Among the discussion items during this Tuesday’s Centralia City Council meeting will be the first reading of an ordinance amending the city’s municipal code based on recommendations from the Centralia Housing Assessment and Action Plan.
Additionally, Sage Investment Group is requesting a zoning change in the C-2 highway commercial zoning district where Sage purchased the former Motel 6 property, located on Belmont Avenue in Centralia.
If approved, the zoning change will allow for hotel and motel conversions into multi-family dwellings in the area.
In October 2022, Sage Investment Group co-owner Emily Hubbard told The Chronicle the goal was to renovate the former Motel 6 into “nice, affordable” studio apartments.
The former OYO Hotel, located on Harrison Avenue, falls within the same zoning district as the former Motel 6.
The former OYO was purchased by Centralia 86 LLC back in February by co-owners Zachary Winner of California, and Ross Hubbard, Emily’s husband.
Despite also being a co-owner of Sage Investment, Ross Hubbard explained that Sage was not involved in the former OYO’s purchase.
The former OYO’s purchase was marred by attempted illegal evictions of long-term tenants by the hotel’s previous owner, Sonny Parmar. Upon the hotel’s sale, this left many families who called the hotel home scrambling to find other housing.
“I wish (the Motel 6) was closer to reopening. I would just take everybody and help them to move into there,” Ross Hubbard told The Chronicle in February.
Originally, his plan was to convert the former OYO into permanent supportive housing, but it is unclear if that is still the intent.
As per state law, permanent supportive housing is defined as subsidized, leased housing with no limit on lease-length. It’s meant to prioritize helping people who need support services to remain housed, such as those with disabilities.
The Chronicle has reached out to both Sage Investment Group and the Fearey Agency, a public relations firm representing Centralia 86 LLC, but has yet to receive a response as to updates on when renovations at both hotels will be complete.
