Condo tenants on Bend’s Westside told they must move

Tenants living at the Fireside Condominiums in northwest Bend, now facing eviction by new owners, said Thursday they are worried their next home will be out on the streets.

The 44 residents of the 20 units recently received a letter from the new property owners, Sundog Knoxville LLC, telling them they needed to vacate their apartments by June 30.

“It just doesn’t seem fair,” said tenant Nicole McGarry. “I know it’s legal but it doesn’t seem very moral on what they are doing.”

McGarry has been living in the apartments for more than five years. She said residents were aware the property was up for sale, but did not think they were going to get evicted from their home by the new owners.

McGarry’s next-door neighbor said she will be staying at the Bethlehem Inn homeless shelter, because there are no rentals available in the city limits.

“There’s couples with infants children — we have seniors, and they’re throwing us out at the same time,” said tenant Shanna Stevenson.

Sal Torres, a veteran said he hasn’t gotten any help from HUD (the federal Department of Housing and Uran Development), while the Department of Veterans Affairs has offered to move him to Portland.

But Torres said the move will not guarantee him a secure place to live.

He said he believes that with Central Oregon Community College and OSU-Cascades being nearby, the new property owner is looking at remodeling these units to attract potential students, for more money.

NewsChannel 21 reached out to the property management company, to ask if they will refund those tenants their full deposit or help them find new housing. Our calls were not returned.