I’ve owned an apartment building in Portland’s West End, in an R-6 zone, since 1979. During that time, the neighborhood has gone through many changes.
Across the street is a bed-and-breakfast with a restaurant open to the public. A halfway house moved into the building on my right. The six-unit apartment building to my rear became six condominiums at least 10 years ago. The 11-unit to my left became 11 condos at least six years ago.
I simply cannot understand how a landlord’s one Airbnb unit could cause a change in the character of our neighborhood or detract from the available housing in the city.
The use of one unit as a short-term rental in an apartment building allows landlords to subsidize the rent of our long-term tenants and keep up with the ever-increasing new taxes, increased taxes and increased code requirements in our buildings, as well as up to $15,000 a year in maintenance and repairs required to keep a building in excellent condition.
It appears that the city of Portland has an issue with allowing its landlords to make ends meet while it rewards the conversion of large properties into condo units and B&Bs.
Bethany Angle
Cape Elizabeth
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