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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Eagle Trace is Medford's first Firewise community ... Track failure likely cause of oil train derailment ... UPDATE: Missing Ashland teen found ... Eagle Trace is Medford's first Firewise community ... Track failure likely cause of oil train derailment ... UPDATE: Missing Ashland teen found ... OUR VIEW Our View: There goes the neighborhood Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 5, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Jun. 5, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Of all the arguments we've heard against a proposed "tiny house" project for the homeless near downtown Medford, the Southern Oregon Builders' Association's is the most perplexing. Insisting the group is not concerned with the social aspects of Hope Village, a collection of 12-14 tiny houses proposed for a city-owned lot at Third and Front streets, association executive officer Brad Bennington told the Medford City Council that the project would bring down home prices in the vicinity and violate the building codes that apply to all other construction. Rogue Retreat, a nonprofit organization working to aid the homeless, wants to establish Hope Village on a trial basis. The 8- by 10-foot tiny houses would have no plumbing or electricity, and the project would include communal cooking, bathroom and laundry facilities. Bennington said the project would open the door to unregulated structures being used as dwellings, but city planners have told the council that tiny houses could be used as shelter without violating building codes. No one is suggesting that tiny houses should be allowed to take the place of permanent houses. The argument of the proponents is that the structures are better than a tent, which is the only shelter most homeless people have, and many don't even have that. As for the declining values argument, it just doesn't make sense. As Homeless Task Force member Heather Elliott points out, Hope Village supporters aren't selling houses, they're providing basic shelter. There are no houses close to the proposed site, which is in a commercial zone. The people who would occupy the units are hardly in a position to buy a home elsewhere or even rent an apartment, so the project wouldn't have any effect on market demand. If someone tries to plunk down a tiny house on single-family lot, stick a for sale sign in the yard and pass it off as a permanent dwelling, we would join in the objection. But that's not what's happening here. The Builders Association is not helping its public image by conjuring up a protectionist argument against a project that does not compete with conventional construction in any way. If builders are concerned about the way tiny houses are constructed, perhaps they could donate their skills to build a few. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jun. 5, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501