College Acres resident concerned over growing issues with neighbors not following community guidelines

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Josette Lee says her 89-year-old mother has lived in the College Acres neighborhood for more than 50 years.

In that time, Lee has seen a lot change in the community.

But Lee says an unwelcome change with college students renting houses and not following neighborhood guidelines has become a growing issue.

“It’s just concerning for the elderly people that live here,” Lee said. “Even though it’s an older neighborhood, they still wanna keep it nice and clean and keep their yard up.”

Lee says more and more people are parking numerous cars in surrounding yards, killing the grass and making the are look bad.

She says this is happening as the long-time neighbors begin to leave homes vacant.

“They move out or they go to assisted living or they pass away,” Lee said. “They they sell the house and I feel like they’re being bought up by people out of town and then they rent it out to college kids.”

Although Lee no longer lives in the neighborhood, she says there’s a need for her to keep fighting for her mom and others who still call College Acres home.

“I just feel that their voices need to be heard.”

Josette Lee says she’s reached out to the city of Wilmington and her local code enforcement department, but has yet to see any changes.