'Family neighbourhood' citing safety concerns over Airbnb in East Riverside

More than 100 residents who live near a home in east Riverside have signed a petition, requesting the city prohibit its owner from operating it as an Airbnb.

The petition, which will be presented to Windsor city council May 6, cites concerns such as "strangers coming and going," a lack of privacy, loss of parking and the possibility of Airbnb guests being able to peer into the bedroom windows of neighbouring children.

Christine Harvie, who lives on Savanna Street directly across from the home, said she created the petition back in November 2018. It was after her neighbour informed her as to why there might have been a sudden increase in traffic on the street.

"We started going out door-to-door and everybody was appalled and was very upset to hear what's been going," she said.

According to Harvie, guests have come from "London, Toronto and Niagara Falls" — according to guests' license plates — to rent the Airbnb since this past fall. Prior to that, it was a street where "everyone knew everyone."

"We only have 12 houses here ... Our children have always been able to park on the street, play on the street," said Harvie.

"On a Friday and Saturday night, there's so many cars coming and going, it's really hard to keep track."

'Anybody can come and spend $30'

According to Harvie, residents near the Airbnb are also concerned about the quality of guests. The Airbnb has been listed at just $30 per night — which gets you a private room in the home and a free breakfast.

For Harvie, it's a price which makes her feel uncomfortable about the guests staying there. According to the petition, the homeowners in that neighbourhood pay an average $6,000 in property taxes.

"Anybody can come and spend $30," she said. "With the amount of taxes we pay and the amount we paid for our homes, we don't want this here."

"If a stranger comes from out of town, what's to stop them from breaking into a car, destroying property or seeing one of the young girls walking through the neighbourhood. What if they did get attacked? You just never know."

While she has not attempted to contact the Airbnb operators on her own, other neighbours — like Viki Grado — have tried and failed to reach an agreement.

Grado has lived on Savanna Street for about 17 years. She said everyone who lives on the street has become a family — but this Airbnb rental belongs in a tourist area and not a family neighbourhood.

"It's very concerning to me that, all of a sudden, there's this revolving door of strangers at my doorstep," said Grado.

When asked about how her conversation with the owners of the Airbnb went, Grado did not elaborate on details — but said they ultimately "agreed to disagree."

She said she's not against Airbnb units — but not when they're on a street like hers.

"By the university? Yeah. Downtown? Yeah. But not in a neighbourhood like this. It has no place here."

CBC News reached out to the Airbnb owners for comment by knocking on the door several times, and also left contact information with a person who answered the door. CBC News has yet to receive a response.