For those of you who do not know us, we live just outside of Silver Bay on the shore of Lake Superior very near to the planned “Boathouse Bay” project.
Early this year we were visited by the Mayor of Silver Bay who expressed interest in purchasing our home and property. Ultimately we informed him that we had no interest in selling our home anytime in the near future.
Hence, it was a shock to us to learn several weeks later that the City of Silver Bay would like a developer to purchase our property so that they could tear down our home and other buildings to haul them away and then build a huge motel and resort complex on our property. When we came to Silver Bay over 60 years ago, we were able to purchase our property and then (over time) plan, design and literally, with our own hands, build our home. This is a home that we have enjoyed and appreciated all of these decades, a home where we raised our children and a home that they still like to visit whenever they are able to do so. We were very sad to think that what we have worked so hard to build and maintain over these many decades might have little or no value and could actually be torn down and hauled away.
Earlier this summer, while dining in Two Harbors, we had a chance encounter with a couple who live on one of the small islands in the Florida Keys. They are both retired and travel to cooler parts of the country, living in their small travel trailer, during the heat of the summer. Hence, they were visiting the North Shore. They asked about Silver Bay. They asked if Silver Bay was growing, to which we replied, not really, but Silver Bay is planning to add a lot of short terms rentals. Their immediate response was, “DON’T DO IT”. They continued by explaining that short term rentals had completely destroyed their small island. They said that while they and their son were fortunate enough to be able to keep their homes and remain on the island, most of their family, friends and neighbors have been forces to leave the island because they can no long afford to live there. The sense of community that existed there years ago is completely gone. There are still businesses on the island but the employees at these businesses cannot afford to live on the island so they must commute as much as 100 miles, one way, to work there. They continued by explaining that the people using the short term rentals do not volunteer for the rescue squad or the fire department. They do not bring children into the local school or work in any way for the betterment of the school. They are on the island for one reason only, and that is to have a good time.
And so we wonder, is this what we have to look forward to for the community of Silver Bay?
Karsten and Ellen Hogenson
