The following is a Web comment in response to “Renovating the neighborhood: City

inspections, plan challenge student living”

The housing proposal, as it currently stands, is good for no one.

It leaves property owners with empty homes, students with no place to live and creates far more problems than it ever hoped to solve.

The fact is that this plan simply does not work for Lexington. There is undeniably a problem with housing near campus; these buildings are old and deteriorating and many of them are truly unlivable and that is not acceptable. But forcing students out of their homes and to the downtown neighborhood is not the answer.

The problems that we face are not a result of reckless behavior by students, but rather irresponsible landlords who put profit above people. Much fault also lies with the city for its lack of foresight.

If we want safer housing, let’s work with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government to have more inspections of rental properties in order to make sure that students have a safe place to call home. Let’s not force an unbearable burden upon the backs of students by making them live farther away from campus, but let’s hold landlords responsible for the housing that they provide.

Derek Jorge Campbell