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People still staying at the OYO Hotel in Centralia — after the building was sold and their eviction was temporarily stayed — say the building’s co-owner Ross Hubbard, managing director of Centralia 86 LLC, plans to purchase the King Oscar Motel on Eckerson Road to temporarily house displaced OYO residents.
The Chronicle reached out to the Fearey Agency, a public relations firm representing Ross Hubbard, regarding the King Oscar Motel. A Fearey Agency representative would neither confirm nor deny the sale. Either way, residents have been offered the chance to move to rooms at King Oscar with assistance.
“I will be there Saturday to help them move over to the King Oscar,” Candace Nelson, a member of Ross Hubbard’s investment group, told The Chronicle in a phone call.
Nelson reportedly told residents Ross Hubbard has been in direct contact with the King Oscar’s owner about reserving rooms and a possible sale.
Notices were posted to the doors of the remaining residents at the OYO last week offering rooms at the King Oscar for $1,400 per month with pre-paid moving services.
Once residents leave the OYO, Ross Hubbard plans to convert the OYO into permanent supportive housing, similar to the process already underway at the Motel 6 on Belmont Avenue which was purchased by Sage Investment Group last October, of which Ross Hubbard is also a member.
The conversion of the Motel 6 is already underway. In a previous phone call with Ross Hubbard, he expressed a wish that work on the Motel 6 was completed so he could, “just take everybody (from OYO) and help them to move into there.”
In an Oct. 21 article published by The Chronicle concerning plans for the Motel 6’s conversion, Sage Investment Group co-owner Emily Hubbard stated that the Motel 6 would not be subsidized housing but would be “nice, affordable” studio apartments. Ross Hubbard expected construction at Motel 6 to be completed by May.
As per state law, permanent supportive housing is defined as subsidized, leased housing with no limit on lease-length. It’s meant to prioritize helping people who need support services to remain housed, such as those with disabilities.
Permanent supportive housing is also designed to lower barriers to tenancy entry, especially those related to rental history, criminal history and personal behaviors, while still falling under the rights outlined in Washington’s Residential Landlord-Tenant Act.
When Ross Hubbard purchased the OYO last month, he told The Chronicle he bought it under the assumption everyone in it was a short-term renter. In reality, some families have lived there for at least three years, giving them tenant rights. Residents never even knew the hotel was for sale.
According to Ross Hubbard, OYO’s previous owner, Sonny Parmar of Shivaji Investment LLC, attempted to illegally evict first by giving them two hours to vacate their rooms, but after protest from those at living at the OYO, Parmar then tried to only give them three days over a holiday weekend to leave.
While many were scared into leaving, some remained as the Salvation Army and Northwest Justice Project stepped in to offer legal assistance. After that weekend, Ross Hubbard then assured those remaining they don’t have to leave until they’ve secured new housing.
Ross Hubbard has also been in contact with both the City of Centralia and the Northwest Justice Project during this process while he continues to try to help OYO residents find new housing.
One concern many residents have, including one who had already moved to the King Oscar on their own as soon as the OYO was sold, is that they’ll have to check out of the King Oscar once every 28 days to avoid being considered long-term tenants per state law.
Nelson has reportedly assured OYO residents they will be able to leave their belongings in the room they checked out of and check back into the same room after a 24-hour period, but that still leaves many with children, pets and disabilities wondering where they’ll go during that time.
Some are also worried they won’t actually be able to move back in once they check out, despite assurances.
The Chronicle will continue to monitor this situation as it develops further.
The OYO Hotel is located at 702 Harrison Ave., the King Oscar Motel is located at 1049 Eckerson Road and Motel 6 is located at 1310 Belmont Ave., all in Centralia.
Sage Investment Group is a real estate investment firm with offices in Kirkland and Richland and a nationwide real estate portfolio valued at over $50 million according to its website.
