01/28/1987 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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. Replying to questions from Ms. Bascom and Ms. Schue, Ms. Johnson said the eligibility requirements recommended by the Planning Commission would have decreased the special category tenants in the four developments that have completed the City conversion process about 75 percent. Most of the special category tenants in those developments were over 62 years old. Most of them did not have physical problems or low incomes. She said the commissioners tried to provide help for people who need it most. Mr. Ellison said the changes recommended by the commission are not based on experience because there have not been enough conversions to provide experience. Replying to questions from Ms. Ehrman, Ms. Johnson said the Planning Commission recommended that eviction protection be provided for special category tenants only. Consequently, other tenants could be evicted in 30 days if they do not have longer leases. City Attorney Tim Sercombe discussed 1980 litigation that resulted in a decision that the City may implement the tenant protections in the condominium conversion ordinance. Willamette Towers was converted before the condomi ni um conversi on ordi nance was effective and the ordinance would apply to the conversion of Patterson Towers and Lane Towers. Mr. Holmer said many tenants are affected by changes in the use of real property and he wondered if the council should consider the needs of all tenants in the community. He said the owner of the Delta Villa Mobile Home Park is evicting tenants in order to change the use of the property. Sixteen of the 19 tenants surveyed are over 60 years old, some tenants are disabled, and some tenants have low incomes. e Mr. Rutan said the purpose of the condominium conversion ordinance was to deal with the impact of a conversion to condominiums of several buildings on specific people. However, there have not been any conversions in the last six years. He wondered if the purpose of the revisions is to deal with the same issues or if the purpose is to provide protection for certain categories of people. Ms. Schue said one purpose of the existing ordinance was to protect specific tenants and another purpose was to protect the existing housing stock in Eugene. She said the rental market in Eugene is tight and a tighter and tighter market is created if units are sold and no more are built. She said adoption of the condominium conversion ordinance was a means of dealing with the local rental housing supply. Gerry Gaydos, President of the Planning Commission, discussed the commissionls consideration of the condominium conversion ~rdinance. He said the commissioners often discussed whether it is the public's responsibility or a developer's responsibility to solve the social problems created by a conversion to condominiums. He said the existing ordinance indicates that it is a developer's responsibility. The Planning Commission also questioned whether Eugene should have an ordinance that is different from the State law governing conversions. He said the commission decided that the conversion of a building with 100 tenants has a different effect on the market than the conversion of a duplex. He said testimony indicated that forced relocations create trauma for elderly people and that the trauma can be lessened if people e MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 28, 1987 Page 8