says it is aware of the complaints and insists students remain subject to disciplinary rules whether they live on campus or off campus. In a statement, Villanova spokesperson Krissy Woods said the university is “committed to working with its students to recognize the importance of being a good neighbor.” The statement added that the university communicates regularly with township officials and follows up on reports received from local municipalities.

For many residents, patience is wearing thin. Simmons said neighbors often feel dismissed whenever concerns are raised. “No one is really willing to come down here and talk to us,” she said. “It's like, 'Oh, they're just young, let them have their fun.'”