Category: News – Local

by Jack Pawlowski ’27 on April 30, 2026

On Saturday, April 18, Councilwoman Shelley Peterson held a community meeting at the E-Cubed Academy on Branch Avenue to go over a proposal for new legislation regarding student housing. This new law proposes a Student Residential Overlay Zone, where houses within the overlay will have less restrictions than student houses outside of it. The Student Overlay Zone aims to regulate student housing occupancy in the neighborhoods surrounding Providence College and other Providence universities, and address issues regarding density of occupancy in student housing properties in the area. Councilwoman Peterson sees this ordinance as necessary due to disturbance concerns of residents and the growing demand for off-campus student housing.

Within the overlay (the red outlined areas on the map), all current rules regarding how many students can live together in a single dwelling will not change. The most important rule is known as the “unrelated persons rule,” stating that no more than five unrelated persons can live together in a dwelling unit. Most 02908 Club homes, for example, have more than one dwelling unit, which is why they can house 8–12 students. No rules for properties within the zone will change, but rules will be stricter for houses that do not fall into the student housing lines. Outside of the boundaries, any non-owner-occupied rental property “shall not be occupied by more than three college students per dwelling unit, with a maximum occupancy of six college students for the entire property.” In this way, as limits are placed on the spread of high occupancy student houses, they believe that the potential for issues can be lowered. 

  If passed, the College Student Residential Overlay Committee would evaluate and monitor the effectiveness of the Overlay Zone. This five-member board—consisting of an architect, a planner, two local property owners, and a Providence resident—would oversee new construction and occupancy changes and assess their compatibility with surrounding residential neighborhoods.

While Deputy Director of the Department of Planning and Development Bob Azar described the current boundaries as “the start of a conversation,” which should be negotiated and debated, some residents at the meeting felt the conversation did not go far enough. Concerns were raised regarding how the City would enforce the six-student limit outside of the zone, and whether the ordinance effectively addresses behavioral issues. Neighborhood residents at the meeting were concerned with the scope of the amendment, particularly with how there was no verbiage regarding Providence College’s stake in the resulting overlay zone. One resident believed that the limits were too amenable to Providence College at the expense of the residents who lived around them. When speaking on the burden he felt this ordinance would create for the residents, he stated that, “We’re assuming a problem that we did not create.”

This sentiment was echoed by Dr. Eric Hirsch, PC professor of sociology, regarding the lack of a Providence College presence on the committee. In an interview following the meeting, Hirsch expressed concern over the College’s lack of involvement. He noted that while the Office of Residence Life holds vital data on off-campus student population and a massive stake in the outcome, they are notably absent from the proposed committee. He questioned whether students are aware of how this ordinance or housing legislation would affect them. 

While the ordinance will not affect rising juniors or seniors who are settled into their leases, it poses a significant hurdle for future Friars. Dr. Hirsch questioned whether the student body is aware of how this legislation could shrink their housing pool, emphasizing that students have the power to shape the rules that govern their lives in Providence.

The next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for May 7. If you are still around at the end of finals week, head to the city council chambers on the third floor of Providence City Hall and make your voice heard!