Nothing says “inner city neighborhood” than the sounds of excessive noise, and when Joe Busby, president of the Fair Park Neighborhood Association, wished for quieter streets, a team of UALR Bowen School of Law came up with a draft ordinance.

The solution came from a new service-learning class offered in the spring semester by Professors Paula Casey and Lynn Foster and Adjunct Professor Cliff McKinney. It provided seven law students enrolled practical experience providing legal help to clients while helping the UALR-sponsored University District Development Corporation solve real problems.

Three teams of students presented their projects April 26 to UDDC members and representatives of the district’s neighborhood associations and partners.

A proposed ban on so-called “boom cars” whose loud, pulsating bass tracks was a solution offered by Valerie Ontivero and her team of Bowen students taking the class, Neighborhood Development.

Ontiveros’ group analyzed the existing city of Little Rock’s anti-noise ordinance that bans “unreasonably loud noise.” The budding lawyers concluded that the existing law cannot be used to restrict boom cars, which neighbors say affects property value, is often associated with crimes such as drug dealing, and causes people to move away. Loud noise exposure also can lead to hearing loss. Vibroacoustic Disease is caused by high-intensity, low-frequency sound and infrasound.

The law students’ goals were to add an amendment that would allow police to be able to stop noise from boom cars. The group used a “plainly audible” standard and employed fines and impoundment as penalties.

A second Bowen team led by Seth Bowman drafted a generic purchase agreement that can be used by the UDDC to acquire homes in the district. One of the UDDC’s primary goals is to buy and rehabilitate homes for first-time buyers. The student group’s goal was to eventually assemble a “forms bank” of contracts, leases, deeds, etc. for the UDDC to use and make available for district residents.

The third team, led by Jennifer Knepper, prepared an informational brochure for first-time home buyers addressing such topics as the purchase agreement, inspections, surveys, title insurance, and the closing.

Buying a home is not a consumer-friendly process, but the brochure can assist home buyers by educating them. Knepper also recommended the UDDC offer classes and newsletters for UDDC residents on topics such as home repair and maintenance.