Penticton: struggling to attract families?

[fluffy]

Those jobs are here and they are recession proof too. They are just not obvious. Besides the obvious medical services, there are hearing techs, denturists, mobility sales and service, orthopedics, pharmacy, ....yada yada. All good paying jobs. And as I said before, seniors tend to not be able to do a lot of work they used to do themselves so painters, plumbers, handymen, auto mechanics ect all do well with seniors. Again, good paying trades.

But when you look at overall numbers isn't that market close to saturated already? I think the focus of the jobs issue is more towards those who do not have the benefit of extensive education or entrepreneurial skills. The Canwoods and Castle Glasses of yesteryear.

[southy]

But when you look at overall numbers isn't that market close to saturated already? I think the focus of the jobs issue is more towards those who do not have the benefit of extensive education or entrepreneurial skills. The Ava woods and Castle Glasses of yesteryear.

I was talking one of those individuals who do not have the benefit of extensive education or entrepreneurial skills. And this is the part that disturbs me. When I asked what she wanted to do - she couldn't answer me. When I asked how much she thinks she should be making she said $15 or more per hour. I then asked if she thought she was worth being paid that amount and her response was - I don't know but I really think the government should increase minimum wage for all of us because I can't live on $13 an hour. I then asked if she had ever considered getting more education and that since she was an adult there could be programs in place for her. Again her response was - yea I talked to them once and they wanted me to jump through hoops. My point is Fluffy that I really believe there is a large segment of the population out there who honestly believe they should be taken care of. No personal accountability. They are deserving and on their terms. I walked away from this woman feeling somewhat angered that she felt she was entitled. On the other side of this, I have met individuals who have bettered themselves through education and skill training and the difference in attitude is night and day. So those who want will and those who think they should just receive won't.

[rustled]

The retirement demographic has been a large part of the local economy for decades now, you'd think that some these good jobs you speak of would have surfaced by now. There has been some benefit for the construction industry for sure, but as far permanent jobs precious few of those supply enough of an income to support a growing family. I agree that seniors have money to spend, but I also notice that with the time they have on their hands they are the first to make the road trip to take that money out of town, be it a day trip to Kelowna or Omak, or a longer stay in Vancouver or Spokane.

Those jobs are here and they are recession proof too. They are just not obvious. Besides the obvious medical services, there are hearing techs, denturists, mobility sales and service, orthopedics, pharmacy, ....yada yada. All good paying jobs. And as I said before, seniors tend to not be able to do a lot of work they used to do themselves so painters, plumbers, handymen, auto mechanics ect all do well with seniors. Again, good paying trades. And before we belittle the guy mowing the lawn and and the gal doing house cleaning (not meaning to be sexist stereotypical)..... I know of two guys that do yard maintenance for seniors that make 60k net for a 7 month season of work and a gal that charges 30 buck an hr for cleaning and has to turn down work.
Bottom line is that retirement is a serious big money industry that should be promoted rather than wasting millions on sidewalks and parking bollards for a 3 month season of campground attendee's, chambermaids, and waitresses that pay little more than min wage. Those jobs will always be there because of our location. We need the jobs that will be there longer than three months and sustain a yearly income rather than EI based on min wage.
The only places that are successful in promoting tourism have an annual season or at the very least, 8 months. Penticton is flogging a dead horse with 3 months and 2 marginal shoulder season months.

Some things to think about: Some of these jobs are physically demanding. (Well, they can be, if you're intent on giving your clients their money's worth.) Others require a substantial investment or significant overhead (you need a shop to do automotive out of, plus tools), or the management of others (the cleaner who covers for you when you take a vacation, for example). They all require an ability to do all of the loathsome paperwork involved with GST, PST, income taxes, various licencing and insurances (all unpaid time), or a willingness to take on more hours so you can hire someone to do it. Not everyone's cut out for all of these things.

So while you're absolutely right about there being a lot of jobs providing these services, only the entrepreneurial folk end up making good money at it.

I fully agree that flogging tourism is what's getting us deeper into problems. We know of several people who could be renting the homes they own here to families, but they are making better money with Air B&B and seasonal rentals and are using their profits to purchase more homes to use for the same purpose. There's no shame in seizing an opportunity to make money, but it's driving up the cost of housing and making it even more difficult for others to enter the market or find reasonable rentals.

All part of the picture. It will take an enormous shift to get Penticton moving in a different direction.

[fluffy]

My point is Fluffy that I really believe there is a large segment of the population out there who honestly believe they should be taken care of.

I can't deny that, and while they may make a lot of noise I won't believe that they represent a majority. I question why the "good jobs" issue keeps coming up?

[Jflem1983]

My point is Fluffy that I really believe there is a large segment of the population out there who honestly believe they should be taken care of.

I can't deny that, and while they may make a lot of noise I won't believe that they represent a majority. I question why the "good jobs" issue keeps coming up?

Personally I love the peach city . Went to college there . I wanna retire at twin lakes . Hope it doesent fill up

[southy]

I suppose "the good jobs" issue is a matter of perception and need. There are folks who are content earning $15 an hour with benefits. Others it may be $18 and hour plus benefits. And for some "a good job" is $20 dollars or more per hour plus perks. I know of a 15 year old young lad who works weekends out in a orchard and makes himself 15 bucks an hour. I also know this young fellow works while he is there and has proven himself at a young age. So there are jobs available, one just has to step up.

[Glacier]

Of the nearly 8,000 people the City of Penticton is expected to add over the next 30 years, more than half of them will be seniors.

SERIOUSLY!? This is the dumbest thing I've read in a long time. Where do I start? How about this, "why are there so many seniors moving to the city?" If there weren't so many seniors moving in, housing prices would be more affordable for young families.

In addition, there are still young families moving in. By contrast, Prince Rupert, Quesnel, Kitimat, Campbell River, and many other cities of Penticton's size are decreasing in size. They aren't asking why they're only attracting 4,000 more young and middle aged people, but rather why they are losing population to Kelowna and Penticton.

Penticton is growing, and the city has the gall to b*tch about it? Pathetic.

[rustled]

In 1973 my parents moved us to a High rise apartment building downtown Calgary. Rented while house hunting. No problem
In 1977 I got my first apartment/ townhouse with 2 girl friends.Total complex was roughly 120 units. No problem.
In 1982 I got married and moved into a rental in a building with 48 units and a pool , yay. No problem.
In 1994 I took a break from that husband and rented a nice place with 3 bedrooms and lots of play area for all the kids that lived there. No problem.
In 2002 I left that husband for good and found a nice apartment in a lovely 20 unit townhome complex. No problem.

Now I will almost put my life down on the fact that every one of these buildings have gone on to become Condos.
For sure 4 of them have. Becoming a problem.
A very large portion of these Condos have a owner occupy clause. Meaning no more rentals allowed. Very much a problem.

In the big yawn of this whole thing is that what used to be available for people to rent has now become totally off limits.

If there is no place willing to rent then people in various stages of their world they will have no where to go.

Long and short here. Condos are the problem. Absolute rules are the problem. What used to be there for people is no longer there. This is how we created such a problem with homeless people. Buying is not an option for everyone and if that is you then you will have to reside somewhere right? In the car, friends couch or in the park it is all the same story, no where to rent.

Then when you do have a rental unit you can charge an obscene amount of money and close the door on anyone in a 'starter- life change- in between' time and cater to the people who can afford it. Most of those do not want kids or animals. (I was charged for my cat because she totally killed the front door screen and life was still very much okay, .. thing is I was allowed to have her. Now she would most likely have to be put down so I could have a home). This is not how we should treat our fellow beings.

Stop selling all the 'apartments' . Some are okay but the market has become saturated and the results are quite clear.

My opinion.

Too bad you couldn't be a landlord for a while. You might then understand why buildings convert to strata sale rather than remain in the rental market. Three piece suit tenant applicants that trash the asset beyond the 1/2 month damage deposit. Tenants that think it's "normal" wear and tear for a pet to scratch the chit out of the wall, door, screen, and occasionally have an "accident" on the carpeting. Tenants that figure out it will cost more to move the junk furniture, old pots and pans, clean the fridge and stove, wash the walls and have the carpets professionally cleaned than it is to just walk away from it all for the price of 1/2 months rent. And the landlord inherits that on the last day of the month when they can legally inspect the place so they have lost the next months rent too cuz they have to clean up the chit and repair the damage. Add to that the City's requirement that the landlord must now also pay the last two months of unpaid utilities or it will just be added to the property tax bill.
Do you understand that or should I also go into how the Residential Tenancy Act gives all power to the tenant and virtually lip service to the landlord. Non payment of rent? Sure, the Act gives the landlord the tool of a 5 day eviction notice, after which the landlord can legally evict the tent. Legal being the key word here. Cuz now legal is not the end of the game. If the tenant still does not leave, you cannot go in and move their possessions out. You need a court order to do so. That requires more money, applications, and time to finally get authority to do so. All without rent being paid. And even after all of this, you remove their belongings and haul them to the dump because they have basically abandoned them anyway, you can be sued by the tenant for the loss of their belongings if you have not hauled them away and paid for safe and secure storage of the items for the tenant . And if you dare haul the bed and couch to the landfill, you can be sure that the tenant will claim the couch was leather and the bed was a 2k pillow top they bought 2 yrs ago and had no reason to keep the receipt. Notice to rentors....take pictures. I learned the hard way by Tenancy Act savvy tenants.
Do you still wonder why there is a lack of rentals available?

Edit to add- Am curious as to what you thought your cat destroying the screen door was worth? Should the landlord have spent his time, money, fuel, etc and gone to the hardware store to do it as cheap as possible for the deduction from the damage deposit or called ABC door sand windows to do it for $300.

Here's a perfect example of why these threads have become sparse. Post something that is contrary or out of the box to popular conception and everyone shuts up. I would welcome a critique of my suggestion. Some engagement even if opposing would be better than silence. It is supposed to be a discussion thread, not a spew the mantra thread.

She took the time to contribute her thoughts, and she seemed to be just fine with the fact her landlord charged her for the damage. Yet you seem to want to make something of it. Some of us find the South Okanagan thread more than a little too Statler and Waldorf. Just sayin'.

Seems to me Air B&B is a bigger problem for the housing market than conversion to condos.

We've been delighted to welcome a few young families to our neighbourhood (mostly SFDs, a few with rental suites). Great to have children around again, and a couple of teenagers.

[twobits]

Some of us find the South Okanagan thread more than a little too Statler and Waldorf. Just sayin'.

Sorry. Next time I'll include a little "It's tough to be green" melody to ease your pain. It's hard to not be a little S and W with the show going on in this City.

[twobits]

Penticton is growing, and the city has the gall to b*tch about it? Pathetic.

It's not so much that they are bytching about it. It's the stupidity of thinking there is a problem with it and trying to hopelessly change market demand.
Embrace it and exploit it.

[rustled]

Some of us find the South Okanagan thread more than a little too Statler and Waldorf. Just sayin'.

Sorry. Next time I'll include a little "It's tough to be green" melody to ease your pain. It's hard to not be a little S and W with the show going on in this City.

LOL. Thanks, I'm good. Meer ne beep de moor ne council. Beeny boorin.


Once more, with feeling:

IMO, Air B&B isn't helping the housing market.

[twobits]

LOL. Thanks, I'm good. Meer ne beep de moor ne council. Beeny boorin.


Once more, with feeling:

IMO, Air B&B isn't helping the housing market.

I hear ya but I think you are bork borking up the wrong meek meek meek treey. Season is too short here for for air bb to be an investment reason. I could be wrong and it would be nice to have some stats and if it is a problem, then it is also something that that local City governments are able to control. They have few tools in their bag but this is definitely one of them by limiting vacation rentals through bylaws that limit numbers based on something as simple as a ratio to population or even the vacancy rate.

[southy]

Vacation rentals in Penticton area - check this out. Only showing 300!
https://www.airbnb.ca/s/Penticton--Cana ... ide%5B%5D=

and another story that appeared on Castanet back in February of this year.

https://www.castanet.net/news/Penticton ... ing-mulled

[Jflem1983]

Vacation rentals in Penticton area - check this out. Only showing 300!
https://www.airbnb.ca/s/Penticton--Cana ... ide%5B%5D=

and another story that appeared on Castanet back in February of this year.

https://www.castanet.net/news/Penticton ... ing-mulled

Wow I had no idea air bnb was such a big thing .

[XT225]

Vacation rentals in Penticton area - check this out. Only showing 300!
https://www.airbnb.ca/s/Penticton--Cana ... ide%5B%5D=

and another story that appeared on Castanet back in February of this year.

https://www.castanet.net/news/Penticton ... ing-mulled

wow...sure a lot of them vacation rentals. What do you wanna bet that most are NOT legal and not licensed, nor would their insurance companies likely know about most (thats the owners risk). City should crack down on illegal suites, period. Not only is it hurting the legitimate motel business but its also cutting down on usual monthly rentals and possibly upping the price of housing in general.