General Assembly Progresses on Area Airbnb Regulations
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Alexandria Times Vol. 14, No. 7 Alexandria’s only independent hometown newspaper FEBRUARY 16, 2017 General Assembly progresses on area Airbnb regulations City would tax, oversee 375 rentals under state bill BY CHRIS TEALE Alexandria’s burgeoning Airbnb room rental market could become more regulated and structured under a bill mak- ing its way through the Virginia General Assembly. With the 2017 legislative ses- Protestors demand sion reaching its closing weeks, a ‘sanctuary city’ designation proposal requiring Airbnb hosts Tuesday night’s city council to register with local authorities holding signs decrying white meeting was interrupted brief- and authorizes municipalities to The company that makes renting your home its business could become supremacy and the tenancy ly by protestors advocating charge room taxes on properties more regulated like a hotel under legislation in Richmond. of the controversial AltRight. that Alexandria declare itself a when occupied passed the state plifies tax collection. Legislation pay the appropriate taxes and com cofounder Richard Spen- so-called “sanctuary city.” Senate and was referred to the that upholds the authority of the comply with requirements un- cer at King and N. Patrick Around 50 protestors with House of Delegates last week. local government and provides der the zoning ordinance. At a streets in Old Town. the Northern Virginia chap- The bill, introduced by state a reasonable system for regis- city council meeting last month, “We are certainly a wel- ter of Showing Up For Racial Senate Majority Leader Tom- tration and accountability is the Bernie Caton, the city’s top lob- coming and accepting city, but my Norment (R-3) passed the right course for Virginia.” byist in Richmond, said this bill Justice collected at Market we are not a sanctuary city,” Square before the meeting, state Senate by a 36-4 margin Airbnb allows people to rent takes care of all three factors. SEE PROTEST | 6 on February 7. It then was re- out single rooms or their entire Norment’s bill also incorpo- and many sat in attendance ferred to the House Committee homes to people on a short-term rates a separate piece of legis- on General Laws. The General basis. Its use has grown nation- lation on short-term rentals by Alexandria property values Assembly had discussed legis- wide and around the world since state Sen. William Stanley (R- lation on Airbnb last year, but its founding in 2008, including 20), which would allow locali- up 2 percent postponed it to 2017. in Alexandria. For example, on ties to authorize Airbnb or pro- Slow growth sparks and 2010, and the third-worst Hotel industry lobbyists Monday, the website had 14 list- hibit it altogether. If localities further budget fears in 20 years, according to a praised the bill, and said it ings within the city limits for allow it, the measure requires BY JAMES CULLUM staff report presented Tuesday brings greater equity between one guest staying for one night anybody with a rental to gain The notices have been to city council. traditional hotel rooms and on Saturday. their neighbors’ approval first. mailed and Alexandria’s Mayor Allison Sil- Airbnb rentals. Patricia Washington, presi- “If the neighbors don’t overall real estate as- berberg tried to find “We are pleased with the out- dent and CEO of tourism author- want it, then what?” asked sessments increased the silver lining in the come of the Senate’s vote today,” ity Visit Alexandria, said there City Councilor Del Pepper at 2.1 percent, or $792 modest growth. said Eric Terry, president of the are around 375 active Airbnb the time. “Is there more to it? million over last year, to “One of the signs of Virginia Restaurant, Lodging properties across the city, They can’t have it if the neigh- a total of $39 billion. a good market is that and Travel Association, in a state- which she said is approximate- bors don’t want it?” While the city’s it just keeps going up ment last week. “This brings us ly 3 percent of hotel and short “The neighbors couldn’t property values are the second every year,” she said. “That’s one step closer to creating a more term rental accommodations. prevent it, but the locality could highest in the region behind what happened in Vegas, and, uniform system for short-term Alexandria’s 2017 legislative prevent it and prohibit them al- Falls Church, Va., it’s the low- of course, things just tanked. rentals in a way that both best agenda advocates requirements est increase since the height of suits each community and sim- for hosts to register with the city, SEE AIRBNB | 6 the Great Recession in 2009 SEE ASSESSMENTS | 7 T.C. 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Washington St owner Laurent Janowsky in a feeling to each and every cus- “As we approach our fifth Alexandria, VA statement. “We were just hon- tomer; we have to thank Na- anniversary in May, looking (571) 970-6900 ored to be included with the dir, Abdel, George, Cesar and back, we couldn’t have guessed www.sasahsalon.com amazing group of other nomi- the rest of our staff.” what a fantastic community Samuel Soliman nees Cheesetique, Pork Barrel More than 1,000 people we were joining!” said Del BBQ/Holy Cow, ROAM and participated in online voting, Ray Cafe co-owner Margaret Taqueria Poblano. Our guiding and many cited the eatery’s Janowsky in a statement. “The philosophy since the day we welcoming atmosphere as DRBA is so intricately woven conceived Del Ray Cafe is to well as the cafe’s commitment into the fabric of the commu- Smile : ) welcome everyone as if they are to giving back to the commu- nity. We feel so lucky to have family visiting our home. nity, particularly through do- the support of both the residents like you mean it. “Our fantastic staff are an nations to Alexandria schools and the businesses of Del Ray.” integral part of conveying this and nonprofits. - Chris Teale State Senate neuters broadband Internet bill A bill in the Virginia Gen- bor and Commerce Commit- In its latest form, the bill eral Assembly that threatened tee, which state senators ac- now does not threaten the to nix the city’s broadband cepted, to remove a clause on city’s broadband initiative, or Dentures starting at Internet initiative has been exemption under the Freedom other plans across the state in amended once again to remove of Information Act. cities like Roanoke, which had $ any threat to such plans. The clause and several also been opposed. It is now Free Economy325 Single Arch Delegate Kathy Byron (R- others in the bill had been known as the Virginia Wire- Starting At Consult 22), the patron of what was criticized across the state for less Services Authority Act; Routine called the Virginia Broadband appearing to limit the ability rates and charges, and was Tooth & X-Ray Extraction $ Deployment Act, introduced of local governments to use approved by the state Senate Per tooth 100 FOR NEW PATIENTS an amendment to the bill when public dollars to help improve committee on Monday.