University and Community Partnerships

The BSU Office of University and Community Partnerships is an important resource for university neighbors. Director Sue McCombe has worked with BCNA on joint town-campus concerns. Her office continues to be a great help in figuring out how to bring neighbor concerns to the appropriate parts of the university. Her office also helps to make residents aware of public events and other campus resources.

Please visit the Partnerships web site for more information, and to join the e-mail list to stay informed.

Hearing Next Wednesday

Eviction hearings for residents of Kenneth Yelle's three derelict properties will be held on Wednesday, November 3 in Brockton. The Enterprise included an article about this today, October 28, but it has not yet appeared online.

Denied. Denied. Denied.

Thanks to all of the neighbors and town officials who turned out to speak against the lodging license for Mr. Yelle's three properties that had become a collective blight on the center of town as well as dangers to the 40 or so residents. Rents totaling close to $20,000 per month were not being reinvested in the safety of those properties, and the crowing resulted in conditions that were both dangerous and frustrating for neighbors.

Because Mr. Yelle had operated the houses for more than two years since being ordered to apply for licenses, the license decision would have condoned serious past violations.

Absentee landlords renting to more than three unrelated tenants are required to obtain lodging licenses. In turn, these licenses require public hearings, on-site managers, and certain health and safety conditions. Mr. Yelle has been far from alone in thwarting these requirements. With any luck, this case marks the beginning of better times for Bridgewater's neighborhoods.

Lodging Houses Out of Control

The plight of neighborhoods surrounding BSU is getting increased attention from local and regional media, including this recent article by Enterprise reporter Maribeth Conway. More importantly, it is getting the attention of town officials, as licensed and unlicensed lodging houses come under increased scrutiny. Although licensing and enforcement agencies are overburdened, it is important that residents continue to file complaints about noise, fire, safety, and health conditions with the appropriate town departments. Building a record against offending properties is essential in securing relief.

Yelle hearing

On Tuesday, September 28, neighbors will have an opportunity to comment on Mr. Yelle's application for lodging licenses for three properties in town, including this one at 57 Spring Hill, which is currently unlicensed, over-crowded (13 students in a single-family home), in disrepair, and surrounded by discarded furniture.

The hearing will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Academy Building.

Welcome BSU students

As reported in the Brockton Enterprise, 900 first-year students arrived this weekend, the first to start their college careers at Bridgewater State University.


By furthering their own education, contributing to service projects, and enriching the cultural life of the town, these students contribute greatly to the quality of life of Bridgewater Center.

The Bridgewater Center Neighborhood Association welcomes the class of 2014.

Burrill Avenue Gearing Up

Students are moving back to campus and back to neighboring rental properties. Most of them are very welcome, because of all the great things they bring to the town.

A small percentage, however, are clearly not here primarily for learning and self-improvement, and they have found landlords (mostly living in other towns) who are willing to accommodate them, whatever their priorities.

Brian Kaplovsky, for example, retained his lodging license for a couple of notorious Burrill Avenue by promising various changes in management. Apparently these did not include letting students know that this was no longer to be thought of as a party house. Ironically, the "Welcome Back BSC" beer sign is one that BSC/BSU forced a local bar to remove after a brawl turned deadly a few years ago.

"Idyllic Learning Environment"

A few doors down, the party is starting early, at one of the sites that received the Springfest overflow in March 2010. Because Kaplovsky had positioned police details on his property, the party shifted to 39 & 45 Burrill Avenue, where move-in day 2010 is giving some sense of the caliber of students absentee landlords are attracting to this otherwise lovely corner of town.

"You honk: We Drink" and
"We HEART Freshman Moms."