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Short-term rentals thrive in East Village
I think if you look at my other comments from this thread I've made it clear that I am using the flexibility from AirBNB to do a lot more than I normally would. It's not like I'm on the brink of poverty... but if I didn't have AirBNB this summer, there are at least 3 trips I've taken that would have been completely unfunded, a savings rate of 15% wouldn't be possible, a 10% giving rate to charitable organizations wouldn't be possible. Sure, I could have just not taken those trips... but I really wanted to. I think this entire line of questioning is a huge distraction from the fact there is a group of people who have a serious problem with renters putting their pads on AirBNB and not having a truly rational reason to be against it. "Big Loud Parties", "Property Damage", "Crime" -> Statistics?, Facts? Anecdotal evidence is all any of you have. If we want to rely on anecdotal evidence, I can say I haven't seen, done, or experienced this myself and I have put my place up dozens of times and have been at other people's AirBNB's dozens of times. That body of anecdotal evidence is already more substantial than most of yours. But you heard something on the radio or on TV so your hysteria has merit I suppose. I don't know what I expect from a generation that elected a man president based on hysteria, conspiracy theories, and orthodox beliefs. It's different from what you're used to. Change is bad. Growth is bad when it gets to close to you. When renters have more power over their life, that's clearly the worst thing of all.— September 15, 2017 10:34 a.m.
Short-term rentals thrive in East Village
Doesn't that really get at the heart of this disagreement? It's about perspective. From the perspective of someone who owns dozens of rentals it seems maddening that a renter would break the terms of a lease. But then take a moment to think about things from the perspective of someone who is renting and has had their rent increase 6% each year they have lived somewhere while wages go up about 2% a year. It's easy enough for you to say "tough luck, just move" but if I have no problem having a stranger sleep in my bed while I'm out of town... what is the harm? Especially when I have two other adults in the house making sure there is no funny business? If I'm grappling with rising costs, relatively flat wages, and an easy source of income... my decision making will come down to straightforward economics. The fact is that from a risk perspective, AirBNB is not some wild west where anything goes, there is a rating system that prevents people from abusing the service and there is also a $1M dollar insurance policy on top of that. Maybe I'm coming off as spoiled brat who takes too many vacations but at the end of the day I just don't see any moral quandry here. No one is getting hurt, the risk of problems is low, and I get to have a very flexible budget.— September 15, 2017 10:15 a.m.
Short-term rentals thrive in East Village
Yes, it is forbidden. But until I get evicted, I don't plan on stopping. I go on vacations and business trips at least one week a month... leaving my room sit empty just doesn't make sense when I can make money off it.— September 14, 2017 9:37 a.m.
Short-term rentals thrive in East Village
I think the bigger misconception is that there is a loud, disruptive, AirBnB guest problem to begin with. I go on lots of trips for work and to see friends and AirBnB my room when I'm gone. And after having dozens upon dozens of guests, there has never been one incident. The fact is, most people who AirBnB might be younger, but just because we have all heard of a horror story on TV, it doesn't mean that there is a noise or crime problem.— September 13, 2017 10:11 a.m.
Short-term rentals thrive in East Village
If you have walked through East Village you would see that the vast majority of buildings are 5-6 story stick builds. I am a proponent of dense neighborhoods whether stick builds or soaring concrete buildings. This however doesn't make me a pro-developer "shill". The fact is developers in suburban areas as well as in urban environments if left to their own devices will not take anything into account other than the bottom line, I definitely agree that flexible, smart zoning in necessary. However, tall buildings in San Diego doesn't equate with this idea of developers gone mad... the fact is, more people are moving here and more room must be made; as a result of a number of political and regulatory hurdles, the already high cost of tension concrete and steel structures is going up. Also keep in mind that the majority of new buildings being built are for renters and not condos. It is disheartening to see all of Bosa's monstrosities by the ocean dark at night because no one lives there, but I think anyone who spends time in East Village sees that is full of people who do in fact live there. My only point with posting wasn't to "badmouth" you. It was to remind readers that this article was cherry picking individual facts to create a narrative that East Village is some desolate wasteland and that AirBnB is somehow associated with the depopulation of the city. I wanted to add my perspective that people can live in this community and use AirBnB as tool to help them and not replace them.— September 13, 2017 10:03 a.m.
Short-term rentals thrive in East Village
I am 26 and make nearly 6 figures. I can absolutely afford to live in my neighborhood. Additionally, I split a three bedroom to save even more money. I strictly adhere to my budget and refuse to pay more than 30% of my income for rent. I think it's funny that the older generation always cites the same tired assumptions about millennials. The fact that I regularly AirBnB my room doesn't mean I can't afford where I live, but if I can make the numbers work better so that I can go on extra trips who wouldn't want that?— September 13, 2017 9:45 a.m.
Short-term rentals thrive in East Village
The only example of a business failing downtown that was given was Salazar's... I have walked in there before and it went out of business because the kind of people who ate there don't live there anymore. When I walked in, no one was there to greet me and it was so desolate and old-fashioned that I just walked out. The other "empty store fronts" could easily be explained by the fact the city pushes ground-floor retail in an environment that is saturated with floor space. In addition, a lot of those who would lease the space bide their time waiting for well financed professional looking tenants in an effort to lower turn-over and ensure their space maintains its value. Finally, a lot of people who live in downtown San Diego (including myself) airbnb our rooms even though we live there full time. The profit motive is big if you can get a way with it especially given our good climate and expensive rents. Without AirBnB I'd be behind on other bills... the rent situation isn't good obviously but its one of the few tools renters have to make ends meet. Always such a dramatic, small-town, suburban mindset with so many of the writers and posters on this website, it's a shame because they are the ones holding San Diego back from its true potential.— September 12, 2017 10:40 a.m.