Student housing can be messy - Part two in a four part series looking at student housing in Barrie.

By Laurie Watt 
BARRIE - Part two in a four part series looking at student housing in Barrie.For Bolton’s John Davidson, sharing a house with several others is part of growing up. 
Davidson, who has just finished his second year of the three-year hospitality administration program at Georgian College, said moving into a neighbourhood last fall gave him a chance to be more independent and gain some household management skills and take on some responsibility.
“The first year, I lived in residence. It was a good experience. Most people who come to college like to take that opportunity, but then you want to get your own freedom. You’re 18 or 19 and just leaving home, and it’s good to get out. I moved in here with a bunch of friends. It’s good to have your own house,” the 20-year-old said.
In their semi-detached, the five guys and one girl have three bathrooms and two common areas, as well as a kitchen and a fenced backyard. Sparsely furnished with the basics, the main living area also features a desk with a computer – which the household shares. 
The room rents – which range from $525 to $550 per month – cover utilities, cable and Internet, as well as access to a handyman, should a drain clog or fuse blow.
“It works. We have living space downstairs which we turned into a gym,” Davidson said. The group, he added, stuck together throughout the school year, although a few of them have left town to go to co-op placements.
“Sometimes we get messy. I like to consider them growing pains in college life. Sometimes, we’re not respectful of the noise bylaw,” he added, although one night, when an officer told them about a $500 fine, the group took the warning to heart – and never had another complaint.
“We had no idea (about the bylaw and the fines). It grows every time they come back,” he said, noting the first offence is almost as much as a month’s rent. 
He added two doors down, there’s another student rooming house – and he’s not heard them. Nor has he seen students commit other offences as they walk past his house on the way to the plaza at the corner of Duckworth and Grove streets.
“It’s a good location. It gets a bad rap,” he said. “For most people, other than a few celebratory parties here and there, you’re at home, quiet.”
Students, he noted, know the risks of having parties or keggers.
 “I haven’t seen all-night keggers. People get worried about destroying the place because they’re renting. People are cautious, because you want to know who’s coming into your place. You have to be careful and be respectful of your neighbour,” said Davidson.
And his lease with Student Property Management outlaws Facebook parties.
“You create an event and you invite 40 friends. Each of those can bring friends and within hours, your guest list can be mover 200,” he said, describing the parties that can quickly get out of control. “Everyone will show up, especially if there is a keg.”
With freedom comes responsibility – and second-year students who have moved from on-campus or even off-campus managed student housing appreciate the lack of rules and supervision. At the college, there are Residence Advisors, as well as rules and guest sign-in rules. Across Duckworth Street at Georgian Green, there are supervisors who enforce noise and behaviour standards.
But by second year, students are ready to grow up, Davidson said, so they look to share a house. 
“This is a quiet street, even though it’s a student area. People have parties and they bring their friends over. There have only been a few big parties,” he said.
“My first year, I lived in residence. It was a good experience. Most people who come to college like to take that opportunity, then you want your own freedom.
“I moved in here with a bunch of friends. It’s good to have your own house.”
Part 1 - Back to basics