Calm Before the U-Hauls

Chad Harlan, a senior who lives in a nearby apartment building with students and non-students, said he's heard horror stories. "People have gotten one or two noise violations and are thrown out in the middle of the semester with no place to live.

"They're definitely justified in complaining. The students can be crazy. . . . But they should be a little more understanding," he said of neighbors.

Maybe, Kreuzer said, he's just getting too old for this.

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The population of College Park is about 25,000. The university has 35,000 students. No matter where those students live, no one's going to miss the start of the school year in this town.

As in many college towns, people argue over who is creating the problems around student housing -- the university, city leaders, students, investors who carve up homes to rent. And the debate intensifies when students move into neighborhoods that used to be dominated by families.

Pitt can walk down the street and -- bing, bing, bing -- label each place as owner-occupied or rented.

Grass mowed? Owned.

Bob Marley towel serving as a curtain in the front window? Rented.

No cars parked on the lawn? Owned.

Doors propped open? Rented.