The undersigned residents, taxpayers and business owners of Clackamas County vehemently OPPOSE the repurposing of the Quality Inn at 9717 SE Sunnyside Rd. in the Clackamas retail, restaurant and residential district INTO A HOMELESS SHELTER / Transitional Housing. This action would negatively impact the thousands of small businesses in the vicinity as well as the residents that live here and visit this area filled with family friendly shops and restaurants. The residents of Happy Valley shop, dine and enjoy entertainment near this location, and it serves as an unincorporated business center for Happy Valley.

The implementation of this homeless shelter would attract crime, open drug use, garbage and a general sense of insecurity to a thriving business district. This area was recently revitalized with the completion of major road construction and beautification at the cost of millions of dollars to taxpayers. It is the location of many new businesses such as Residence Inn, Dave’s Hot Chicken and Oswego Grill, as well as existing family entertainment such as Eagle Landing Golf Course, Dave and Buster’s and the Cinema at the Clackamas Town Center. This is an area where many young families frequent and where many young teenagers get their first jobs at locations such as Chick-fil-a and Target.  Importantly, there are also many apartment buildings and homes within walking distance of this hotel. They would have to live in fear of heightened crime and suffer the loss of property values. 

As it is very evident in the nearby city of Portland, homeless shelters and homeless services locations are often surrounded with street campers, drug users, human feces, garbage and other nuisance. There is a much higher prevalence of mental illness and rampant drug use among the homeless population which can often lead to negative and extremely violent interactions as has been well documented in recent media coverage. 

The businesses and residents in this area are finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel after the past few years of having to deal with the pandemic and the associated shut downs.  Opening a homeless shelter in this location would be rubbing salt in the wounds of these small businesses that have struggled to survive. Residents, visitors and customers will be less likely to frequent locations that they deem unsafe and unsanitary.

It is also a very questionable investment to put a homeless shelter in a high cost business district. This hotel is in a prime location near a main road as well as a highway exit. This location absolutely warrants a premium price that is not necessary for a homeless shelter. The Clackamas County Commission has agreed to purchase this hotel at an exorbitant price of $15,000,000.00. The most recent sale of this property appears to have been at $8,000,000.00. The hotel has reportedly about 95 rooms, bringing its cost to nearly $158,000.00 per unit before any expected refurbishment and repurposing costs. This type of spending is extremely wasteful. 

For the reasons outlined above we hereby request that this purchase be halted immediately and that a more suitable and less wasteful location, away from residential and business areas, be found for a homeless shelter.