IN REPLY TO “MOVIN’ ON UP” (10/1)
“Millenials don’t tend to drive single occupancy vehicles,” OSU attorney Janik argued. “They tend to use other modes.” I wonder if Mr Janik has ever stood at the roundabout at College Way and Newport Avenue when classes get out to see how many cars have more than one occupant. I say “not many.” And I bet that Mr Janik wouldn’t be run over with all the bikes flying down College Way when classes get out!
—webcyclery
Complying with the City Code, as OSU attorneys, and City Council contend… But in some ways, that is merely saying that any measure of just common sense and integrity goes out the window. I mean according to code we didn’t really create a traffic issue, or a housing issue or fail to see the big picture issue. How about thinking outside the box OSU? I mean you do represent an educational institution of higher learning. Just because you can attune to code doesn’t mean being smart about how you develop property should only address minimum requirements. I expect you to set an example…that you somehow aspire to something greater…something imaginative, something that sees obvious issues and creatively addresses them. My next big question is OSU’s lip service to a “sustainable campus” architecturally. How committed are you to that…or will you just paint the buildings various shades of green and earth tones and simply call them green by looking so?
—cristafir
OSU has gone above and beyond to comply with code and expecting them to do more than any other land developer is ridiculous. Apparently, westside residents feel entitled to decide who can drive on their side of town and who can park on their (public) streets. Textbook NIMBYism. OSU-Cascades is going forward, as planned, regardless of how many weak anecdotes the Truth in Site coalition can dish out. “Kleinman, the attorney for Truth in Site, countered that Bend is not like those other cities, that ‘the transit habits are not there.'” So much for this “active” Central Oregon lifestyle I’m always hearing about…
—based_reagan
ON (AND ON AND ON) VACATION RENTALS
I am in full support of efforts to update codes regarding vacation rentals in Bend, especially as it pertains to registration requirements as well as the collection of appropriate taxes. I do foresee the Bend City Council rushing through a process that could potentially cost taxpayers dearly when affected vacation rental homeowners file lawsuit after lawsuit. I am also worried City Council will be unable to look past just the problems of their affluent westside neighbors, residents that moved to a tourist town and are now complaining about tourists.
Will the City Council take into account the hundreds of residents who are being evicted from homes owned by landlords looking to cash in on the tourism market? These same residents are the ones who rely on tourism dollars to pay their rents as they attempt to eek out a living in Bend. Will the City Council be looking at other rental housing in the area. I would guess hundreds of Bend residents are affected daily by long-term rental homes in their neighborhoods. Residents in these westside neighborhoods should be grateful they only have to deal with the issue a few months of the year.
The issue of housing in Bend is complex, and goes way beyond vacation rentals. I ask members of the Bend City Council to consider this in the next few months as you gather to come up with an answer, one that focuses on all residents of this community, not just a few.
—Anonymous
In reply to Angela Stroh’s letter… “We want to be part of this community, but need to have a period of transition to reside more permanently in Bend, which entails being able to rent out our new beautiful home, under the supervision of a property manager who knows and enforces the city laws and ordinances.” If you want to be a part of this community, why don’t you consider renting your house out to a long term renter who is actually a part of the community and not a transient. Stay in your friend’s vacation rental when you come to Bend to visit, or better yet, a hotel! “Our vacation rental will contribute to the health and vitality of Bend, through the transient room tax…” Your vacation rental will contribute little to the health and vitality of Bend, because health and vitality is not just about money. I work in tourism, but the tourism industry needs to adopt a triple bottom line, not just one that says “more people, more money” is good. Contributing to the transient room tax funds an organization (Visit Bend) whose sole purpose it is to get more transients here to spend more money…something that we have plenty enough of right now. On top of that, a lot of the profits from lodging go to big corporations that own chains here or to vacation rental owners who don’t even live here. So you can keep your transient room tax, and why not buy property when you’re ready to really invest in this community, instead of just making profits off the work of our destination marketing organization?
—Laurel Brauns
We can’t say that Bend is rolling out the welcome mat too widely for the Strohs. But we are sure that line of questioning worked up a good thirst, though; Laurel, how about stopping by to pick up your Letter of the Week $5 certificate to Palate, where old and newcomers are always welcome.
This article appears in Oct 8-15, 2014.
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The fact that OSU Cascades meets the codes is totally beside the point. They are a public entity and they are doing what the public does not want. We should be sending our opinions to Knopp, Conger, and Kitzhaber. They have not uttered a word on this subject. We need to have them weigh in on whether they think this location is a good location or not. They are the ones that represent us on a state level. Conger and Knopp tout their tea party values, yet this is classic government forcing something that is not wanted. It is not nimby to be against this location. It would not be a good spot for the students! What student can afford to live near there so they can walk or ride? We need a university that will not be an elitist school, we need one that will be accessible to all in central Oregon.
I missed the Strohs getting their letter in both The Bulletin and The Source a couple of weeks ago. Let’s have a closer look at the Strohs’ investment here in Bend, shall we? According to public records the Strohs purchased their NW Ogden home in Bend for $462,500 – well above the median cost of a home in Bend. The Strohs purchased the home with a $212,500 down payment and financed the rest. Does this sound like someone that needs to “offset their mortgage” by turning their home into a vacation rental? It seems unlikely that these petite rentiers are facing any financial hardship whatsoever.
Now that we have established that this is simply a business venture, it is rather curious that the Strohs have broadcast their intent to turn their Bend home into a vacation rental in such a public forum. A quick public records review reveals that they executed a residential owner-occupant mortgage with a second home rider attached. The second home rider that they signed in order to get their mortgage and their low residential (as apposed to investment) mortgage rate explicitly forbids the rental of their Bend home. It states “Borrower shall occupy, and shall only use, the Property as Borrower’s second home. Borrower shall keep the Property available for Borrower’s exclusive use and enjoyment at all times, and shall not subject the Property to any timesharing or other shared ownership arrangement or to any rental pool or agreement that require Borrower either to rent the Property or give a management firm or any other person any control over the occupancy or use of the Property.” The rider goes on to state that “Borrow shall be in default if, during the loan application process, Borrower or any persons or entities action at the direction of Borrower or with Borrower’s knowledge or consent gave materially false, misleading, or inaccurate information or statements to Lender (or failed to provide Lender with material information) in connection with the Loan. Material representations include, but are not limited to, representations concerning Borrower’s occupancy of the Property as Borrower’s second home.”
To “TheGoodTimesAreKillingMe” –
That is some impressive detective work.
Pity me for a fool if I ever provoke your ire.
Excellent work TheGoodTimesAreKillingMe!
This is probably just the tip of the iceberg in regards to the white-collar crimes committed by vacation rental owners in this town.
Just during the month of September, 100 new vacation rental permits were approved by the City. I’m sure a good chunk of those already existed and were not paying their 10.4% transient room tax to the City of Bend.
For just one house that rents for $$250 a night, occupied for only half the time, that’s $4,745 dollars owed to the City for one year. Let’s hire someone to do the research and go after these people!
Why are we issuing permits to criminals who want to suck all they can out of our town without even living here to see the effects? 51% of permitted vacation rentals are owned by people who primarily reside out of town!
It is very disappointing the City Council decided not to put a memorandum on permits because they are scared of being sued. Their lack of action on this is driving this situation exponentially out of control.
In the end this all comes down to livability and affordability. Our DMOs do an incredible job selling this place, and their work supports thousands of jobs and keeps money circulating through the economy through the multiplier effect.
But at some point enough is enough. Let’s set aside a small percentage of these transient room tax collections for sustainability studies and affordable housing projects. Some of the people that work these jobs that the tourism industry has created have to sleep in their cars or in tents because there are no more places to live!
The fact that 100 vacation rental permits were issued in one month is just one of many indicators that now, more than ever, we need to get pro-active and start mitigating the long-term effects of a tourism-dependent economy.