Elitist Eureka
Lately I’ve heard several locals complain that people with big city money are buying up property and bringing their big city elitist attitudes with them. While I understand that places and times change, I too have observed a rampant rise in elitism in recent years.
This rant has been smoldering in me for some time but was ignited by a comment made by a commissioner at a recent Planning Commission meeting.
“We need rental properties,” the commissioner stated, “but the permanent residents come first.” So, just what is the definition of a permanent resident? Is the term interchangeable with property owner? Is this the 18th century?
There are hundreds of permanent resident renters who have been here much longer than many homeowners, and who will still be here when many of those property owners move on.
Many long-term permanent residents don’t own property precisely because they are long-term residents. Eureka Springs is not a place to find your fortune, most who have any kind of fortune arrived with it.
Many in the propertied class don’t want renters in their neighborhoods and don’t want them parking in front of their meticulously restored Victorians. Not long ago, someone seeking a Conditional Use Permit for a vacation rental said they couldn’t rent long-term as it would only bring in $800 a month, and that kind of rent only attracts “riff-raff.” Of course, they got the permit.
It’s that “riff-raff” who allow this town to function. They cook and serve the privileged in restaurants, clean their homes, check out their groceries and see to the needs of visitors. They work hard just to scrape by and pay rent, if they can find a rental. Those who run the city pay lip service to the need for affordable rental property, but with a not-in-my backyard attitude. Can’t those people just live in Berryville, Holiday Island or out on Pivot Rock Rd.?
Owning property does not make one more of a resident, and it is elitist of the property owners in city government to favor owners over renters. Renters are vital to our community and our neighborhoods.
As the co-owner of several properties, I may be part of the elite, but as a former renter, I relate to the renters’ plight. I left town for several years to make my very small fortune, which I brought back home and invested in providing decent affordable housing and commercial space for renters.
Eureka Springs prides itself on diversity, but is it really diverse? We have very few people of color, and very few from other cultures. Just having gay people doesn’t make a place diverse. More than diverse, I would say the city has become classist.
Bill King
Right on, Bill.
Well Said, Fairly Said. Thank You!
Perfectly stated, Bill.
It seems whenever the profits of a property owner are threatened the owner will instead divert attention to their poor clients, These clients are the lowly people who “clean your toilets and wash your dishes” well those lowly people have zero protection from landlords who refuse to maintain a safe and secure place to live. Further, who is going to look after renter’s safety? It has become quite clear after recent fires that landlords need to be made to provide a safe place to rent for their tenants.
I was approached by Bill at his place of business one day about the “problem” he had with “city hall” he said the problem was that he would have to spend $300,000. I have yet to find out where that number came from. I can only assume that he didn’t think that building would be just fine thrown together similar to the way it was before the fire. This would mean no reinforcements needed to the foundation. This would mean no burned supports being replaced. I could go on with this but the building inspector and the engineer were in agreement that the building needed more than what the owners wanted to pay for.
I think projection is what is being used for defense. Even if the owners give in to the demands of the inspector, they will still need to follow the city codes that require parking for apartments. There’s reason to believe that since the building will be modified, the roofline is not what it was before the fire, that a CUP will be needed.
I’ve heard more complaints about the codes not being enforced in Eureka. I don’t think these “elites” should have special protections.
Harry Meyer