Residents describe late-night party at 3746 Silsbee; committee discusses enforcing short-term rental ordinance

Resident Matthew Christieson told the University Heights City Council Housing Committee that loud parties at a nearby short-term rental put his family’s safety at risk and prompted three police calls over a single weekend. "Our son has a severe form of epilepsy and is maxed out on medication. If he's startled awake at night, he has seizures," Christieson said, describing two nights of disturbances and what he said was a crowd of "at least 80 people" during the second night at the property.

The committee reviewed the city’s short-term rental ordinance, passed June 17, 2024, and discussed enforcement options, staffing needs and gaps in registration. Bryan Bridal, the city’s law director, said he compared University Heights’ ordinance with Cleveland’s pending proposal and noted a key difference: Cleveland’s draft sets a 15% density cap per block and for apartment/condominium buildings. Bridal said the Cleveland measure is otherwise "very…