02/09/1987 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e e e Richard Gold, 1486 East 25th Avenue, said the existing Condominium Conversion Ordinance does not prevent conversions to condominiums and the difference between the existing ordinance and the recommended revisions is the requirement for comparable housing. He wondered where present residents will go if apartment buildings are converted to condominiums. He read from one of President John F. Kennedy's speeches. Ben Taitel, 2115 Brittany Drive, said he was representing the Citizen Coalition on Condominium Conversions. He said Eugeneans pride themselves on the quality of life here. He said the passage of the Condominium Conversion Ordinance protected special category tenants against arbitrary eviction if the tenants could not or did not want to purchase units. He said many old, poor, and disabled people are now worrying about the proposed changes to the ordinance. Mr. Taitel said comparable housing is the most important tenant protection in the existing ordinance. He said comparable housing will be very difficult to find if even one of the three high-rise apartment buildings in Eugene is converted to condominiums. If all three are converted, there will be no comparable housing. Mr. Taitel said high-rise buildings provide security for many older people and elevators are a necessity for some people. He said forced relocation triggers illnesses and debilitation in some older people that necessitates long-term nursing care. He said present tenants fear that changes in the Condominium Conversion Ordinance may make selling the high-rise bUildings to outsiders who might convert them to condominiums easier. Mr. Taitel said members of the Citizen Coalition on Condominium Conversions are glad Rob Bennett has decided not to vote on the Condominium Conversion Ordinance revisions because of a perceived conflict of interest. He asked if approval of the commission's recommendatoions would benefit the city, if approval of the recommendations would send an appropriate signal to retired people, and if the City should renege on the commitment made when the existing ordinance was adopted. He said retention of the tenant protections in the existing ordinance makes sense economically and from a humanitarian point of view. He asked that a member of the Citizen Coalition on Condominium Conversion be invited to participate in deliberations concerning the Condominium Conversion Ordinance. Jack Kapuscinski, 50 Lawrence, said changes to the Condominium Conversion Ordinance could have disastrous physical, physiological, and economical effects on elderly people in the community. He said many people moved to apartments because of the tenant protections in the existing ordinance. He said stable housing is very important and many elderly people need elevators. He said repeal of the comparable housing and lifetime lease provisions in the existing ordinance could result in the eviction of many elderly people if apartments are converted to condominiums. He said elderly people are important to the Eugene's economy. He urged the council to retain the existing ordinance. MINUTES--Eugene City Council February 9, 1987 Page 10