Residents press University Heights officials to enforce short-term rental rules after noisy weekend

A University Heights family told the city’s housing committee on Oct. 12 that a short-term rental next door generated multiple late-night disturbances over a single weekend, prompting three police calls and, they say, threats directed at their children.

The residents, Matthew and Christina Christieson, said the house at 3746 Silsbee (as reported to the committee) hosted a Friday-night party and a larger gathering Saturday that they estimated involved “at least 80 people.” Matthew Christieson said the noise and confrontations are especially dangerous for their son, who has a severe form of epilepsy: “If he's startled awake at night, he has seizures. These seizures could kill him, essentially.”

The committee’s housing and law staff reviewed enforcement options and the city code during the hearing. Law director Bridal (last name given in the record as Bridal) told the committee he reviewed a pending Cleveland ordinance and said it looks “very similar to our ordinance that was passed last year.” He noted differences elsewhere — including that Cleveland’s proposal includes a 15% density cap for short-term rentals…