The battle over short-term vacation rentals is heating up in the Pacific Beach neighborhood of San Diego.
During a Town Council meeting Wednesday night, a group called Save San Diego Neighborhoods touted findings on the impact rentals may have on the cost of living in San Diego.
Supporters and opponents of short-term vacation rental packed the meeting to make their voice heard.
The Magills said they have loved living in their Crown Point dream home for more than 20 years but their life was turned into a nightmare by vacation renters in March.
Around the corner on Riviera and Edge Cliff drives, police said an 18-year-old was shot after leaving a party at a vacation home.
"We don’t know who's in our neighborhood," said Gary Magill. The old days--old days of neighborhood watch--there is no neighborhood watch. Who are you watching? You don’t recognize anyone."
Save San Diego Neighborhoods gave a presentation Wednesday night, showing years old pictures of partying and multi-unit homes being built for short term rentals.
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Nancy Kramer, who owns seven vacation rentals and manages 50 more, said she has never had complaints.
“I don’t see it. I have 57 vacation rentals. Police have never been called on any of mine. I don’t have a problem with the neighbors.”
But the group claims the short-term vacation rentals contribute to San Diego's housing crunch.
According to their research, there are 8,000 properties that are short-term vacation rentals, which means fewer homes for long-term renters.
"We have a housing crisis in San Diego and it’s aggravated by short-term vacation rentals,” said John Thickstun of Save San Diego Neighborhoods.
"They’re probably right but it’s also an economic thing where it's going to come down. If there are too many vacation rentals, they’re going to go back to long-term renting. It's supply and demand," Kramer said.
Save San Diego Neighborhoods said they don’t have a problem with owner occupied short-term rentals--just rentals where the landlord or owner is absent.
The City Attorney has said short-term rentals are not legal in single family residential zones under the city’s current codes.
Ordinances addressing short-term rentals are being drafted to present to the City Council later this summer.
