Northern Lakes Economic Alliance • 231-582-6482 • info@northernlakes.net
Amanda Baker, Community Development & Engagement
Northern Lakes Economic Alliance and The House Next Door in East Jordan hosted the summer 2019 DDA Forum on August 26. Downtown leaders gathered to discuss trends they are seeing in short-term rentals and the effect they have on communities.
Short-term rental owner, Karen Brennan, opened the doors of her downtown, East Jordan unit and showed attendees how she is operating. Brennan is the owner of Deer Creek Junk in East Jordan and purchased the House Next Door (located next to Deer Creek Junk) as an extended showroom for her furniture refurbishing business. Brennan also saw a need for lodging in East Jordan and felt the house could fill that need by being a short-term rental through Airbnb.
After Brennan covered the ins and outs of running a short-term rental including safety and insurance info, Networks Northwest Community Development Manager, Kathy Egan, presented on regional short-term rental trends. Egan shared the status of short-term rentals across the region along with information on ordinances and enforcement.
Representatives from Elk Rapids, East Jordan, Boyne City, Charelvoix, Kalkaska, Petoskey, and the Michigan Municipal League were in attendance. All participants shared their community experiences with short-term rentals as well as potential plans moving forward.
NLEA hosts DDA Forums quarterly in various locations around the region. To stay up to date with DDA Forums, contact info@northernlakes.net.
