Just over a month ago, affordable housing advocates applauded Portland City Council for passing a new, “emergency” policy that would require landlords pay tenants between $2,900 and $4,500 in moving expenses under certain circumstances. The policy, which applies to any tenant who receives a no-cause eviction or faces a rent hike of 10 percent or more, is meant to act as a buffer to keep tenants from slipping into homelessness after a rental shakeup.
But a recent apartment sale has tenants telling the city it’s not enough.
“We refuse to be forced out of our homes so they can be rented at a higher price for a profit,” said Sarah Brassfield, one of the many tenants at the Holgate Manor apartments at 36th and Holgate. Brassfield spoke at a Monday press conference organized by Portland Tenants United in front of the complex, where she asked the city to intervene in a decision that’s sent ripples of discomfort and fear through Holgate Manor tenants.
As first reported by Willamette Week, residents at Holgate Manor received a letter earlier this month informing them that their complex has a new owner and renovations will require all tenants to move out—ASAP. With the letter, tenants were given $5,200 (nearly $1,000 more than required by the new city law) to relocate. Tenants from a reported 18 units have since taken the money and moved out, but many say they are unable to move—regardless of the financial boost.
“I don’t have children and my husband passed away two weeks ago. This is my community. I have no means to move, I have no one to help me move,” said Anna Landya, a elderly Ukranian immigrant. Many of Holgate Manor’s tenants are immigrants or refugees, and some were unable to read the English-only eviction notice when it came in the mail.
According to Landya’s translator at today’s event, “she may not live through this move.”
Brassfield read a list of demands for the property’s new owner, Fred Kleinbub, including a moratorium on rent increases and the removal of “vermin, pests and mold.” But the tenants’ specific request was for Portland Housing Bureau to purchase the entire property with funds from the $258 million housing bond—a pot of money meant to protect low-income rentals for vulnerable tenants like Holgate Manor.
Apparently, the bureau wasn’t aware of the apartment complex being up for sale, and only heard about it after the property was swooped up by Kleinbub. It appears the city would have otherwise been interested in purchasing the property. In an email statement to the Mercury, Portland Housing Bureau spokesperson Martha Calhoon said preventing displacement was the department’s a “top priority” when dishing out bond money.
But, she adds, “We don’t know whether Holgate Manor is for sale at this point. We are open to communicating with the new owner to discuss what the terms of a sale might be as a starting point.”
Update: Here’s how Kleinbub’s PR company responded to KOIN reporter Eileen Park
UPDATE: Here is Gallatin’s (the PR agency) statement. pic.twitter.com/8B9R8Vgn15
— Eileen Park (@EileenParkTV) April 3, 2018
“Swooped up…” (?)
No, they bought this property in a timely fashion and city was not interested. If you are going to throw “shade” best place it where it belongs with The City of Portland. They do not have citizens “best interest” at heart. Revenues from increased property values is the driving force today and will be tomorrow.
This isn’t the owner’s fault, and he is offering the very generous legally obligated relocation. A bigger issue, that is going to continue to bite us is that no one is building 2 or 3 bedroom apartments. I know studios and one bedrooms are the sweet spot to maximize $/sf, but if we want a city that is marginally inclusive in the future, we need to force the building of some family/roommate housing. The urban utopia the city is pushing seems to be just for the young, single and wealthy.
So why even bother putting all this energy into passing a Relocation Ordinance when the same folks who fought for it are going to continue to bitch and moan when landlords comply?
I plan to take my 3-bedroom rental home off the market and sell it as soon as my current agreement with my tenants expires. That’s three more people looking for housing in Portland and three fewer bedrooms to rent.
I am not wealthy and do not have money to provide for Relocation Assistance–so I will not take the risk of being stuck with bad tenants and losing everything. The $10,000 to $12,000 required for Relocation Assistance of 3 tenants means I need to keep almost a year’s worth of rent money available in case it’s needed. I don’t have that and I can’t take the risk of renting my house without it.
Big landlords may be willing to take the risk, but I guarantee you they will raise the rents to save for Relocation Assistance. And, when you cap the rent they can charge, they will feel the need to raise rents as much as possible, as often as possible, so they can be ready for those high expense repairs that every landlord has to make.
I honestly have no dog in this fight anymore–I’m selling my rental property. But I just do not see how rents in Portland can be held steady with the new laws that have been passed. How can rents not go up and keep going up?
The City of Portland is not giving me a free place to live in a nice neighborhood in perpetuity, therefore they are not doing enough for me. Ideally, I would prefer a 5-bedroom house in Irvington. Can PTU help me organize a press conference to amplify these very reasonable demands?
“No, they bought this property in a timely fashion and city was not interested.”
That’s actually completely made-up, untrue and a lie.
I think we should declare a housing emergency across the entire state. Mayor Wheeler owns a second home in Arch Cape. Only greedy, awful, selfish people own more than one home. Mr Wheeler, I would like you to give me your house in Arch Cape. I have drafted a list of demands and established what I deem a reasonable ‘naturally affordable’ rent that I am willing to pay in perpetuity. PTU, can you also help me organize a press conference?