When we first saw these photos, it seemed like a joke. Maybe satire. But nope, they’re real.
Some guy named “Eric” is renting out three tents in his yard as Airbnb rentals. Each with their own private privy “open to the sun.” This is all on the last block of Voltaire, a block from the beach.
The OBcean who gave us the heads-up on this, commented it would make Jen Campbell proud.
At the very least, isn’t this a violation of Jen’s new short-term vacation rental plan? Is Eric a “bad” actor or a “good” actor, Jen? By violating the spirit of the new rules, doesn’t Eric give up his opportunity to get a real license?
At first glance, it does seem funny. But we’re not laughing, we’re disgusted.
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Anyone wanna take bets on those outdoor bathrooms being permitted and or properly connected to the sewage system? Barf.
Also, I’m sure the neighbors are excited about having to hear (and witness) people going to toilet.
Yay greed!
Thank you for reporting on this. Construction went on for over a month behind the regular 4 vacation rentals and we could not see what was going up there. The guy that was doing the work locked his work trailer to a palm tree and moved it every street cleaning day while he lived in his van and dumped fluids out of the bottom of his van, probably urine and wastewater. Meanwhile the owners of the vacation rental can’t even keep up with the overgrown mess in front of their place. Very disgusted this is allowed to go on.
Oh. That’s who the trailer tied to the tree belong to. I was wondering. I’m really surprised it didn’t get stolen or broken into but if you said he was living in his van then he probably kept good tabs on it.
Eric has more than just three tents listed on the Airbnb site, including four cottages on this same piece of property in OB.
Thank you Frank and ‘Rag staff for keeping this visible. I noticed that same property had made some improvements to their fence/gate and now know why.
Is disturbing? YES. Not only for the unpermitted work and out-of-code toilet facilities but for the very fact that each habitable space that’s allowed to do this is another space that full-time, potential neighbors/Obceans can’t call home.
I can’t remember if this stretch of Voltaire is zoned commercial. I suspect it is and that having an AirBnB on that property may very well be in compliance with the law. But NOT that way! There are very good reasons why we have building codes and other ordinances for visitor accommodations.
To those of you who would like to file a complaint, use this link:
https://www.sandiego.gov/development-services/code-enforcement/request-investigation
Select the building code enforcement option.
I’m an OB homeowner and I can tell you the incentive and impulse to make fast money on a cheap AirBnB is monumental. But living here also provides me with an incentive to know my neighbors and want stable housing costs to keep them. I just wish we had more on-site property owners instead of absent ones. Many of them are the root-cause of these problems in my opinion.
Does anybody have the address of the property?
5122, 24, 26, 28 Voltaire
And I would have gotten away with it… if it weren’t for you meddling kids!!!!!
Just $72/night! That’s much cheaper than the $500,000/unit for the hotel-room homeless shelter in Mission Valley. Tell Todd Gloria I think we have a new low-income housing solution!
I’m a long time resident of ob and I actually think this is a great solution as It doesn’t take away any space from a full time neighbor as no one will rent a tent long term but still allows others to enjoy ob and provide for our economy!!
Ummm. The whole property is a STVR property. There are 4 homes on the lot already that have been STVRs for at least 2 years and now they are adding tents in what is left of their backyard area. But the main issue is the outdoor toilets. This isn’t the forest.
Welp, there is an option to rent the tents long term. A couple of grand a month including utilities so I’m not so sure there won’t people who give this serious consideration given the rental market thesed days.
I just called the city to file a complaint and they said someone already did on April 14! And it’s in process. So problem will be taken care of!
No not really.
Chris, I submitted the complaint as a code violation and did the same directly to AirBnB. Recent experiences tell me that nothing will happen. But I did walk by there yesterday and couldn’t find any tents set up. Maybe they’re very well concealed?
Wait, wasn’t Coronado once a tent city and look at it now. He just might be on to something.
I’m a neighbor and I’m really disgusted by this. I know there was a complaint filed on April 12th so I am not sure why it’s only showing up on the 14th. Regardless, the guy had his trailer tied to a tree, living in his van, taking up many parking spaces, and was just disrespectful to the neighbors. Quite the entrepreneur move but this is not a commercially zoned block. I previously wish it had been and had to find out the hard way.
An OB resident should report this ASAP to Code Enforcement and staffers in the mayor’s office and D2 offices.
The Code enforcement complaint form here:
https://www.sandiego.gov/development-services/code-enforcement/request-investigation
Emails for mayor’s staff:
Zaiserk@sandiego.gov and cackermanavi@sandiego.gov
Emails for D2 staff:
Lgloria@sandiego.gov and skennedy@sandiego.gov
Hi all, Just an update on this:
I received a call this morning (4/28) from the City code enforcement officer assigned to this and she told me she’s investigating. The complaint I filed may have had the wrong address or missing some other info so that will be closed but the investigation is active. So good news from the City and that they’re working this. She did say that tents and outdoor/out-of-code bathroom facilities are the violation she’ll be focusing on that.
Excellent, well done, bobo.
Excellent news! Keep on them.
I had also put in a complaint and got a call from the Code Compliance officer yesterday and she asked me some questions and then said the same thing that it was in violation and they’d be looking in to it. They had received 4 complaints total it sounds like.